Edmund, Earl of Rutland: An Idea

So, I had posted a thread on this a wee while back, but here's something that got me thinking:

Edmund would've been with his father in London, following the second protectorate, but let's say that instead of accompanying his father to Sandal Castle, Edmund remains behind, and thus is not at the Battle of Wakefield, and does not die there. Instead, he accompanies his cousin the Earl of Warwick during the 2nd Battle of St Albans and fights there, following that battle, which still ends in defeat, he is part of Warwick's host as it marches to link up with Edward who had managed as in otl to win at Mortimer's Cross. One notable victim at least for posterity who was vanquished at St Albans was as in otl John Grey of Groby, husband of Elizabeth Woodville. Edward and his brother reunite and subsequently, Edward is crowned Edward IV in London, and he, his brother, and Warwick all head toward the final showdown with the Lancastrians, the Battle of Towton, ends in victory for the Yorkists, and with Margaret of Anjou, Henry VI and Edward of Westminster all fleeing in the aftermath.

Edward and Edmund return to London, the victors, with Edward having a second formal coronation, in which the aftermath sees him give his brothers titles. Edmund is named Duke of Bedford, Earl of Hereford and Earl of Derby, whilst George and Richard are given their otl dukedoms of Clarence and Gloucester. Whilst Edward postpones any sort of official marriage for himself, his brother is married to Anne Stafford, daughter of the Duke of Buckingham (Anne's otl husband never married her as he died before their wedding could take place) Anne and Edmund are married as part of the healing process in the realm, their marriage taking place around 1462. Edmund, in his role as the King's brother, aids John Neville, Earl of Northumberland as he puts down any lasting Lancastrian sympathies, including putting down an insurrection in 1462, led by Margaret herself. Eventually, in 1464, Edward IV marries, but not to the woman the Kingmaker wants, instead he marries Elizabeth Woodville the widow of a Lancastrian knight and mother of two. Present at this marriage is Edmund, who per his King's request keeps silent on the matter.

Thoughts so far?
 
Ok so, assuming this ATL Duke of Bedford is about equally as loyal as Richard, Duke of Gloucester was and gets along better with the Woodvilles (which if he's present for the wedding might be the case) then I can see him taking the regency in 1482 rather than Richard. He most definitely would have to not be seduced to the idea of Kingship by Warwick and if he's treated well and is naturally unambitious, Edmund might end up being the foil to Warwick's plan. I can see him not marrying straight away and after a while being married to a minor foreign princess, perhaps even Bona/Maria/Agnes of Savoy. Let's say Bona is sufficiently offended by Edward and instead Agnes marries the Duke of Bedford.

Edmund Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Bedford, 1st Earl of Rutland, 1st Earl of Hereford and 1st Earl of Derby (b.1443: d.1495) m. Agnes of Savoy (b.1445: d.1509) (a)

1a) Mary Plantagenet of Bedford (b.1467: d.1471)

2a) John Plantagenet of Bedford, 2nd Duke of Bedford and 2nd Earl of Derby (b.1469: d.1499) m. Joan Bourchier (b.1471: d.1532) (a)

1a) Thomas Plantagenet of Bedford, 3rd Duke of Bedford (b.1490)

2a) Edward Plantagenet of Bedford, 3rd Earl of Derby (b.1493)

3a) Elizabeth Plantagenet of Bedford (b.1494)

4a) Sir William Plantagenet of Bedford (b.1495)

5a) Richard Plantagenet of Bedford (b.1496: d.1498)

6a) Catherine Plantagenet of Bedford (b.1497)

7a) John Plantagenet of Bedford (b.1498: d.1499)​

3a) Edward Plantagenet of Bedford, 2nd Earl of Rutland (b.1470: d.1494) m. Anne of York (b.1475: d.1511) (a)

1a) Charles Plantagenet of Rutland, 3rd Earl of Rutland (b.1492)

