Rivers, Richard Woodville, 1st Earl definition of Rivers, Richard Woodville, 1st Earl in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Rivers, Richard Woodville, 1st Earl, d. 1469, English nobleman. He was knighted (1426) by Henry VI and acquired wealth and power by marrying (c.1436) Jacquetta of Luxemburg, widow of John of Lancaster, duke of Bedford. He served in the wars in France and helped suppress the rebellion (1450) of Jack Cade in England. In the Wars of the Roses, Rivers fought for Henry VI until the Lancastrian defeat at Towton (1461). He then transferred his loyalty to the Yorkist Edward IV, to whom he gave his daughter (see Woodville, Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth, 1437–92, queen consort of Edward IV of England. She was the daughter of Richard Woodville (later the 1st Earl Rivers ). Her first husband, Sir John Grey, was killed fighting on the Lancastrian side at the battle of St.
..... Click the link for more information. ) in marriage in 1464. He and his family soon received extensive royal favors, Rivers himself becoming treasurer and then constable (1467) of England. He was created earl in 1466. The favoritism shown the Woodville faction embittered Richard Neville, earl of Warwick Warwick, Richard Neville, earl of (nĕv`əl, wŏr`ĭk), 1428–71, English nobleman, called the Kingmaker.
..... Click the link for more information. , who rebelled in 1469. Rivers was captured and executed after Edward's defeat at Edgecot. His eldest son,

Anthony Woodville, 2d Earl Rivers, 1442?–1483, accompanied Edward into exile (1470–71) and later served him in various capacities. In 1473 he was appointed guardian of Edward, prince of Wales (later Edward V). On Edward IV's death, however, Rivers was arrested by Richard, duke of Gloucester (later Richard III Richard III, 1452–85, king of England (1483–85), younger brother of Edward IV . Created duke of Gloucester at Edward's coronation (1461), he served his brother faithfully during Edward's lifetime—fighting at Barnet and Tewkesbury and later invading
..... Click the link for more information. ), and executed. A somewhat romantic and otherworldly figure, Rivers wrote translations of various French works. His Dictes and Sayengis of the Philosophres (1477) was the first dated book printed in England by William Caxton.