How Did Edward III Overcome The Challenges To His Rule

Hannah Griffiths
Why was Edward IV able to defeat challenges to his rule in 1470-71, but Richard III was unable to do so in 1485? One of the key reasons why Edward IV was able to defeat challenges to his rule in 1470-71, whereas Richard III was not in 1485, is the position of the opposition to the monarch at that time. If the opposition were not supported and in a disadvantageous situation then the threat that they posed would be significantly smaller than if they were supported and had an advantage, be it politically or resourcefully, on the ruler. Similarly, another of the reasons as to why one ruler could overcome such challenges and another couldn’t is the strength and position of the monarch themselves. This factor can also be significantly
In 1470 Edward IV’s rule was challenged by the former monarch that he had usurped, Henry VI, and one of the key reasons as to why he was able to overcome this challenge was due to his popularity as king. Edward had proved to be an able king who was also young, strong and handsome, which is severely juxtaposed to the monarch he had usurped, as Henry VI was old, a less than capable ruler and thought to be insane. This meant that not only his original usurpation of Henry in 1461 was considered more acceptable to England’s population as it was most likely going to better the country; it also meant that Henry’s usurpation of Edward in 1470 was especially unfavourable with the population. Another reason why Edward was able to overcome his challenge of usurpation was at that time France was very unpopular with England, which is unsurprising as it is said that ‘England’s national hobby was going to war with France’, and Henry VI’s wife, Margaret of Anjou was the French kings niece. This marriage alone would be enough to make Edward appear more favourable with the general population; however it seemed likely that if Edward had not usurped, an alliance between the two countries would proceed, which only served to support Edward’s campaign to get back on the throne. Nonetheless, the most damaging factor to the position of the opposition is most likely the circumstances that the Lancastrian house found themselves in as with the deaths of both their key supporter, the Earl of Warwick, at the Battle of Barnet and of the Lancastrian heir, Edward, Prince of Wales at Tewkesbury, the Lancastrian position was no longer considered viable. The popularity of Edward IV was not repeated with Richard III however, and this combined with the fact he usurped a king that was showing great