William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings
William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings of Hungerford (* 1431, † June 13, 1483 ) was one of the most powerful men in England during the reign of King Edward IV, but was executed after he was accused of a conspiracy against his former companions Richard III. planned to have.
His parents were Sir Leonard Hastings and Alice Camoys. His mother is a great-granddaughter of Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence, the second son of Edward III.
As a young man, he grew up in the household of his distant cousin Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and became friends with his eldest son Edward. This he followed over the following years with unswerving loyalty, which earned him IV after the takeover Edwards large territorial gains at the expense of the defeated Lancaster trailers.
He married Katherine Neville, sister of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick.
As in 1470, the Lancaster Henry VI. again enthroned and Edward IV, not least with vigorous assistance on the part of Neville, who had changed sides, distributed, William followed his master into exile. In 1471 he was again at Edward's side and led troops in the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury, as the Yorkist supporters of Henry VI. final beat and the rule of Edward IV newly built.
When in April 1483 the king died suddenly, William watched suspiciously the actions of the powerful family of Dowager Queen Elizabeth Woodville, aimed at inducing the minor son Edward IV, Edward V, to keep the regency in her hand. Since Edward IV had the regency and the guardianship of his sons, his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, transmit, William Richards opened the page and convinced, together with Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, the Thronrat successfully by the need to exercise a legitimate reign by the uncle of the young king.
While in the episode Staffords influence increased significantly to Hastings felt the side pushed. Supposedly he had carefully recorded contacts with the family Woodville why. The compound was whether real or invented, discovered and William accused on June 13, 1483 by Richard of treason. He was dragged out of the White Tower on the green area in the Tower of London. Without trial, he was immediately beheaded after his confession on the Tower Green in front of the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula. Two things are noteworthy here: first, this is the first recorded execution in the Tower area, on the other hand William a fair trial was denied, the state him as a member of the Throne Council and as a peer. In some traditions is therefore also reported a few days had located, during which a process could have taken place between his arrest and his execution.
Remarkably, the possessions Williams were not collected, so that his son could inherit the legacy. Under Henry VII also the barony was transferred back to him.
About the backgrounds of possible treason Williams and his immediate execution was discussed and speculated in historian circles much without that there is a generally accepted answer.