Factional rivalries: Warwick 'the Kingmaker'; attempts to restore Henry VI; Margaret of Anjou; Edward, Prince of Wales
After Edward IV took the throne, the Earl of Warwick switched sides and tried to put Henry VI back in power. He allied with Henry's queen, Margaret of Anjou, and her son Edward, Prince of Wales, to destroy Yorkist rule.
Real World
Warwick's alliance with Margaret of Anjou in 1470 — his sworn enemy just months earlier — illustrates how dynastic politics could override personal hostility entirely; it parallels the cynical 'strange bedfellows' coalitions of Renaissance Italian city-states, where former enemies united solely to destroy a common rival.
Exam Focus
When assessing Warwick's motives, distinguish personal grievance (Woodvilles, foreign policy) from constitutional principle — examiners reward nuanced motive analysis.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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