the lancastrian army was beaten at the battle of towton on 29 march 1461 by the son of the late duke of york, the future edward iv of england, who deposed king henry and proclaimed himself king. margaret was determined to win back her son's inheritance and fled with him into wales and later scotland. finding her way to france, she made an ally of her cousin, king louis xi of france, and at his instigation she allowed an approach from edward's former supporter, richard neville, earl of warwick, who had fallen out with his former friend as a result of edward's marriage to elizabeth woodville, and was now seeking revenge for the loss of his political influence. warwick's daughter, anne neville, was married to margaret's son edward, prince of wales, in order to cement the alliance, and margaret insisted that warwick return to england to prove himself before she followed. he did so, restoring henry vi briefly to the throne on 3 october 1470.