Robin of Redesdale facts for kids
Robin of Redesdale, sometimes called "Robin Mend-All", was the leader of a big uprising against King Edward IV of England in 1469. No one knows for sure who he really was. People think he might have been Sir John Conyers or his brother Sir William Conyers. Both of them worked for Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick. Some historians also suggest other people like Sir Richard Welles or Lord Robert Ogle.
Why the Rebellion Started
King Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick used to be close friends. They worked together to remove King Henry VI in 1461. But by 1469, they had a big disagreement.
After Edward married Elizabeth Woodville in 1464, he started to rely more on her family. This made Warwick unhappy because the Woodville family began to compete with Warwick's family for land and important jobs. Also, King Edward stopped his younger brother, George, Duke of Clarence, from marrying Warwick's oldest daughter, Isabel Neville. These disagreements led to a lot of tension.
The Uprisings of 1469
In April 1469, a rebellion began in Yorkshire. It was led by Robin of Redesdale. The rebels were protesting against high taxes and what they called "abuses of power" by the King's government.
Soon after, in May, another rebellion started. This one was led by someone called Robin of Holderness. He wanted Henry Percy to be made the Earl of Northumberland again. However, John Neville, who was the current Earl, quickly stopped this rebellion. He captured and executed its leader. But Robin of Redesdale managed to escape.
Battle and Aftermath
On July 26, the rebels led by Robin of Redesdale fought a royal army. This army was commanded by the Earl of Pembroke. The rebels won this battle, which is known as the Battle of Edgcote.
Even though they won, it was reported that Robin of Redesdale himself died in the battle. This is why some people believe he was William Conyers, who was killed at Edgcote.
However, the name "Robin of Redesdale" was used again. In early 1470, when the Earl of Warwick started another rebellion, someone else took on the name. This person was likely Sir John Conyers. This second "Robin of Redesdale" later surrendered to King Edward IV in March 1470.
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