Edward IVs coronation. June 1461.
The Coronation of Edward IV took place on 28 June 1461 at Westminster Abbey.
Following Edward’s victory at Towton and the isolation of Lancastrian resistance to a relatively small number of areas of the country, preparations were made for his Coronation.
Context: events around the Coronation of Edward IV
King Edward, after the festivities of Easter, which he celebrated with great splendour at York, having placed garrisons throughout the whole country in whom he could fully rely, returned, as conqueror, to London. Here he immediately assembled the Parliament, and was crowned at Westminster by the venerable father Thomas, archbishop of Canterbury, and solemnly graced with the diadem of sovereignty. In this Parliament it was enacted that whatever had been granted or obtained in the reigns of the three kings immediately preceding, that is to say, in the times of Henry the Fourth, Henry the Fifth, and Henry the Sixth, was of no valdidity whatever, but that the same was to be entirely cancelled and annulled. [Coinage] changed and re-coined, in order that the name of Henry, which was inscribed thereon, might be utterly obliterated.
The consequence was, that, among the other things revoked by this enactment, the charter of vacation of our abbey [Croyland], which had been obtained in the time of king Henry the Fifth by the venerable father abbot Thomas Overton, of pious memory, as well as the charter which had been lately granted
us by king Henry the Sixth, conferring certain privileges and liberties in the vill of Croyland, were pronounced to be utterly devoid of all validity. In these days, however, the kingdom enjoyed peace, and all people returned thanks to Almighty God for the triumph granted them by heaven over their enemies.From the Croyland (Crowland) Chronicle
Coronation of Edward IV
The ceremony was a lavish affair. It includes the crowning of the King and the preparation of a large and ornate genealogical roll that ‘proved’ his legitimacy and historical ties to Brutus, Helen of Troy, and the origins of man. Educators – see Teaching about the Edward IV Roll.
The proceedings included Edward creating 32 men as Knights of the Order of Bath. They then paraded along a carefully prepared route to hold vigil before the enthroning ceremony the next day. Wine was flowing freely from the conduits at the Eleanor Cross and Cornhill. Windows were decorated with gold and silver braid.
Phillipe de Commynes noted:
“I don’t recall ever having seen such a fine looking man…”.
During this, the Kings Champion, Sir Thomas Dymoke of Skivensby, rode into the hall in his ceremonial armour. He threw down his gauntlet and challenged anyone to assert that Edward was not the legitimate King.
Related Content
Edward IV proclaimed King (1461)
The Battles of Mortimer’s Cross – Second Saint Albans – Ferrybridge – Towton
Coronation of Elizabeth Woodville as Queen Consort
Coronation of Margaret of Anjou as Queen Consort