Biography of John Woodville 1445-1469
Paternal Family Tree: Woodville
Maternal Family Tree: Jeanne Sabran
1433 John Duke of Bedford marries Jacquetta Luxemburg
1464 Marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville
1465 Marriage of John Woodville and Catherine Neville
1469 Battle of Edgecote Moor aka Danes Moor aka Banbury
On 12 Jan 1412 John Mowbray 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 20) and [his future wife] Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk (age 12) were married. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland (age 48) and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland (age 33). He the son of Thomas Mowbray 1st Duke of Norfolk and Elizabeth Fitzalan Duchess Norfolk (age 46). They were fourth cousins. He a great x 3 grandson of King Edward I of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
In Jun 1425 John Mowbray 2nd Duke of Norfolk (age 33) was restored 2nd Duke Norfolk by Parliament. [his future wife] Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk (age 25) by marriage Duchess Norfolk.
On 22 Apr 1433 John Duke Bedford (age 43) and [his mother] Jacquetta Luxemburg (age 18) were married at Thérouanne [Map]. She by marriage Duchess Bedford. The difference in their ages was 25 years. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol (age 43) and [his grandmother] Margherita Baux (age 39). He the son of King Henry IV of England and Mary Bohun. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
The marriage caused a rift with Philip "Good" Duke Burgundy (age 36), John's late wife's brother, who regarded the marriage, some five months after his sister's death, an insult to her memory. There was no issue from the marriage with John dying a year and a half later.
Before 1437 Thomas Strangeways (age 42) and [his future wife] Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk (age 36) were married. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland (age 57). She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Before 1437 [his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 32) and [his mother] Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 21) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol and [his grandmother] Margherita Baux (age 42). She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry III of England.
In Oct 1441 John Beaumont 1st Viscount Beaumont (age 32) and [his future wife] Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk (age 41) were married. She by marriage Viscountess Beaumont. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland. They were fourth cousins. He a great x 5 grandson of King Henry III of England. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Around 1445 John Woodville was born to Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 40) and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 30).
On 09 May 1448 [his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 43) was created 1st Baron Rivers by King Henry VI of England and II of France (age 26). [his mother] Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 33) by marriage Baroness Rivers.
On 01 May 1464 King Edward IV of England (age 22) and [his sister] Elizabeth Woodville Queen Consort England (age 27) were married at Grafton Regis, Northamptonshire [Map]. [his mother] Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 49), Elizabeth's mother, being the only witness. The date not certain. She the daughter of [his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 59) and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford. He the son of Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York and [his future sister-in-law] Cecily "Rose of Raby" Neville Duchess York (age 48). He a great x 2 grandson of King Edward III of England.
In 1465 John Woodville (age 20) was created Knight of the Bath.
Chronicle of England by William of Worcester. In January [1465], [his wife] Catherine, Duchess of Norfolk (age 65), a young woman of nearly eighty years, was married to John Woodville (age 20), brother of the Queen, aged about twenty years; a diabolical marriage. The Revenge of Bernard later became apparent to them.
Mense Januarii Katerina, ducissa Norffolchiæ, juvencula ætatis fere iiijxx. annorum, maritata est Johanni Widevile, fratri reginæ, ætatis xx. annorum; maritagium diabolicum. Vindicta Bernardi inter eosdem postea patuit.
In Jan 1465 John Woodville (age 20) and Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk (age 65) were married. Described as a 'Diabolical Marriage' by opponents of the Woodvilles. He being nineteen, she sixty-five. His first wife, her fourth husband. Regarded as an example of the Woodville family increasing their wealth and power. See Woodville Marriages The difference in their ages was 45 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland. He the son of Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 60) and Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 50). She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
Before Mar 1466 [his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 61) was created 1st Earl Rivers by King Edward IV of England (age 23).
On 05 Aug 1466 [his step-daughter] Joan Beaumont Baroness Lovel (age 31) died at Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire.
On 25 Nov 1467 Walter Blount 1st Baron Mountjoy (age 51) and [his sister-in-law] Anne Neville Duchess Buckingham (age 59) were married. She by marriage Baroness Mountjoy. She the daughter of Ralph Neville 1st Earl of Westmoreland and Joan Beaufort Countess of Westmoreland. She a great granddaughter of King Edward III of England.
On 26 Jul 1469 the Yorkist army suffered a defeat against a Lancastrian army led by Robin of Redesdale at the Battle of Edgecote Moor aka Danes Moor aka Banbury. The Yorkist army was commanded by Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon (age 30) and William "Black William" Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 46).
Thomas Vaughan (age 69), John Wogan, Henry Neville (age 32), John Conyers (age 36), and brothers John Dudley (age 42) and Oliver Dudley were killed.
