Sir Edward Northwood

(b. 1437 d.1505)

BIOGRAPHY:

Sir Edward Northwood was born to the 2nd Earl of Sussex Sir Henry Northwood in 1437 and was the second son of five children.

By the time he was 18 he had won his spurs in the First Battle of St Albans on May 22, 1455, like his namesake Edward The Black Prince had done some seventy years before.

In 1456 he left the shores of England to seek his fame and fortune in Hungary against the invading Turks becoming a renowned military commander and forming the Great Northwood Company. Within his thirteen year stay in Hungary he trained extensively in the use of military weapons from the Hungarian Re-curve bow and Crossbow to swords and other knightly weapons. He was a respected military man amongst both his own men and the enemy forces. He was made a knight commander in the Order of the Dragon and amassed a large fortune, becoming one of the richest and most powerful men in Hungary as well as being married to Maria youngest daughter to the King of Hungary.

In 1469 he returned to England after hearing the news that his elder brother John and his father had been killed in 1468 in the siege of the mighty fortress of Harlech (Wales). The next year his wife died giving birth to their fourth child. Depressed at his loss he tried to remain out of the hostilities until King Edward IV returned to England to seize back his kingdom from Henry VI. It was at this time, and in order to keep himself occupied and fighting fit that he re-formed The Great Northwood Company who were highly praised for their valour in both the Battle of Barnet and the Battle of Tewkesbury.

At this moment in time (1471) the political climate has changed and Sir Edward is acting as protector (alongside the 18 year old, Richard Duke of Gloucester) for Lady Cicely Neville, mother to the king and her two daughters Anne and Margaret of York (lately married to the Duke of Burgundy) as they make their way back to London to visit King Edward.

In 1475, it was discovered that Sir Edward had been involved in a relationship with Margaret Beaufort. The king was not pleased to hear of the connection and swiftly pushed for a marriage between Lady Margaret and Thomas, Lord Stanley the Earl of Derby. This marriage would be much more suitable for the King's political ends. Although rumours had been spreading of a connection between the two long before their relationship was uncovered, the King was inclined to be leniant and allowed Sir Edward to keep his lands and titles for services rendered previously.

At the age of 48 Sir Edward was to change sides and after spending some years in France, he returned to England with the Army of Henry Tudor defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. Once Henry Tudor became King Henry VII of England, Edward's titles and lands were increased as well as being made a knight of the Garter, and one of the few knights to be made a knight of three orders of knighthoods.

In 1505 Edward received word that the Turks were once more invading Hungary, so he with Prince Henry set off with the Great Northwood Company to fight against the Turks, a battle in which he was to be killed at the age of 68. His eldest son John was made the 4th Duke of Salisbury and the 1st Duke of Sussex after Edward's death by the now King of England Henry the VIII.