Attainders of British aristocracy in the Middle Ages and Renaissance Attainder

richard of york, attainted margaret of anjou

medieval , renaissance english monarchs used acts of attainder deprive nobles of lands , lives. once attainted, descendants of noble no longer inherit lands or income. attainder amounted legal death of attainted s family.

monarchs typically used attainders against political enemies , posed potential threats king s position , security. attainder eliminated advantage noble have in court of law; nobles exempt many of techniques used try commoners, including torture. likewise, in many cases of attainder, king coerce parliament approving attainder , there lower or non-existent burden of proof (evidence) there in court.

prior tudors, rulers reversed attainders in return promises of loyalty. example, henry vi reversed 21 attainders, edward iv 86 of 120, , richard iii 99 of 100. however, changed henry vii, described below.

regnants used attainder include:

margaret of anjou: attainder of richard of york compelled him invade england , attempt seize throne after battle of northampton, led penultimate phases of war of roses.
edward iv of england: used attainder after killing brother, george plantagenet, duke of clarence high treason. allowed richard iii of england seize throne when claimed edward iv s sons illegitimate.
henry vii: attainted men after ascended throne. used threat of attainder means keep few nobles survived war of roses in line. often, however, penalize them exorbitant fees , fines, or force them have bonds forfeit unless exhibited behaviour (his goal reduce number of nobles private armies of retainers.) henry vii attainted 138 men, of whom reversed 46 attainders, , of these conditional.
henry viii: compelled parliament attaint many nobles during lifetime, including magnates major land holdings, , magnates whom came mistrust. examples include:

anne boleyn: before execution, stripped of title, , marriage annulled.
catherine howard: henry viii had act of attainder passed against catherine howard, made treason woman unchaste reputation marry king.
edward stafford, duke of buckingham, 1 of wealthiest magnates in england, whom henry had executed on flimsy charges in 1521.
margaret pole, countess of salisbury: 1 of last surviving noble plantagenets of senior line.
henry howard, earl of surrey: poet son of thomas howard, 3rd duke of norfolk.

charles i: subsequent failed impeachment of former lord deputy of ireland, sir thomas wentworth, 1st earl of strafford, attainted during political crisis of 1640 -1641. bill of attainder, having passed depleted house of commons , house of lords, enacted charles concession political opponents. during reign, long parliament of 1641 passed act of attainder against william laud, archbishop of canterbury beheaded in 1645.

charles ii: although deceased time of restoration, regicides john bradshaw, oliver cromwell, henry ireton , thomas pride served bill of attainder on 15 may 1660 backdated 1 january 1649 (ns).

james, iii , viii, old pretender, 1702 during reign of queen anne

george ii of great britain, following jacobite rising of 1745:

attainder of earl of kellie , others act 1746

once attainted, nobles considered commoners, , such, subjected same treatments, including torture , methods of execution. example, commoners burned @ stake, whereas nobles not.

often, nobles refer act of being attainted (and executed) person s destruction .