2a) John Plantagenet of Rutland (b.1495: d.1495)​

4a) Richard Plantagenet of Bedford, 2nd Earl of Hereford (b.1472: d.1502) m. Elizabeth Stafford (b.1479: d.1532) (a)

1a) Joan Plantagenet of Hereford (b.1491)

2a) Charles Plantagenet of Hereford, 3rd Earl of Hereford (b.1495)

3a) Eleanor Plantagenet of Hereford (b.1499)​

5a) Anne Plantagenet of Bedford (b.1475: d.1496) m. Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick (b.1475: d.1504) (a)

1a) Isabel Plantagenet of Warwick (b.1493)

2a) Edmund Plantagenet of Warwick, 2nd Duke of Clarence and 18th of Warwick (b.1495)​

6a) George Plantagenet of Bedford (b.1478: d.1479)​
 
Hmm interesting tree, just wanted to point out, in the first post I'd stated he married Anne Stafford, though seeing him marry Agnes would be interesting.
 
A bit more for this:

Following the formal announcement of King Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville a great shift in power occurs at the King's court, whilst before, the Nevilles had held sway over the King and court, the Queen's family soon begin replacing them. Marriages into several noble families of old lineage occur for the Woodvilles and they gain several important positions as well. Warwick, increasingly frustrated by his lack of influence and power of the King and his court, retires to his estates, and as such begins thinking of ways to really get rid of the Woodvilles. Queen Elizabeth's power, is augmented by the birth of daughters Elizabeth in 1466 and Mary in 1467, though the lack of a male heir gives those who oppose her and her family hope.

Warwick is joined in his discontent with the King, by his brother John Neville, who having had his title Earl of Northumberland removed and replaced by Henry Percy in that position, is suitably aggravated to join his brother in his plotting and schemes. In the midst of all this is Edmund, Duke of Bedford, and a powerful man in his own right, Edmund, is fiercely loyal to his older brother, and whilst he does not really like the Woodvilles, he harbours no ill will toward Elizabeth, and so works with them as best he can, though he is deeply concerned over their growing power and influence. In 1469, the final straw breaks, and in his refusal to allow his brother George, Duke of Clarence, to marry Isabel Neville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick, Edward inadvertently ignites the flame of rebellion. Battles break out in 1469, between forces loyal to the King and those fighting under Robin of Redsdale. Eventually, these battles end and Warwick alongside his son in law Clarence and his daughters flee to France, where they come into contact with King Louis XI, and the exiled Lancastrian court. After much negotiation and debate, Warwick and Margaret of Anjou put aside their differences and ally together, sparking of the next phase of the War of the Roses.
 
In 1470, the Earl of Warwick lands with a force of men, at the same time, Lancastrian loyalists begin staging rebellions within northern and western England. Having to deal with these rebellions, the King sends his brother Edmund northwards to face off against Lancastrian loyalists there, a move which will see him crush those small rebellions for the time being, whilst Edward moves to cut off Warwick and his allies from one another. In a series of battles that span through the year, the King of England and his allies manage to defeat the Lancastrians whilst also seeing to the deaths of Warwick, his brother Montagu and several other prominent Lancastrians. However, Edward of Westminster, the Lancastrian Prince of Wales manages to escape back to France alongside his cousin the Lancastrian Marquess of Dorset. King Edward IV having been badly wounded during the course of one of the battles, dies from his wounds shortly after hearing of victory against the Lancastrians.

Whilst, his death is a blow to the Yorkists, what further serves to worsen things, is the fact that his wife Elizabeth had delivered a stillborn son, and as such is now a widow. Edward died leaving behind 3 daughters and no sons, leading to who should succeed to the throne, as no woman had ever successfully claimed the throne, though the throne had passed through the female line before. After much discussion and debate, it is finally decided that Edmund, Duke of Bedford, shall ascend the throne, the reasoning being that they need an adult not a child, who also happens to be a girl on the throne, what with the Lancastrians still having a figure to rally around. To unite the two factions, it is agreed that when Edmund's eldest son comes of age, he shall marry Edward IV's eldest daughter Elizabeth of York.
 
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