Retainers and fee'd men of Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury facts for kids

Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (born 1400 – died December 31, 1460) was a powerful English noble from the north in the 1400s. He inherited large lands in Yorkshire and the North West of England from his father, Ralph Neville, 1st Earl of Westmorland. For most of his life, he was loyal to the Lancastrian king, Henry VI. He served the king in France, on the border with Scotland, and during many difficult times. Later in the 1450s, he joined Richard, Duke of York in his rebellion. This made him a key Yorkist leader at the start of the Wars of the Roses. He was captured and killed at Pontefract Castle after the Battle of Wakefield in December 1460.

Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, was known for building his family's power. He did this not just by marrying his children into important local families. He also used special agreements to connect with powerful people. These people were called "retainers." Retainers were like loyal followers who promised to support the Earl. In return, the Earl would help them.

These retainers would also bring their own tenants and friends to help the Earl when needed. For example, in 1459, Salisbury's retainers could call on their own people for support. Lawyers were very useful to lords like Salisbury. He hired many lawyers to attend his meetings and represent him in court.

Some retainers were very close to the Earl, like John Conyers and James Strangways. They were "senior retainers." Others, like Thomas Whitham, were "lesser officials." These men often worked with Salisbury on important royal tasks. For example, in 1440, some of his retainers helped him investigate a request from the people of Richmond, North Yorkshire.

When the civil wars started again in 1459, many of Salisbury's retainers rode with him and his son, Sir John Neville. They went to meet Richard, Duke of York at Ludlow Castle. Salisbury had two main groups of retainers. One group lived close to his main castle, Middleham Castle. They were important people in that area. The second group lived in areas controlled by his rivals, like the Nevilles of Brancepeth or the Percys. For example, Robert Ogle from Morpeth, Northumberland and John Middleton from Belsay were retainers in Percy territory.

Sometimes, lords and their retainers worked together, even if they were usually rivals. For instance, in July 1453, just before the Percy–Neville feud turned violent, James Strangways, Salisbury's man, helped elect two Percy retainers to parliament. This shows that loyalties could be complicated.

Salisbury's Power in the North

In the 1400s, the North of England was mostly controlled by four big groups. These were the King (as Duke of Lancaster), the Duke of York, the Percys, and the Nevilles. Since the King and the Duke of York were often away, the Percys and Nevilles held most of the power. By the 1450s, Salisbury, as the head of the Nevilles, was the most powerful of them all.

A lot of Salisbury's power came from his job as the Warden of the West March. This important position allowed him to gather and keep a private army. He could recruit local gentlemen, who were excellent fighters, and the King's government paid for it.

Salisbury was a strong opponent to his rivals not just because he was rich. His wealth meant he could pay his retainers well. He also had direct connections with the King's council and the royal family. Salisbury's retainers often had connections with each other, especially in Yorkshire. For example, James Strangways and John Conyers married into the same family.

It's hard for historians to know all the exact relationships Salisbury had. However, records show that a huge amount of his income (20%) was spent on fees and retainers. Salisbury hired many people from families in the Richmondshire area. This was called his "Middleham Connection." The Conyers family, for instance, was almost entirely made up of Neville retainers during this time.

Many of Salisbury's retainers and their families did very well after the Yorkist side took power. For example, in 1462, Walter Strickland received a pardon for all his past actions, even serious ones. Robert Percy became an important official in King Edward IV's household.

Key Moments in Salisbury's Life

Richard Neville was born around 1400 at Raby Castle. In 1413, Henry V became king. In 1415, the famous Battle of Agincourt took place.

In 1420, Salisbury was given control over the lands and marriage of Henry Scrope, a young heir. He was also made Warden of the West March, an important border defense role. In 1421, he married Alice Montacute. She was the daughter of the Earl of Salisbury. This marriage brought him more power and land.

King Henry V died in 1422, and Henry VI became king when he was only six months old. In 1424, Salisbury helped make a peace agreement between Scotland and England. He was given control of Pontefract Castle in 1425. After his father-in-law died in 1428, Richard Neville was officially called the Earl of Salisbury in 1429.

From 1428 to 1443, Salisbury had a family dispute with his half-brothers. In 1431, he led 800 men to defend Calais. He also went to Normandy with the Duke of York in 1436. In 1437, King Henry VI became old enough to rule on his own. Salisbury's mother died in 1440.

In 1447, Salisbury helped arrest Humphrey of Gloucester, who was accused of treason. Gloucester died a week later. In 1448, there was a problem when Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland, led his army through Salisbury's territory to invade Scotland. This was against the rules. Northumberland's army was badly defeated by the Scots. Salisbury then led his own attack into Scotland.

In 1450, Salisbury helped the king deal with Jack Cade's Rebellion. He even beheaded a thief in London to show the king's power. In 1452, the Duke of York rebelled against the king. Salisbury helped negotiate with York.

The Percy–Neville feud was a big rivalry between Salisbury's family and the Percy family. It lasted from 1452 to 1454. In 1453, Salisbury's sons, Thomas and John, were knighted. That same year, Thomas Neville's wedding party was attacked by Thomas Percy, Lord Egremont. This made the feud worse.

In March 1454, King Henry VI became very ill. Salisbury was made Chancellor, and York became Protector of the kingdom. In November 1454, Salisbury's forces captured Lord Egremont and Sir Richard Percy at the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

The King recovered in April 1455. Salisbury resigned as Chancellor, and York was removed as Protector. They both went to Sandal Castle without the king's permission. In April 1455, Salisbury and York marched south with an army. They defeated the king's forces at the First Battle of St Albans. This battle is often seen as the start of the Wars of the Roses.

In July 1455, Salisbury and his sons were pardoned by Parliament for fighting with York. In 1458, the king tried to make peace between the warring families.

In September 1459, Salisbury's army was outnumbered at the Battle of Blore Heath. He managed to escape and join York at Ludlow. In October 1459, Salisbury and York's armies fell apart at the Rout of Ludford Bridge. They had to escape into exile. Salisbury went to Calais with his sons and York's heir, Edward of March. Salisbury and his wife Alice were declared traitors by Parliament.

In June and July 1460, Salisbury returned from exile and entered London. He helped defeat the Lancastrians at the Tower of London. In July 1460, the Yorkists won the Battle of Northampton.

In December 1460, Salisbury left London with York to fight rebels in the north. They arrived at Sandal Castle with about 6,000 men. On December 30, 1460, York's army was crushed at the Battle of Wakefield. York and Salisbury's son Thomas died in the battle. Salisbury was captured while trying to escape and was taken to Pontefract. On December 31, 1460, he was beheaded at Pontefract Castle.

In May 1461, Salisbury's widow, Alice, sued someone for causing her husband's death. Alice died by the end of 1462. In February 1463, Salisbury and his son Thomas were reburied next to Alice.

Salisbury's Retainers: Who Were They?

The table below lists some of the important people who were Salisbury's retainers or had strong connections with him. These individuals helped Salisbury in various ways, from fighting in his army to managing his lands and legal affairs.