On 21 August 1484 John de la Pole Earl of Lincoln, was appointed Lieutenant of Ireland.

John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, was one of the House of York’s senior members. He had served Richard III well since his accession to the throne.

President of the Council of the North

Lincoln had already been made president of the Council of the North, which gave him a degree of authority. It was far from as extensive a remit as had been held by Richard through his Ducal council.

Lieutenant of Ireland

The appointment as Lieutenant of Ireland was the highest rank outside of the 6 great roles of state that could be bestowed onto somebody. A Lieutenant acted on behalf of the King and exercised monarchical powers in his name.

Some historians believe that in naming the Earl of Lincoln as Lieutenant, Richard was effectively marking him as heir presumptive.

The Irish link and Lambert Simnel

The Irish connection proved to be useful to the Earl once he chose to join the 1487 rebellion against Henry Tudor. It was to Ireland that he, Lovell and the pretender, Lambert Simnel travelled.

They crowned the pretender as King and used the Irish affinity with the House of York to recruit an army. It was that army that landed at Piel Island and fought and lost the Battle of Stoke Field, in which John de la Pole was killed.