Kingmaker (Noun)
Meaning 1
An important person who can bring leaders to power through the exercise of political influence; "the Earl of Warwick was the first kingmaker".
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Hypernyms
Meaning 2
English statesman; during the War of the Roses he fought first for the house of York and secured the throne for Edward IV and then changed sides to fight for the house of Lancaster and secured the throne for Henry VI (1428-1471).
Classification
Nouns denoting people.
Examples
- Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, was known as the Kingmaker for his crucial role in determining the fate of the English monarchy during the Wars of the Roses.
- Lord Warwick's support was instrumental in Edward IV's rise to the throne, cementing his reputation as a powerful kingmaker.
- After Edward IV's initial successes, the Kingmaker switched allegiance to the Lancastrian cause, leading to Henry VI's brief restoration to the throne.
- The Earl of Warwick's remarkable ability to shape the fate of the English monarchy earned him the enduring title of Kingmaker.
- Historians often point to the Kingmaker's mercurial nature and penchant for shifting allegiances as the hallmark of his complex and influential career.