John Clifford, 9th Baron de Clifford, English noble (d. 1461)

John Clifford, the 9th Baron Clifford and 9th Lord of Skipton, born on 8 April 1435, emerged as a formidable Lancastrian military leader during the tumultuous period of English history known as the Wars of the Roses. This dynastic struggle, pitting the House of Lancaster against the House of York, defined much of the mid-15th century. The Clifford family, deeply entrenched in the northern English nobility, wielded significant influence and power, with their prominence further bolstered by strategic marital alliances. Through his sisters' unions, John Clifford forged vital connections with other powerful families of the era, notably the esteemed earls of Devon, solidifying his family's position within the intricate web of medieval English aristocracy.

A defining moment in Clifford's life, and a probable catalyst for his fervent Lancastrian allegiance, occurred in 1455. At the tender age of twenty, he was tragically orphaned when his father fell in battle against partisans of the House of York during the First Battle of St Albans – the very first major engagement of the Wars of the Roses. This personal loss profoundly shaped his commitment, leading him to become one of the staunchest supporters of Queen Margaret of Anjou. As King Henry VI's mental health frequently faltered, Margaret of Anjou increasingly stepped into the role of effective, and often aggressive, leader of the Lancastrian faction, making Clifford's loyalty to her particularly significant.

The Northern Feuds: A Prelude to National Conflict

Even before the full-blown national conflict erupted, John Clifford had carved out a considerable reputation for himself in the north of England. His early career was marked by his active involvement in a deep-seated and often brutal regional rivalry between the Percy and Neville families. The Percys, long-standing titans of the northern marches, found a staunch ally in Clifford, who joined forces with the son of the Earl of Northumberland. Their adversaries, the Nevilles, were not merely rivals but represented a powerful faction whose influence was growing, particularly in Yorkshire, and who were increasingly aligned with the Duke of York.

This local feud was far from a series of minor disagreements; it manifested as a relentless campaign of armed raids, assaults, and skirmishes, reflecting the lawlessness and fractured authority of the time. A particularly notorious incident occurred in 1453, when Clifford participated in an ambush on a wedding party involving one of the younger Nevilles, vividly illustrating the depth of animosity and the ruthlessness of these localized conflicts. Historians widely acknowledge a direct and crucial link between Clifford's involvement in these northern feuds against the Nevilles and his later, more prominent role in the national struggle against the Duke of York. The Nevilles' close alliance with York in the late 1450s meant that regional grievances seamlessly dovetailed with broader dynastic loyalties, effectively localizing the national conflict. Despite what was ostensibly a period of temporary peace between the warring national factions, Clifford and his allies continued their aggressive tactics, reportedly attempting numerous ambushes against the Neville and Yorkist lords, underscoring his unyielding commitment to the Lancastrian cause and his deep personal vendettas.

The Renewal of War and the Battle of Wakefield

The fragile peace of the late 1450s shattered in 1459, and once again, John Clifford stood firmly on the side of King Henry VI and Queen Margaret. He played a significant part in the Lancastrian parliament that passed Acts of Attainder against the Yorkists, who were by then in exile. These acts declared them traitors, leading to the confiscation of their vast estates and titles. Clifford directly benefited from this, receiving a share of the profits from these forfeited lands and being appointed to offices traditionally held by his Yorkist adversaries, further cementing his personal stake in the conflict and intensifying his animosity towards them.

However, the tide of war soon turned. In June 1460, the exiled Yorkist lords returned to England, swiftly defeating a royal army at the Battle of Northampton. In the wake of this crushing Lancastrian defeat, Clifford was commanded to surrender the castles and offices he had acquired from the Nevilles back to their rightful owners. Predictably, given his character and unwavering loyalty, it is highly unlikely that he complied. Instead, Clifford and his fellow northern Lancastrian lords initiated a brutal campaign of destruction, laying waste to Neville and Yorkist estates and tenantry across the north. This widespread devastation was so extensive and unyielding that by December 1460, the Duke of York himself, alongside his close ally the Earl of Salisbury, was compelled to raise an army and march north to quell the rampant Lancastrian rebellion.

