#why would his council randomly reject it in favor of crowning Edward V directly? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

wonder-worker · 1 year ago

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Where exactly does the idea that "everyone hated the Woodvilles and were glad that Richard got rid of them" come from?* Because the Croyland Chronicler is quite clear on the fact that:

“The duke of Gloucester received the same high office of Protector of the kingdom ... The feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist being appointed as the day upon which the coronation of the king would take place without fail ... Still, however, a circumstance which caused the greatest doubts was the detention of the king’s relatives and servants in prison; besides the fact that the Protector did not, with a sufficient degree of considerateness, take measure for the preservation of the dignity and safety of the queen.”

This doesn't strike me as a council who approved of Richard’s actions against the Woodvilles and were happy that they were finally out of the way, it strikes me as a council that was extremely sympathetic to their plight and very worried and baffled about what was happening to them. We also know that the council would reject Richard's demand to execute Anthony Woodville and Richard Gray, which clearly indicates that they did not just sympathize with the Woodvilles but were actively defensive of them as well.

(*It comes from a great deal of propaganda that sought to vilified them, in case anyone was wondering. It's just exhausting that most historians and blogs keep recycling the idea even though actual evidence suggests otherwise.)

#Elizabeth Woodville #the Woodvilles #15th century #english history #anthony woodville #my post #it also seems like even though the council agreed to appoint Richard as Protector #they were quite clear on the fact that they wanted Edward V to be crowned as quickly as possible ('without fail')#which is what they had all wanted directly after Edward IV's death as well #imo that DOES put a huge question mark on the popular idea that Edward IV supposedly appointed Richard 'Protector' on his deathbed #if Edward DID do that (and it isn't what he wanted in his 1475 will even though his heir was only 4 years old at the time)#why would his council randomly reject it in favor of crowning Edward V directly?#the Woodvilles and Richard were on very good terms throughout Edward's reign and Richard was by all accounts loyal and highly-regarded #so there's no reason to NOT give him the position. Unless ofc they were following Edward's will which didn't want a Protector for his son #which Rosemary Horrox also believes (see Richard III: A Study of Service)#and that's not even mentioning the contradictions with the Croyland Chronicle and Mancini regarding Edward's will + the council #Mancini says Edward IV named Richard Protector/Croyland mentions nothing of the sort but instead emphasizes Edward's executors #Mancini says the council were divided on whether to name Richard Protector or have a council / Croyland doesn't mention anything #like this but instead emphasizes that the council were 'all' united in the desire to see Edward V crowned as quickly as possible #etc

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