The Reburial of Richard of York (The Politics of Funeral Rites and Burials in the 14th and 15th century)

Deana Blake Michie, Undergraduate History Honors at Utah Valley University

Summary of the progress and intro to The burial and a coronation four years Abstract The Reburial and a coronation in death 1464 after his death, in the year 1464 On December 30, 1460 Richard of York, father of both Edward IV and Richard III, The bodies of York and his Edmond were fought and died at the battle of Wakefield. Accounts of the time then say he was pulled of his horse and beheaded. The Lancastrians then put his head on a spike with ‘exhumed’ on the’ twenty-fourth’ from In the late medieval period, the importance of ceremonial events such as a paper crown on top and placed it over the gates of York, where everyone could see. Pontefract. The king had his father ‘garbed in funerals were not just about the religious or cultural but could be about His body was handed his body over to be buried. Not long after, his son, Edward IV, an ermine furred mantle.’ Ermine was usually politics. The funeral procession from Pontefract to Fotheringhay was took the throne. Several years into his reign, Edward IV had his father’s remains reserved specifically for the Royal family. moved to the Church of St. Marry and All Saints in Fotheringhay. It is known that meant to be a grand march of a king, therefore had to impress. Richard of the event, full of ceremonies and processions, was an important political move. It (Accounts from the time tell us that sumptuary York was to be displayed in order to remind people of his power in life, his was more than just a burial but a coronation. Richard of York had a strong claim to laws prevented those not of high birth from claim to the throne, and the reinforcement of his sons’ rule. In the the throne through both his mother and his father. wearing Ermine.) As if he had been a king introduction to Barbara Hanawalt and Kathryn Reyerson’s book of City The shaky political ground at the time put much into question. Edward IV took the himself, as Edward IV believed him to be. of and Spectacle in Medieval Europe states that “The rituals attached to throne from Henry VI. Many would see this as seizing power taken for the York’s after the forced abdication of Richard II. Others saw it as a usurpation. There were York. The procession started after the coronations, funerals, marriages, and entries reinforced the power of the other varying thoughts on the matter. In the end, Edward’s legitimacy as king was in bodies were ready sometime after the day monarchy.’ The importance of the reburial of Edward IV’s father was a question. He did what he could to codify the idea of his reign. He believed that his they were dug up. The march to form of political propaganda because it offered the opportunity to create father was the rightful king before his death and Henry VI had inherited a usurped Fotheringhay ended on 29 July. the illusion of a united court, come to lay the body of a king to rest. The crown. Taking the throne was, in his mind, his right as the son of the true king. He had to create the image of kingship, especially since there were struggles in his own York was also wearing a ‘cap of maintenance, funeral of York was organized with the proper ‘splendor and stateliness’ family. covered with a cloth of gold.’ This is a velvet- of a king because these proceedings could make the illusion of York as a colored cap, usually lined with ermine. It has king in death even if he was not recognized as such in life. Since the aim been an English custom that a king wears such of these events was to “make earthly representations of eternal truths” a cap at their coronation. The Cap of than it would be presumed that god had recognized York as king when he Maintenance is not a crown but may have been had passed though the gates of heaven and had blessed Edward IV with used for more practical purposes when victory when he attempted to seize the throne. originally used during such events. The caps Edward IV had commissioned his youngest brother, Richard the duke of were usually made in velvet. This was an Gloucester (later to be king of England), with the talk of planning the important material for ceremonial garments. event. There was a progress planned. Richard of Gloucester led the way. The party of mourners included many lords and ladies, several officers The chariot was drawn by six horses decorated and even some of the king’s personal guard. All were dressed in in gold and black. It was ‘Preceded by a knight mourning colors. The trip took several days. Many people were able to bearing the banner of the ducal arms’ the arms see the party go by and view the body of Richard of York. were those of England and France. The English often associated themselves as the French rulers even though most of their French Territory has been lost. The Duke’ hearse had a silver angel wearing a golden crown on top of it, not only to Map from Pontefract to Fotheringhay infer that York was king by right but to say god had accepted him as a king.

Background- The War of the Roses short timeline Struggles in the court of Edward IV Conclusions In 1450 , Richard and his affinity took up arms against the weak Henry VII The decision led to the War of the The court Edward was full of tension after the unexpected news of marriage to That is why he decided to have his father, Richard third Duke of York, and his brother Edmond Roses. The last year of Richard of York's life spent Elisabeth Woodville. Many of the older Noble families were upset about the removed from their burial site in Pontefract and taken for proper burial to Foderingham in 1476. It fighting for the crown, which was most likely not his news. It particularly droves a wedge between him and his mentor, Richard duke was a way to honor him and an opportunity to bring together all the nobles. The people would see original aim. Between 1450-1460 there was unstable them together in harmony, mourning the loss of the king’s father. He also wanted people to know of Warwick. The Woodville's quickly promoted to positions that were previously that his father was who he believed had been the rightful king of England in his life, not the relations and several battels. In that time York had been beyond their reach. turning George duke of Clarence, the king's brother and his feebleminded Henry VI, who was the grandson of a usurper and therefor was one himself. at the height of his power, as lord protector, to his lowest Reburning his father was a way create the illusion of him as king in his death. In this time kings as a banished man on the run. heir at the time, away from the king as well. Clarence wanted power for himself, “Attach to everything that bore on the splendor and the stateliness of their courts.” The people 1459-1460, Battle of Blore Heath in September the and decided ally with Warwick, continuing the war later. Through all of this, the expected it of them. This event was important because many people would come to pay their Battle of Ludford Bridge in October. The December respects and to have a good time. Thousands of people attended just to for the chance to witness king wanted peace, especially as he established his position and that of the Royal the spectacle. Peasant class especially associated a good leader on how majestic an event was. 1459 York, Warwick and Salisbury suffered attainder House of York. Edward IV knew he had to show a united front within his court if They had very little access to the king and his court. Events like this were a chance for them to see and, knowing they would die if they did not try, they and make their own opinions of their monarch. decided to try for the throne instead of control of the he was to solidify his reign. He was attempting to create the image of a positive weak king Henry. 10 July, they defeated of the royal relationship between the queen and Warwick at the time of the reburial, even Select sources: army at the Battle of Northampton. Acts of Accord was having them walk next to each other holding hands during the procession to the • Johan Huizinga, Translated by Rodney J. Payton and Ulrich Mammitzsch, The Autumn of the Middle Ages (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1996), passed on the 25 October 1460, stating York would be church. p.42 king at Henry VI’s Death. Margaret of Anjou musters • Richard Barbara A. Hanawalt, Kathryne L. Reyerson, city and spectacle in Medieval Europe (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1999), p. IX. Henry VI(right) sitting while the Dukes of York (left) and Somerset (center) • Thornley, Isobel Dorothy , England Under the Yorkists, 1460-1485,London: Longmans, 1920 and army in Scotland and marches back to defeat York have an argument. • Hanawalt, , city and spectacle in Medieval Europe p. 10.

`