This harsh winter campaign culminated in the decisive Battle of Wakefield, fought in the closing days of 1460. The battle proved to be a resounding victory for the Lancastrian army, with John Clifford now established as an important and influential commander. Wakefield marked a catastrophic turning point for the Yorkists, resulting in the deaths of both the Duke of York and the Earl of Salisbury. Yet, perhaps the most infamous act associated with the battle, and certainly with Clifford, was his slaying of Edmund, Earl of Rutland. Rutland, then a seventeen-year-old, was the second son of the Duke of York and the younger brother of the future King Edward IV. This act, often perceived as a violation of the medieval codes of chivalry that generally spared young, unarmed nobles, may have contributed to Clifford’s enduring, albeit historically debated, nickname: 'Butcher Clifford'. While historians still discuss how widely this epithet was used by his contemporaries, the incident undoubtedly solidified his reputation for ruthless, uncompromising loyalty.

Final Campaigns and Legacy

In the early months of the following year, John Clifford accompanied the victorious royal army as it marched south, eager to press its advantage. He played a leading, albeit wounded, part in the Second Battle of St Albans, another Lancastrian triumph. Following this engagement, he retreated north with Queen Margaret, aiming to regroup and consolidate their forces. However, the revitalized Yorkist army, now under the formidable command of Edward of York (who would soon become King Edward IV) and Richard, Earl of Warwick ("the Kingmaker"), relentlessly pursued the Lancastrians into Yorkshire. Their pursuit culminated in the monumental Battle of Towton on 29 March 1461, a battle often cited as the largest and bloodiest ever fought on English soil, which ultimately secured the Yorkist claim to the throne.

John Clifford, however, was not present at this climactic engagement. His zealous commitment to the Lancastrian cause met its end just the day before, on 28 March 1461, when he was slain in a skirmish with a Yorkist advance party. His death, occurring on the eve of his faction's ultimate defeat, spared him the ignominy of Towton. Following the decisive Yorkist victory and the subsequent coronation of Edward IV, John Clifford was posthumously attainted. This legal act declared him a traitor, leading to the confiscation of all his lands by the Crown, a common fate for those who backed the losing side in the brutal Wars of the Roses, effectively erasing his lineage's immediate claim to its ancestral holdings and serving as a stark warning to other Lancastrian loyalists.

FAQs About John Clifford, 9th Baron Clifford

Who was John Clifford, 9th Baron Clifford?
John Clifford (1435–1461) was a prominent Lancastrian military leader during the Wars of the Roses, known for his fierce loyalty to Queen Margaret of Anjou and his involvement in both regional feuds and major battles of the conflict.
What was the significance of the Clifford family in England?
The Clifford family was one of the most powerful and influential noble families in northern England during the 15th century, holding significant lands and wielding considerable political sway, often enhanced by strategic marriages.
How did his father's death influence him?
John Clifford's father was killed at the First Battle of St Albans in 1455 by Yorkist forces. This event, when John was only twenty, is widely considered a major factor in his intense personal animosity towards the Yorkists and his unwavering dedication to the Lancastrian cause and Queen Margaret.
What was his role in the northern feuds?
Clifford was a key ally of the Percy family in their long-standing and violent feud against the Neville family in Yorkshire. This local conflict, characterized by raids and skirmishes, is seen by historians as an important precursor and local manifestation of the broader Wars of the Roses, as the Nevilles were closely allied with the Duke of York.
Why was he nicknamed 'Butcher Clifford'?
He is believed to have earned the nickname 'Butcher Clifford' due to his infamous slaying of Edmund, Earl of Rutland, the seventeen-year-old son of the Duke of York, after the Battle of Wakefield in 1460. This act, perceived as exceptionally brutal even by the standards of the time, contributed to his fearsome reputation, though historians debate how widely the nickname was used by his contemporaries.
How and when did John Clifford die?
John Clifford was killed on 28 March 1461, the day before the decisive Battle of Towton. He was slain in a skirmish with a Yorkist advance party in Yorkshire while retreating north with the Lancastrian army.
What happened to his lands after his death?
Following the Yorkist victory and the coronation of Edward IV, John Clifford was posthumously attainted, a legal declaration of treason. As a consequence, all his lands and titles were confiscated by the Crown, a common punitive measure against defeated lords during the Wars of the Roses.