Alice Neville facts for kids

Alice Neville, Baroness FitzHugh (born around 1430 – died after November 22, 1503), also known as Lady Alice FitzHugh, was an important noblewoman in England. She was married to Henry FitzHugh, 5th Baron FitzHugh. Alice is famous for being the great-grandmother of Catherine Parr, who later became a queen of England. She was also the sister of Warwick the 'Kingmaker', a very powerful figure in English history. Her family, the Nevilles, was one of the oldest and strongest families in northern England. They were known for their military skills and for sometimes challenging the king's power.

Alice Neville's Family

Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, also known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was the eldest brother of Alice Neville.

Lady Alice was the third daughter of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury and Lady Alice Montacute, 5th Countess of Salisbury. Her father was a powerful Earl, and her mother was an important Countess in her own right.

Through her father, Alice was a descendant of King Edward III. Her mother was the only child of Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury.

Alice's brother was Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, often called Warwick the Kingmaker. He was the richest and most powerful noble in England during his time. Warwick played a huge role in the Wars of the Roses, which were a series of civil wars fought over who should be king of England.

Alice's aunt, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, was also a key person in these wars. Cecily was the mother of two future kings, Edward IV and Richard III, who were Alice's cousins.

Alice had many other brothers and sisters, including:

• Lady Joan Neville, Countess of Arundel
• Cecily Neville, Duchess of Warwick
• John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu
• George Neville, Archbishop of York
• Lady Eleanor Neville
• Lady Katherine Neville, Baroness Hastings
• Sir Thomas Neville
• Lady Margaret Neville, Countess of Oxford

Alice's nieces were the daughters of her brother Warwick. They were Isabel Neville and Anne Neville. Isabel married George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, who was King Edward IV's brother. Anne Neville first married Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, the son of King Henry VI. After Prince Edward died in battle, Anne later became queen consort of England when she married Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who became King Richard III in 1483.

Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen

Lady Alice was very close to her niece, Anne Neville. She strongly supported Richard, Duke of Gloucester, especially after he became the Lord Protector (a temporary ruler) of England. Alice encouraged her family members to support him too.

When Richard became King Richard III in 1483, Lady Alice and her daughter, Elizabeth FitzHugh, were chosen to be ladies-in-waiting to the new queen, Anne Neville. A lady-in-waiting is a noblewoman who helps and serves a queen. The King gave Alice and Elizabeth gifts, including expensive fabric to make beautiful dresses. At the coronation ceremony in 1483, Alice and Elizabeth were among the seven noble ladies who had the special honor of riding behind the queen.

Serving as a lady-in-waiting became a family tradition. Alice's great-granddaughter, Anne Parr, later served all six of King Henry VIII's wives.

Lady FitzHugh was very much like her brother, the Earl of Warwick, in her strong personality. Her husband, Henry, Lord FitzHugh, is often given credit for starting a rebellion in 1470. This rebellion drew King Edward IV north and helped the Earl of Warwick land safely in the west of England. However, many believe that such a bold plan was more likely Alice's idea, given her strong will and abilities.

After her husband died in 1483, Lady FitzHugh and some of her children – Richard, Roger, Edward, Thomas, and Elizabeth – joined a religious group called the Corpus Christi guild in York.

Ravensworth Castle, the home of the Lord FitzHughs of Ravensworth.

Marriage and Children

Lady Alice married Henry, Lord FitzHugh of Ravensworth Castle. Ravensworth Castle was near Richmond and was the home of a powerful local family. Alice and Henry had 11 children together: five sons and six daughters.

Their children included:

• Sir Richard, 6th Baron FitzHugh: He married Elizabeth Burgh. Their son, George, inherited the title of Baron FitzHugh. However, after George died in 1513, the title became "in abeyance." This means no one person could claim it, and it was split between his aunt Alice and his nephew Sir Thomas Parr. This situation continues to this day.
• George FitzHugh: He became the Dean of Lincoln, an important church position, from 1483 to 1505.
• Alice FitzHugh: She married Sir John Fiennes.
• Elizabeth FitzHugh: She married William Parr first, and then Sir Nicholas Vaux. Through her first husband, William Parr, Elizabeth became the grandmother of Queen Catherine Parr. She was also the grandmother of Anne, Countess of Pembroke, and William, Marquess of Northampton.
• Anne: She was the wife of Francis Lovell, 1st Viscount Lovell.
• Margery: She married Sir Marmaduke Constable.
• Joan: She became a nun.
• Edward FitzHugh: He died without having children.
• Thomas FitzHugh: He died without having children.
• John FitzHugh: He died without having children.
• Eleanor FitzHugh

See Also

• Percy–Neville feud