This timeline gives a chronological listing of the main events in English history for the years 1470 – 1479
The monarchs for this period were
Edward IV to October 1471,
Henry VI from October to May 1471
Edward IV from May 1471
1470 (12th March)
Battle of Losecoat Field
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and George Duke of Clarence, supported by the Lancastrians, rebelled against King Edward IV but were defeated. They fled to France.
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and George Duke of Clarence, supported by the Lancastrians, rebelled against King Edward IV but were defeated. They fled to France.
1470 (1st May)
Warwick made an alliance with Henry VI’s wife, Margaret of Anjou.
1470 (13th September)
Warwick and the Duke of Clarence at the head of an army returned to England and landed at Plymouth.
1470 (2nd October)
In the face of mounting opposition from Warwick, Edward IV fled to Burgundy.
1470 (30th October)
Henry VI was restored to the English throne with Warwick as chief minister.
1470 (2nd November)
A son, Edward, was born to Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville at the Palace of Westminster.
1470 (13th December)
Warwick’s daughter, Anne, married Henry VI’s son and heir, Prince Edward at Angers Cathedral.
1470 (November)
Edward IV’s titles and lands were confiscated by Parliament.
1471 (14th March)
Edward IV returned to England, landing at Ravenspur in Yorkshire, at the head of a Burgundian Yorkist army. He was joined by the Earl of Northumberland and his brother George Duke of Clarence who defected from Warwick.
1471 (14th April)
Battle of Barnet
The Lancastrians led by Warwick met Edward’s Yorkist force at Barnet. After a three hour fight in thick fog, two Lancastrian divisions mistakenly attacked each other and the army broke and fled. Warwick fled but was knocked off his horse and killed.
The Lancastrians led by Warwick met Edward’s Yorkist force at Barnet. After a three hour fight in thick fog, two Lancastrian divisions mistakenly attacked each other and the army broke and fled. Warwick fled but was knocked off his horse and killed.
1471 (25th June)
Edward’s son, Edward was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester.
1471 (4th May)
Battle of Tewekesbury
Edward IV, supported by his brother, Richard of Gloucester, attacked Margaret of Anjou’s forces as they were leaving for Wales. The Lancastrians were defeated and Edward, Prince of Wales, was killed. Margaret of Anjou was captured.
Edward IV, supported by his brother, Richard of Gloucester, attacked Margaret of Anjou’s forces as they were leaving for Wales. The Lancastrians were defeated and Edward, Prince of Wales, was killed. Margaret of Anjou was captured.
1471 (mid May)
Edward returned triumphant to London. It is believed that Henry VI was murdered in the Tower of London on the same day. Margaret of Anjou was placed under house arrest.
1471 (June)
Henry Tudor, son of Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort, grandson of Catherine of Valois, wife of Henry V, by her second marriage to Owen Tudor, the last remaining Lancastrian hope for the crown, fled to Brittany with his uncle, Jasper Tudor.
1471 (3rd July)
Edward created his brother, Richard of Gloucester, Constable and Admiral of England.
1472 (during)
The building of York Minster was completed.
1472 (10th April)
A daughter, Margaret, was born to Edward and Elizabeth Woodville at Windsor Castle.
1472 (12th July)
Edward’s brother, Richard Duke of Gloucester, married Anne Neville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick.
1472 (11th December)
Edward’s daughter, Margaret, died.
1473 (17th August)
A son, Richard, was born to Edward and Elizabeth Woodville at the Dominican Friary, Shrewsbury.
1474 (28th May)
Edward’s son, Richard, was created Duke of York.
1475 (during)
Edward negotiated a peace with Scotland.
1475 (4th July)
Edward IV invaded France with a large army to support his Burgundian allies against France.
1475 (August)
Treaty of Picquigny
Having received no help from Burgundy Edward decided to negotiate a peace with France. This was a seven year peace treaty between Louis XI and Edward IV that agreed that Louis would pay a yearly sum of money to keep the English away from France. Louis also agreed to pay a ransom to free Margaret of Anjou.
Having received no help from Burgundy Edward decided to negotiate a peace with France. This was a seven year peace treaty between Louis XI and Edward IV that agreed that Louis would pay a yearly sum of money to keep the English away from France. Louis also agreed to pay a ransom to free Margaret of Anjou.
1475 (2nd November)
A daughter, Anne, was born to Edward and Elizabeth Woodville at the Palace of Westminster.
1476 (during)
William Caxton set up the first printing press in England at Westminster.
1476 (during)
Edward IV began an affair with Jane Shore.
1477 (March)
A son, George, was born to Edward and Elizabeth Woodville at the Palace of Westminster.
1478 (during)
William Caxton published the first printed copy of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.
1478 (15th January)
Edward’s son Richard, Duke of York aged four was married to Anne de Mowbray, Countess of Norfolk, aged five.
1478 (18th February)
Edward had his brother, George Duke of Clarence, tried for treason and executed.
1479 (March)
Edward’s son, George, died at Windsor Castle.
1479 (8th July)
Edward’s son, Edward, was created Earl of March.
1479 (14th August)
A daughter, Katherine, was born to Edward and Elizabeth Woodville at Eltham Palace, Kent.
Published Jul 2, 2017 @ 9:57 am – Updated – [last-modified]
Harvard Reference for this page:
Heather Y Wheeler. (2017 – 2020). English History 1470 – 1479. https://www.thetimelinegeek.com/english-history-1470-1479. Last accessed [date]