Battle of Edgcote 1469
Who Fought
Pembroke's Welsh contingent: estimated 3,000-5,000; Devon's contingent (with most archers): estimated 800-1,500; Rebel force: estimated 3,000-5,000
History & Significance
The Battle of Edgcote (also known as the Battle of Banbury or the Battle of Danes Moor) took place on 24 July 1469, during the Wars of the Roses. It was fought between a royal army, commanded by the earls of Pembroke and Devon, and a rebel force led by supporters of the Earl of Warwick.
The battle took place 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Banbury in Oxfordshire; it resulted in a rebel victory which temporarily handed power over to the Earl of Warwick. By September, though, Edward IV of England was back in control, and Warwick found himself in a situation similar to the one before the battle, prompting him to plan a second rebellion. After Edgcote there was no turning back. Edward could no longer trust him fully and he was inexorably moving towards becoming a Lancastrian.
Edgcote has a reputation for being one of the least well-documented battles of the period, though numerous contemporary, or near contemporary, records and chronicles refer to it. Details in accounts diverge in terms of numbers, leaders, casualties, and the course of the fighting, but not all of these "divergences" are contradictory. The heavy casualties suffered by Pembroke's Welsh forces made it a popular topic for Welsh poets.
Close allies in deposing Henry VI in 1461, by 1469 the relationship between Warwick and Edward IV had broken down. After marrying Elizabeth Woodville in 1464, Edward increasingly relied on her family, who competed with the Nevilles for lands and positions. Concerned by his close connection with Warwick, Edward blocked a proposed marriage between Clarence, his younger brother and heir, and Warwick's eldest daughter Isabel. For various reasons, Clarence greatly resented this.
In April 1469, a revolt broke out in Yorkshire, under a leader called Robin of Redesdale. His true identity is unknown. Numerous candidates have been suggested: Sir John Conyers, steward of Warwick's Middleham Castle, either of his sons, another John Conyers or Sir William Conyers of Marske (d. 1469), Sir Richard Welles, and Sir Henry Neville. Alternatively, he could have been an unknown commoner, a "villain called Robin of Riddesdale" as described in Jean de Waurin's Chronicle. In May, a second rebellion began, led by a figure known as Robin of Holderness, demanding the restoration of Henry Percy, traditional Earl of Northumberland.
John Neville, the current Earl, quickly suppressed this and executed its leader, although he made little attempt to intercept Robin of Redesdale. Confident the rebellion was well in hand and accompanied only by his personal household troops, Edward moved slowly north through Lincolnshire, reaching Crowland in early July. On 9 July, he discovered the rebel army was considerably larger than previously advised, followed by even more disturbing news from London.
The ground they fought on
The site of Battle of Edgcote 1469 lies on Lias Group, bedrock that formed in the Aalenian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, limestone and sandstone.
- Royal army: 168 knights and gentry, circa 2,000 others; Rebel force: unknown, but notable losses included Sir Henry Neville, Sir William Conyers and Sir Oliver Dudley
This battlefield is listed on the Register of Historic Battlefields — a national designation identifying Britain's most significant battle sites for protection and further research. Reference: NHLE 1413782.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Battle of Edgcote 1469 · Historic England
- Battle of Edgcote · Wikidata
- Battle_of_Edgcote · Wikipedia
- Battle of Edgcote · Battlefields Trust