Richard Woodville, 1st Earl Rivers

Richard Woodville was a scion of a Northamptonshire family with a very small estate. He distinguished himself during the last two decades of the Hundred Years’ War (1337–1453), and in 1436 he married the wealthy Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Duchess of Bedford.

On May 1, 1464, Rivers married his daughter Elizabeth to Edward IV (r. 1461-1470, 1471-1483) and through royal favors Rivers was created Earl Rivers in 1466 and constable of England in 1467 while most of his five surviving sons and eight daughters were married into noble families. His rapid climb on the social ladder made the older nobility to look upon him with hatred. The destruction of his family was one of the aims of the rebellion against Edward IV in 1469. After Edward’s defeat at Edgecote, Northamptonshire (July 1469), Rivers and one of his sons were captured and beheaded.

At his death Rivers was worth about £40,000, 1.14% of net national income of £3.5m at the time.