Robin of Redesdale ( fl. 1469), sometimes called "Robin Mend-All", was the leader of an insurrection against Edward IV of England. His true identity is unknown, but is thought to have been either Sir John Conyers (d. 1490), steward of

Middleham Middleham is an English market town and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire. It lies in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales, on the south side of the valley, upstream from the junction of the River Ure and River Cover. ...

, his brother Sir William Conyers of Marske (d. 1469), or both; the two were long-serving retainers of

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...

. Graham Evans lists a number of other possibilities such as Sir John Conyers (d. 1490), the father of the previous Sir John and Sir William; Sir Richard Welles (d. 1470), who married Baroness Willoughby de Eresby; her son, Sir Robert Welles (d. 1470), 8th Baron Willoughby de Eresby; or Lord Robert Ogle, Warden of the East March and Lord of Redesdale (d. 1469). Close allies in deposing Henry VI in 1461, by 1469 Warwick and Edward had fallen out. After marrying Elizabeth Woodville in 1464, Edward increasingly relied on her family, who competed with the Nevilles for lands and positions. He also blocked a proposal that his younger brother and heir, George, Duke of Clarence, should marry Warwick's eldest daughter

Isabel Neville Lady Isabel Neville (5 September 1451 – 22 December 1476) was the elder daughter and co-heiress of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick (the ''Kingmaker'' of the Wars of the Roses), and Anne de Beauchamp, suo jure 16th Countess of Warwick ...

. In April 1469, a revolt broke out in

Yorkshire Yorkshire ( ; abbreviated Yorks), formally known as the County of York, is a historic county in northern England and by far the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its large area in comparison with other English counties, functions have ...

, under Robin of Redesdale, protesting against taxes and 'abuses of power.' This was followed in May by a second rebellion, under a figure known as Robin of Holderness, demanding the restoration of Henry Percy, traditional Earl of Northumberland. This was quickly suppressed by John Neville, the current Earl, who executed its leader but Robin of Redesdale escaped him. On 26 July, the rebels defeated a Royal army commanded by the

Earl of Pembroke Earl of Pembroke is a title in the Peerage of England that was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title, which is associated with Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, has been recreated ten times from its origin ...

at the

Battle of Edgecote Moor The Battle of Edgcote (also known as the Battle of Banbury or the Battle of Danes Moor) took place on 24 July 1469, during the Wars of the Roses. It was fought between a Royal army, commanded by the earls of Pembroke and Devon, and a rebel forc ...

. Although they were victorious, Robin himself was reported to have died in the battle, hence his identification with William Conyers who was killed at Edgecote. However, his mantle was temporarily assumed by someone else, apparently Sir John Conyers, when Warwick raised a further rebellion early in 1470. This second "Robin of Redesdale" submitted to Edward IV in March 1470.

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* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Robin Of Redesdale People of the Wars of the Roses