George Nevill, Duke of Bedford
Encyclopedia
George Neville, 2nd Duke of Bedford (1461 – 4 May 1483) was an English nobleman, who as a young boy had the possibility of becoming a great magnate, but never did due to the political failure of his father and uncle.
He was the son of John Neville, Earl of Northumberland
(and later Marquess Montagu), a younger brother of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
. His mother was Isobel Ingoldsthorpe, only daughter and heiress of Sir Edmund Ingoldsthorpe and Joan Tiptoft.
At birth George was the likely or possible heir to a large estate. Most definite was the property of his father's earldom, his mother's Ingoldsthorpe estates, and the more modest jointure of his parents. The latter two were by themselves sufficient to support a baron. He was also heir presumptive(after his father) to the Neville estates of his uncle the Earl of Warwick. These were entailed to heirs male and the earl had only daughters. Finally, George was likely to inherit (after his mother and grandmother) a third share of the Tiptoft property held by his childless great-uncle the Earl of Worcester. The inheritances altogether would yield around 4,000 pounds a year, which compares favorably with the 4500 pounds annual income of the Duke of Clarence, the greatest magnate of the time.
He was made Duke of Bedford
in 1470, as the intended husband of Elizabeth of York
. The title had lain unused since John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford
died on 14 September 1435. However, his father and his uncle (the Earl of Warwick
) rebelled against Edward IV
the next year and were slain. An act of attainder
was never passed against them, but George never received any inheritance from them or from his maternal ancestors. An act of parliament in 1475 gave the Neville inheritance in the north of England to Richard, Duke of Gloucester
. He had a half-interest in the estates of his maternal grandfather, Sir Edmund Ingoldsthorpe, and his maternal grandmother, Joan Tiptoft, who was sister and heiress of John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester
.
Shortly before he came of age in 1478 he was deprived of the title by act of parliament, ostensibly for lack of money to maintain the style of a duke.
He was the son of John Neville, Earl of Northumberland
John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu
John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu KG was a Yorkist leader in the Wars of the Roses, best-known for eliminating Lancastrian resistance in the north of England during the early part of the reign of Edward IV of England....
(and later Marquess Montagu), a younger brother of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville KG, jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute , known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander...
. His mother was Isobel Ingoldsthorpe, only daughter and heiress of Sir Edmund Ingoldsthorpe and Joan Tiptoft.
At birth George was the likely or possible heir to a large estate. Most definite was the property of his father's earldom, his mother's Ingoldsthorpe estates, and the more modest jointure of his parents. The latter two were by themselves sufficient to support a baron. He was also heir presumptive(after his father) to the Neville estates of his uncle the Earl of Warwick. These were entailed to heirs male and the earl had only daughters. Finally, George was likely to inherit (after his mother and grandmother) a third share of the Tiptoft property held by his childless great-uncle the Earl of Worcester. The inheritances altogether would yield around 4,000 pounds a year, which compares favorably with the 4500 pounds annual income of the Duke of Clarence, the greatest magnate of the time.
He was made Duke of Bedford
Duke of Bedford
thumb|right|240px|William Russell, 1st Duke of BedfordDuke of Bedford is a title that has been created five times in the Peerage of England. The first creation came in 1414 in favour of Henry IV's third son, John, who later served as regent of France. He was made Earl of Kendal at the same time...
in 1470, as the intended husband of Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until 1503, and mother of King Henry VIII of England....
. The title had lain unused since John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford
John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford
John of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Bedford, KG , also known as John Plantagenet, was the third surviving son of King Henry IV of England by Mary de Bohun, and acted as Regent of France for his nephew, King Henry VI....
died on 14 September 1435. However, his father and his uncle (the Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick
Richard Neville KG, jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury and 8th and 5th Baron Montacute , known as Warwick the Kingmaker, was an English nobleman, administrator, and military commander...
) rebelled against Edward IV
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
the next year and were slain. An act of attainder
Attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura is the metaphorical 'stain' or 'corruption of blood' which arises from being condemned for a serious capital crime . It entails losing not only one's property and hereditary titles, but typically also the right to pass them on to one's heirs...
was never passed against them, but George never received any inheritance from them or from his maternal ancestors. An act of parliament in 1475 gave the Neville inheritance in the north of England to Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
. He had a half-interest in the estates of his maternal grandfather, Sir Edmund Ingoldsthorpe, and his maternal grandmother, Joan Tiptoft, who was sister and heiress of John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester
John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester
John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester KG , English nobleman and scholar, was the son of John Tiptoft, 1st Baron Tiptoft and Joyce Cherleton, co-heiress of Edward Charleton, 5th Baron Cherleton. He was also known as the Butcher of England...
.
Shortly before he came of age in 1478 he was deprived of the title by act of parliament, ostensibly for lack of money to maintain the style of a duke.