Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Neville
Earl of Westmorland
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Drawing of his effigy, after Charles Stothard
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| Born | c. 1406 |
| Died | 3 November 1484 (aged 78) |
| Resting place | St. Brandon's Church, Brancepeth |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Percy Margaret Cobham |
| Children | 2 (both died young) |
| Relatives |
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| Family | Neville |
Ralph Neville, the 2nd Earl of Westmorland (born around 1406, died 1484), was an important English nobleman. A nobleman was a person from a high-ranking family, often owning a lot of land and having special titles like "Earl." Ralph lived in northern England during a time of many changes and conflicts.
Early Life and Family
Ralph Neville was born at Cockermouth Castle in Cumberland, a county in northern England. He was baptized on April 4, 1406. His family, the Neville family, was very powerful. At the time of his birth, Cockermouth Castle was temporarily held by the Nevilles after a rebellion by their rivals, the Percy family.
Ralph was the oldest son of Sir John Neville, who passed away in 1420. His mother was Elizabeth Holland. Ralph had two younger brothers, John and Thomas, and one sister, Margaret. His brother John was killed in a big battle called the Battle of Towton in 1461.
Becoming an Earl
When Ralph's father died in 1420, Ralph became the next in line to inherit the title of Earl of Westmorland from his grandfather, Ralph Neville, the 1st Earl. An "earl" is a noble title, similar to a duke or a marquis.
In 1425, Ralph officially became the 2nd Earl of Westmorland. However, his grandfather had made a will that gave most of the family's lands to his second wife, Joan Beaufort, and her children. This caused a long and difficult fight over the inheritance, known as the Neville–Neville feud. Ralph spent much of his life trying to get back what he felt was rightfully his.
In 1426, King Henry VI made Ralph a knight. This was a special honor given to brave and loyal men. In the same year, Ralph married Elizabeth Percy. She was the daughter of a famous knight named Sir Henry Percy, also known as "Hotspur." Ralph and Elizabeth had one son, Sir John Neville, but he died young without having any children.
Ralph married a second time, to Margaret Cobham, before 1442. They had one daughter, also named Margaret, who also died when she was young.
Struggles and Later Life
The fight over his family's lands was a big part of Ralph's life. He was trying to get his inheritance back from his grandfather's second wife, Joan Beaufort, and her powerful children. Joan Beaufort died in 1440. Eventually, in 1443, a deal was made. Ralph got back the barony of Raby, which was a smaller part of the family's lands. However, he lost most of the other lands to his half-uncle, Richard Neville. This was a big defeat for Ralph.
Ralph Neville did not take a very active part in the big wars or political events of his time. He was appointed a "Commissioner of Array" in 1459 and 1461. This meant he was responsible for gathering troops in his area if needed. He is thought to have led some troops for the House of Lancaster (one of the sides in the Wars of the Roses) in 1460.
Some historians believe that Ralph Neville may have suffered from a mental illness during his later years. Because of this, his brother, Sir Thomas Neville, became his guardian. After his brother Thomas died, it is not clear who looked after Ralph. However, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (who later became King Richard III), became interested in Ralph's estates and sometimes used Raby Castle as his own home.
Death and Legacy
Ralph Neville passed away on November 3, 1484, when he was about 78 years old. He was buried at St. Brandon's Church in Brancepeth, Durham. His second wife, Margaret, had died earlier and was buried in Doncaster.
Because both of Ralph's children died young, he was succeeded by his nephew, Ralph Neville, who became the 3rd Earl.
Ralph Neville is also mentioned in history books and plays. He appears as a character in one of Shakespeare's plays, Henry VI, Part 3.
