Richard Woodville (also spelt WydeVille) was the father of Elizabeth Woodville who married King Edward IV of England. Richard was not born into a noble family. His father served in France under Henry V and John, Duke of Bedford, whom Richard also served under as a knight. In 1435 the Duke of Bedford died and Richard married his widow Jacquetta of Luxemberg. As Jacquetta was a member of an important European family her wealth and contacts gave Richard the means to become an important person in the English Court. Some of the titles bestowed on Richard were Lord Rivers (Baron Rivers) in 1446, a knight of the Garter and lieutenant of Calais. During the period of the Wars of the Roses RIchard was initially a Lancastrian, but declared his support for Edward IV and the Yorkists when it looked like the Lancastrians were defeated. His daughter Elizabeth secretly married Edward in May of 1464. Richard was then created an earl and the Constable of England. He organised marriages of his children into important noble families to increase his own status. But his fame was not accepted by all, especially the Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker. After Warwick's rebellion against King Edward in 1469, Richard Woodville was captured and executed.

 Woodville, Richard (1st Earl Rivers) (b.1410? - d.1469)
    +Jacquetta (of Luxembourg) (b.1415? - d.1472)
        = Woodville, Anthony (Earl Rivers) (b.1442? - d.1483)
        = Woodville, Elizabeth (b.1437 - d.1492)
        |   +Grey, John (Sir) ( - d.1461)
        |   |   = Grey, Thomas (1st Marquess of Dorset) (b.1451 - d.1501)
        |   |   = Grey, Richard
        |   +Edward (IV, Earl of March and King of England 1461-1470, 1471-1483) (b.1442 - d.1483)
        |       = Elizabeth (of York) (b.1466 - d.1503)
        |       |   +Henry (VII, King of England 1485-1509) (b.1457 - d.1509)
        |       |       = Arthur (Prince of Wales) (b.1486 - d.1502)
        |       |       = Tudor, Margaret (Queen of Scotland) (b.1489 - d.1541)
        |       |       = Henry (VIII, King of England 1509-1547) (b.1491 - d.1547)
        |       |       = Mary (Tudor, Queen of France) (b.1495 - d.1533)
        |       = Edward (V, King of England 1483) (b.1470 - m.1483)
        |       = Richard (Duke of York, Prince in the Tower) ( - m.1483)
        |       = Cecily (of York) (b.1469 - d.1507)
        |           +Welles, John (Viscount Welles) (b.1450? - d.1498)
        = Woodville, Edward (b.1454 - d.1488)
        = Woodville, Catherine (b.1458? - d.1497?)
            +Stafford, Henry (Duke of Buckingham) (b.1455 - ex.1483)
            +Tudor, Jasper (Earl of Pembroke) (b.1431? - d.1496)