Day 13 is Middleham Castle in Yorkshire; the northern stronghold of the Nevilles https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Castle-in-the-Wars-of-the-Roses-Hardback/p/18426 #WOTRS_castles @penswordbooks @EnglishHeritage 1/12

The earliest castle was a motte and bailey constructed following the Norman conquest. This site was later abandoned, with a new structure built nearby in the second half of the twelfth century, including its impressive keep 2/12

Middleham was later acquired through marriage by Robert de Neville, Baron Raby, in 1270. The fortunes of the family were greatly improved by the elevation of Ralph Neville, to the newly created earldom of Westmorland in 1397 3/12

After his death in 1425 the earldom was inherited by his oldest son, also called Ralph. However, most of his estates and properties, including Middleham, passed to his eldest son from his 2nd marriage, Richard, earl of Salisbury 4/12

It was at Middleham where Salisbury convened a meeting of his council, during which he was said to have pledged to ‘take full part with the full noble prince, the Duke of York’, in the Yorkist attempt to seize control of the government of Henry VI 5/12

Salisbury marched southwards from Middleham supposedly accompanied by a force of 5,000 men. However, the campaign ended with the flight of the Yorkist lords overseas. In 1460, they invaded the realm, but York and Salisbury were later killed at the Battle of Wakefield 6/12

Salisbury’s eldest son, Richard, earl of Warwick, regained control of Middleham following the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Towton in 1461, which he used as his headquarters for campaigns against Lancastrian rebels in the north on behalf of Edward IV in the early 1460s 7/12

In 1469, Warwick rebelled against his cousin Edward IV, with his constable of Middleham castle, Sir John Conyers of Hornby, leading a force from his estates in Yorkshire, who defeated the royalist army at the Battle of Edgecote 8/12

Edward IV was captured & imprisoned at Warwick Castle, but fears that his supporters in the south might attempt to rescue him, led to him being moved to Middleham. Yet Warwick was unable to maintain control over the kingdom so soon freed his cousin 9/12

Warwick rebelled against Edward IV again in 1470 and managed to depose him for a time but was ultimately defeated and killed in the following year, after which Middleham was granted to the king’s youngest brother, Richard, duke of Gloucester 10/12

Middleham was one of Richard’s principal castles in the north, where he had spent part of his childhood, it was also where his son, Edward of Middleham, was born in 1473, and also where he died 11 years later 11/12

If you want out to find more about Middleham and other castles during the Wars of the Roses, then consider checking out my book https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Castle-in-the-Wars-of-the-Roses-Hardback/p/18426 #WOTRS_castles 12/12/