William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings of Hungerford (~1431 - 1483) became one of the great powers of the realm during the reign of Edward IV of England, but after being found for conspiracy against one time companion, Richard III, was executed a week later. Edward IV (April 28, 1442 – April 9, 1483) was King of England from March 4, 1461 to April 9, 1483, with a break of a few months in the period 1470–1471. ... Richard III may refer to: King Richard III of England Richard III, a play by William Shakespeare about the king Richard III may also refer to motion pictures based on the Shakespeare play: Richard III, 1995 (UK/USA), starring Ian McKellen Richard III, 1986 (Soviet Union) Richard III, 1980 (France...

Hastings father was Sir Leonard Hastings, who had a modest estate in Leicestershire and Gloucestershire, where the family had long been established. His mother was Alice Camoys, daughter of Elizabeth Mortimer and the 1st Baron Camoys. Elizabeth Mortimer was in turn daughter of Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, and Philippa of Clarence, daughter of Lionel of Antwerp, a son of Edward III. Elizabeth Mortimer had also married Henry "Hotspur" Percy. Thus Hastings was second cousin to Edward IV, and to the Earl of Northumberland. Leicestershire (abbreviated Leics) is a landlocked county in central England. ... Gloucestershire (pronounced ; GLOSS-ter-sher) is a county in South West England. ... Edmund Mortimer (1351—1381), 3rd earl of March and 1st Earl of Ulster, was son of Roger Mortimer, 2nd Earl of March, by his wife Philippa, daughter of William Montacute, 1st Earl of Salisbury. ... Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, (November 29, 1338 - October 7, 1368) was the third son of Edward III of England, and was so called because he was born at Antwerp, Belgium. ... Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377) was one of the most successful English kings of medieval times. ... A carving of Henry Hotspur Percy Sir Henry Percy, also called Harry Hotspur (May 20, 1364/1366 – July 21, 1403) was the eldest son of Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland, 4th Lord Percy of Alnwick. ...

As a young man Hastings served in the household of his cousin, Richard, Duke of York. There he apparently became close to the duke's son Edward, who he was to loyally serve all his life. He fought with Edward at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross and followed him to London. After Edward was proclaimed king, Hastings was appointed Lord Chamberlain (1461). He again fought with Edward at the Battle of Towton which secured Edward's crown. Shortly after the coronation he was created Baron Hastings of Hastings, was named to a number of royal offices, and received a very large grant from the estates forfeited by Lancastrian peers. These estates were concentrated in the English Midlands. He also married Katharine Neville, sister of Warwick the Kingmaker. This article is about Richard, Duke of York, father of King Edward IV. For the article about Edward IVs son who was imprisoned in the Tower of London see: Richard, Duke of York (Prince in the Tower). ... The Battle of Mortimers Cross was fought on February 2, 1461 near Wigmore, Herefordshire (between Hereford and Leominster, by the River Lugg). ... The Battle of Towton in the Wars of the Roses was the bloodiest ever fought on British soil, with casualties believed to have been in excess of 20,000 (perhaps as many as 30,000) men. ... Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick (1428—April 14, 1471), was also known as Warwick the Kingmaker. ...

Hastings followed Edward IV during Edward's exile in 1470, and returned with him in 1471. He raised a good portion of the Yorkist troops that fought at Barnet and Tewkesbury. Hastings was one of the commanders at both of those battles. The Battle of Barnet, which took place on April 14, 1471, was a decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses, near the town of Barnet, 10 miles north of London. ... The Battle of Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, which took place on May 4, 1471, completed one phase of the Wars of the Roses. ...

With Edward back on the throne, Hastings resumed his place as Chamberlain and his influential place at Court. When Edward died in 1483, he expected to continue on during the minority of Edward's son Edward V. However he was arrested on charges of treason by Edward's brother Richard and executed shortly afterwards, the first recorded execution at the Tower of London. Edward V (4 November 1470 – 1485) was an English monarch, although never crowned. ... Richard III (2 October 1452 – 22 August 1485) was the King of England from 1483 until his death and the last king from the House of York. ... For the film with this title, see Tower of London (1939 film). ...

Considerable controversy surrounds the circumstances of Hastings' death. Most historians say that he was executed at most a few hours after his arrest, on June 13, 1483, while others believe he was held for a week, and possibly even had a trial of some sort. There is also disagreement regarding the truth of the accusations against him. Everyone agrees that he opposed, or would have opposed any efforts to displace Edward V. It is less clear whether Hastings had in fact been conspiring in some way to oppose Richard, or, if he was, whether his conduct should be construed as treason. Events The São Tomé settlement is founded. ...

Hastings lands were not forfeited as is