On 25 March 1470 Henry Percy was reinstated as Earl of Northumberland by King Edward IV. Henry Percy had been denied his inheritance as Earl of Northumberland because of his father’s affiliation to the Lancastrians. The 4th Earl of Northumberland had been a minor when his father had perished at Towton, leaving other members of his family to manage what remained of Percy power in the north east and Yorkshire until his restoration in 1470.
The Percy family following the death of the 3rd Earl of Northumberland in the Battle of Towton faced many problems. They’re lands in the far north were the home of the Lancastrian enclave that held out against the Yorkists. This Lancastrian control and had prolonged the process of securing control of the north by Edward IV. Much of the Percy land, and the title Earl of Northumberland, had subsequently been granted to Lord Montagu in lieu of his role in suppressing the Lancastrian resistance, and due to his status within the Neville family. .
As was often the case with the Percy family, Henry managed to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the crown. Therefore, Edward chose to reinstate Percy, with Lord Montagu being granted lands elsewhere by way of compensation.
For the crown, it was prudent to re-establish Percy control over Northumberland. The family had a long history of governance in the region, were well respected by their tenants and had the confidence of the major cities of York and Newcastle.
Additionally, the Percy family were well-versed in Anglo-Scottish politics and had acted as Wardens of the Eastern Marches for many years. Politically it was beneficial in many ways to return the Percy family to their position. It could limit the risk of insurrection in the region, enhance control of the border, and ease future negotiations with the Scots.
The restoration of the Percy family to the Earldom had consequences. It impacted John Neville who, despite being granted a higher rank as part of the reallocations. This contributed to his willingness to side with his brother in revolt. Conversely, the restoration of the Percy family meant that in 1471 when Edward IV returned from exile in the low Countries, he was able to land on the East Coast of Yorkshire and make his way inland relatively free of threat: he disembarked in an area dominated by the Percy family.