The Stafford Earl of Devon: Yorkist Friend or Foe?

Lol. I actually meant if Staff goes on the run and leaves his wife holding the metaphorical baby. They can't execute her (Henry VIII needed acts of Parliament to execute women IIRC, and they WERE (supposedly) guilty of treason. Here Mrs Stafford simply has the misfortune to be married to the wrong side. They could jail her, I guess, but thats just gonna piss her husband/relations off and make them less likely to support the Lancastrians. Of course, I guess they could do what Dickon did with the countesses of Oxford and Warwick, but I'd imagine the Lancastrians are gonna try not rock the boat TOO much until Queen Marguerite crosses the Channel with Prince Edward. Warwick might try something, but he wasn't exactly trusted by the Beauforts surrounding mad ole Henry.

Anne Boleyn was executed for adultery, incest and witchcraft.
Anne Rochefort, George Boleyn's wife, was subjected to intense psychological pressure, and she was declared insane in early 1542. But, determined to punish her for complicity in adultery, Henry VIII enacted a law allowing the execution of madmen.
Margaret de la Pole (daughter of George of Clarence) was executed because of her son's claims to the throne of Henry VIII.

At the time of Edward IV, women were either confined or imprisoned. But never executed.
 
Hightailing it over the Channel it is then. I guess Staff might still have a fair amount of explaining to do to Edward concerning his actions against the Courtenays when they meet up though. Hope Staff is less arrogant and more persuasive than his Buckingham cousins.

When Stafford realized his mistakes, he tried to apologize. Evidence that he wasn't a bad guy. But I doubt that John Courtenay is of the opinion that he should forgive. He will sue Stafford to make him pay for his brother's execution. Are you expecting a military confrontation between Courtenay and Stafford? What will be the outcome?
 
When Stafford realized his mistakes, he tried to apologize. Evidence that he wasn't a bad guy. But I doubt that John Courtenay is of the opinion that he should forgive. He will sue Stafford to make him pay for his brother's execution. Are you expecting a military confrontation between Courtenay and Stafford? What will be the outcome?

Not really. More like Stafford realizes the jig is up when Edward bolts, and follows because he doesn't know which of his retainers he can trust.
 
Not really. More like Stafford realizes the jig is up when Edward bolts, and follows because he doesn't know which of his retainers he can trust.

Joan Courtenay, sister of Henry, Earl of Devon, received a donation from Stafford, confirmed by Edward IV's Parliament, on November 18, 1469, a few months after Stafford's death in our TL. What are you going to do about it? When Stafford realized his mistakes, he tried to make it up to him. But I doubt John Courtenay would be of the opinion that he should forgive. He will sue Stafford to make him pay for his brother's execution. Are you expecting a military confrontation between Courtenay and Stafford? What will be the outcome?
 
Joan Courtenay, sister of Henry, Earl of Devon, received a donation from Stafford, confirmed by Edward IV's Parliament, on November 18, 1469, a few months after Stafford's death in our TL. What are you going to do about it? When Stafford realized his mistakes, he tried to make it up to him. But I doubt John Courtenay would be of the opinion that he should forgive. He will sue Stafford to make him pay for his brother's execution. Are you expecting a military confrontation between Courtenay and Stafford? What will be the outcome?

Hows about Courtenay ends up killed at Barnet/Tewkesbury? Staff hops the Channel and heads to Burgundy, survives and returns to England in Ned's train, fighting at Barnet and/or Tewkesbury. Gets the title back (AIUI after John the next earl was a pretty distant relation). Has a few kids, including the 2e earl with his wife...

No private war I'm afraid.
 
Hows about Courtenay ends up killed at Barnet/Tewkesbury? Staff hops the Channel and heads to Burgundy, survives and returns to England in Ned's train, fighting at Barnet and/or Tewkesbury. Gets the title back (AIUI after John the next earl was a pretty distant relation). Has a few kids, including the 2e earl with his wife...

No private war I'm afraid.

John Courtenay, Earl of Devon, lived in exile with Queen Margaret and Prince Edward. He returned to England shortly after Warwick replaced Henry VI on the throne. The Parliament of Henri VI reversed the attainder of Henry Courtenay. But John was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury, not married with no heir. His estate was transferred to his sisters, Joan and Elizabeth. But Edward dismissed the co-heiresses throughout his reign as well as Richard III. Edouard Courtenay, a cousin of John, was created Earl of Devon by Henry VII for helping him win the throne. If I remember correctly, the descendants of the Tudorian Earl of Devon were obliged to submit a petition to Parliament because the son of Joan Courtenay and Roger Clifford was reclaiming the title.
 
John Courtenay, Earl of Devon, lived in exile with Queen Margaret and Prince Edward. He returned to England shortly after Warwick replaced Henry VI on the throne. The Parliament of Henri VI reversed the attainder of Henry Courtenay. But John was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury, not married with no heir. His estate was transferred to his sisters, Joan and Elizabeth. But Edward dismissed the co-heiresses throughout his reign as well as Richard III. Edouard Courtenay, a cousin of John, was created Earl of Devon by Henry VII for helping him win the throne. If I remember correctly, the descendants of the Tudorian Earl of Devon were obliged to submit a petition to Parliament because the son of Joan Courtenay and Roger Clifford was reclaiming the title.

Ergo Edward would be more likely to grant the title back to Stafford who stood alongside him at Tewkesbury than to the sisters of someone who fought against him.
 
Ergo Edward would be more likely to grant the title back to Stafford who stood alongside him at Tewkesbury than to the sisters of someone who fought against him.

None of the Courtenay sisters were married in 1471. You can find them Yorkist husbands. Apparently, Joan wed after 1471 and Elizabeth after 1490.
 
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None of the Courtenay sisters were married in 1471. You can find them Yorkist husbands. Apparently, Joan wed after 1471 and Elizabeth after 1490.

A Yorkist husband doesn't necessarily mean he'll be created earl of Devon AIUI the peerage. The letters patent don't seem to have allowed female line succession. So while they're still "catches", their husband won't be better suited to be earl of Devon than Stafford
 
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