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The Shame of the Plantagenet's
Hey everyone, this is my first TL so be kind. The intention of this TL is to look into the War of the Rose's and its effects on the nations of the British Isles and if it proves popular see what goes from there. If you have any comments, suggestions or want to debate this timeline please feel free. Hope you enjoy.
Background and Point of Divergence
May 1471
Edward the IV has just won a crushing victory at the Battle of Barnet over the Traitor Earl of Warwick and once again the three Brothers of York; Edward IV, King of England, George, Duke of Clarence and Richard, Duke of Gloucester were united, along with the Lancaster King, Henry the VI being in chains and locked in the Tower of London.
In Wales, Margaret of Anjou and the Lancastrian heir to the throne Edward, Prince of Wales have crossed the river severn with the fealty of the city of Gloucester's Governor Richard Beauchamp, the 2nd Baron of Beauchamp (Point of Divergence). She has joined with Jasper Tudor's Lancasterian Army at Pembroke Castle and are attempting to prepare for another invasion of England. In Kent, the Cousin of Warwick, Thomas Neville, the Bastard of Fauconberg, was raising an army for the Lancastrian cause and had command of most of the Dukedom of Kent for the Lancastrian Claim.
In Scotland, James III has received great criticism from the Parliament of Scotland over his continental expansion plans and his obsessive desire for an military and marital alliance with England. This has caused friction between him and his brother, the Duke of Albany and even led for calls for his abdication by some of the far northern lords, however this has quelled ever so slightly by James's annexation of the Island's of Orkney and Shetland from the Kingdom of Norway through his wife's marriage dowry.
Ireland itself was all but in name Independent from England, with the poor management for the Lordship of Ireland by Henry VI and the civil war in England still ongoing the powerful gaelic lords in Ireland were the rulers and had not declared support for either House York or Lancaster. Powerful Irish magnates were Kings in Ireland effectively.
The Yorkist Retaliation
With victory in Barnet and the Lancastrians fleeing to Pembroke Edward IV was able to return to London and be re-crowned as King of England and demand that all of the Lords and Magnates of England swear fealty to him as their King and that they denounce House Lancaster as "traitors of the crown and of England". But while he may have crowned himself in London all over the country rebellions and war was breaking out. In the North Lancasterian rebels had assaulted York, but been repealed, in Wales Margaret of Anjou and Jasper Tudor were rallying more support every day and in Kent the Bastard of Fauconberg's forces were very formidable.
Besieged by all sides Edward IV took a huge risk and ordered the public execution of Henry VI at the urging of his brother Richard and George. This execution was a shock to all of England and brought the Bastard of Fauconberg to battle. Fauconberg raised his army and headed for a siege at London. Edward IV well aware of the danger he and his crown faced from the three great Lancasterian armies in Wales, York and Kent sent his Lord Chamberlain, William Hastings Baron of Hastings, to York in the aim of commanding his Northern forces. He named Hastings Earl of Westmorland and Warden of the Northern Marches and sent him with a retinue of around 100 horsed soldiers to York.
Hastings left London on May 21st and four days later Edward IV raised his levies and made for Kingston upon Thames believing that it was the best place to fight against Fauconberg's oncoming army. Edward took with him both his brothers, the Earl of Northumberland, Duke of Buckingham and the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, as well as a host of powerful southern magnates all in the hope of picking up as many men as possible on the way to the battle. Edward would arrive at Kingston in two days and begin preparations for battle and Fauconberg's host would arrive on the 1st of June. Hoping that peace might be reached Edward offered to parley with Fauconberg but it only resulted in Edward having his messengers head returned to him in a box.
The Battle would take place on the 2nd of June, with Edward taking the centre, the Duke of Northumberland given command of the left and his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester given command of the right and the vanguard. The battle would be a decisive victory for the King despite being outnumbered by nearly 5,000 men. Fauconberg's obsession with vengeance against Edward led to a rout as he effectively declared an all out charge, over confident due to his superior numbers. It was reported that Fauconberg was killed during the battle but rumors said that Richard killed Fauconberg following his surrender.
Scotland's response
War on the borders of Scotland was not something it had wanted, the English civil war had been far south of its borders but now with the revolts in Northumberland and York it was causing unrest on the Scottish Earldoms of Dunbar and Annandale. James III began to see this unrest as an opportunity to gain favour with the English King and possible being negotiations of a future alliance. James III produced a plan to his courtiers, a small group on common men of particular talents greatly hated by the nobility for their royal favour, of a Scottish Invasion of Northern England under the Yorkist banner to aid the in the quelling of the unrest.
This plan when eventually presented to the Lord's of Scotland caused outrage and anger, many believing that the English civil war was a benefit not a hinderance to Scotland and any Scottish force invading England would be for expansion not in their defence. This anger would find its voice in Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus and in the King's brother the Duke of Albany who both refused to supply men and resources to fight an English War. James III was infuriated and demanded his Lord's obey his wishes which only resulted in the cordial refusal by his Lords.
James III arguably made his biggest mistake following that meeting as he appointed Robert Cochrane, an architect and royal favourite of no noble birth, to the post of Lord Chancellor of Scotland and made him Marquess of Pebbles, and ordered him to prepare for his plans to support the English King in the north. This resulted in what is known in Scottish history has the "peasants rising" as with Cochrane's appointment as Lord Chancellor in August 16th, key royal positions went to many of the King's courtiers instead of men from noble birth. The new Ambassador to England was Robert of the Dales, a Singer and playwright, the High Steward was Alexander Mac Gilr, a son of a english merchant, and the position of Constable of the Borders was revoked from the Earl of Dunbar and given to Thomas, Lord of Renfrew, another musician. These appointment were all made over the course of 1471 in attempts by Lord Chancellor Cochrane to implement the King's plans for joining the English civil war.
End of 1471
By the end of the year 1471, the Lancastrian court in Wales had crowned Edward King of England and had rallied the support of almost all the welsh lords and magnates.
Edward IV had quelled his southern lords and rebellions and was looking to Wales and the North to bring order back to his Kingdom.
James III in Scotland had through his own obsession with an English alliance and his favouritism of men from no noble birth caused great unrest among the nobility of Scotland and put in place a court of commoners in many's eyes bringing Scotland to a political logerhead.