Humphrey Stafford 1st Earl Devon, John Conyers (age 58) and William Parr (age 35) fought.
[his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 64) and John Woodville (age 24) were captured.
There is some uncertainty about the date with some sources suggesting the 24 Jul 1469, the eve of St James' Feast day, as being the correct date.
Warkworth's Chronicle 1469. 12 Aug 1469And at that tyme was the [his father] Lorde Ryvers (age 64) takene, and one of his sonnes (age 24), in the forest of Dene, and brought to Northamtone, and the Earl of Penbroke (deceased) a[nd] Sere Richard Herbarde (deceased) his brother were behedede at Northamtone, alle iiij, by the commawndement of the Duke of Clarence and the Earl of Warwick (age 40), and Thomas Harbarde was slayne at Brystow, &c.
Note 1. "Hic W. Harberde, gravissimus et oppressor et spoliator ecclesiasticorum et aliorum multorum per annos multos, hunc tandem, justo Dei judicio pro suis sceleribus et nequiciis, receepit.mercedem. Die Sabbati proximo ante assumpcionem beatissime semper Virginis Marie, captus est Dominus de Rywaus, cum domino Johanne filio suo, et, juxta castrum de Kelingworthe, pariter decollati sunt [Here W. Herbert, the most grievous oppressor and plunderer of the Church and many others for many years, finally received the just reward for his crimes and wickedness by the judgment of God. On the Saturday next before the assumption of the most blessed Virgin Mary, the Lord Rivers was captured, along with his son John, and they were both beheaded near the castle of Kelingworth]." - MS. Arundel, Coll. Arm. fol. 171 rº.
A Brief Latin Chronicle. On 12 Aug 1469. On the Saturday before the Assumption of the most blessed Virgin Mary, [his father] Lord de Rywans (age 64) along with Lord John (age 24), his son, were captured, and they were executed together near the castle of Kenilworth [Map].
Die Sabbati proximo ante Assumptionem beatissime semper Virginis Marie captus est Dominus de Rywans cum domino Johanne filio suo, et juxta castrum de Kelingworth pariter docollati sunt.
On 12 Aug 1469 Woodvilles father and son were beheaded at Kenilworth Castle [Map] by supporters of Richard "Kingmaker" Neville Earl Warwick, 6th Earl Salisbury (age 40).
[his father] Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers (age 64) was beheaded. His son [his brother] Anthony Woodville 2nd Earl Rivers (age 29) succeeded 2nd Earl Rivers, 2nd Baron Rivers. Elizabeth Scales Countess Rivers by marriage Countess Rivers.
John Woodville (age 24) was beheaded.
Hall's Chronicle 1469. 12 Aug 1469. The Northamptonshire men, with diverse of the Northern men by them procured, in this fury made them a captain, and called him Robin of Redesdale, and suddenly came to the manor of Grafton [Map], where the [his father] earl Rivers (age 64) father to the [his sister] Queen (age 32) then lay whom they loved not, and there by force took the said earl and and sir John (age 24) his son, and brought them to Northampton [Map], and there without Judgement stroke of their heads, whose bodies were solemnly interred in the Blackfriars at Northampton.
On 30 May 1472 [his mother] Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford (age 57) died. Not known where she was buried.
After 1483 [his former wife] Katherine Neville Duchess Norfolk (age 83) died.
Kings Wessex: Great x 13 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings England: Great x 6 Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 12 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 9 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 13 Grand Son of Robert "Pious" II King France
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Woodville
GrandFather: Richard Woodville
Father: Richard Woodville 1st Earl Rivers
Great x 1 Grandfather: Thomas Bittelsgate
GrandMother: Joan Bittelsgate
Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Beauchamp
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hugh Beauchamp
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Beauchamp
Great x 1 Grandmother: Joan Beauchamp
John Woodville 6 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Waleran II of Luxemburg 6 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John Luxemburg Lord of Ligby 7 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Guy of Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol and Ligny 8 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy of Dampierre Richebourg 6 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Alix Dampierre 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John Luxemburg Count St Pol 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Guy Chatillon IV Count Saint Pol 5 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Jean Chatillon Count Saint Pol Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Capet Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mathilde Chatillon Countess Saint Pol 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Jean Fiennes 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Jeanne Fiennes 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabelle Dampierre 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
GrandFather: Peter Luxemburg I Count Saint Pol 4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis Count of Enghien
Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Brienne
Mother: Jacquetta of Luxemburg Duchess Bedford 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
GrandMother: Margherita Baux 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Romano Orsini
Great x 3 Grandfather: Roberto Orsini Count 2 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Anastasia Montfort Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Nicholas Orsini Count 3 x Great Grand Son of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Sueva del Balzo
Great x 1 Grandmother: Sueva Orsini 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King John "Lackland" of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jeanne Sabran