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Edward IV
Edward Plantagenet was born on 28 April 1443 in Rouen, Normandy, as the oldest son of Richard Duke of York and Cecily Neville. After his father’s death in 1460 at the Battle of Wakefield, Edward, at that time still Earl of March, was able to defeat the Lancastrian forces at Mortimer’s Cross and Towton.
The Battle of Towton is known to be the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil and it is claimed that around 28.000 men lost their lives. After this, Edward usurped the crown and became Edward IV.
Edward IV was able to restore order, despite the temporary return to the throne of Henry VI from 1470-71, during which time Edward fled to the continent in exile (Holland, Flanders and Burgundy. Edward also made peace with France; by a shrewd display of force to exercise pressure, Edward reached a profitable agreement with King Louis XI of France at Picquigny where a treaty was signed in 1475.
Edward's reign saw the restoration of law and considerable order in England, like his royal motto said: modus et ordo, or "method and order".
He discharged the Lancastrian office-holders and used his financial insight to introduce strict organization of royal revenues to reduce the Crown's debt.
Edward was also a cunning and successful businessman and merchant, heavily investing in several businesses within the city of London.
He rebuilt St George's Chapel at Windsor, probably seeing it as a mausoleum for the Yorkists, since he was buried there, and a new great hall at Eltham Palace.
Edward collected illuminated manuscripts, his is the only intact medieval royal collection to survive (housed in the British Library)
Edward suddenly died in 1483. It is not known what actually caused his death. Pneumonia and typhoid have both been speculated. Some attributed his death to an unhealthy lifestyle, as he had become over weighted and lazy in the years before his death.
By his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV had ten children, seven of whom survived their father. His eldest son, the 12-year-old, Edward, to succeed him. With Elizabeth Woodville, Edward had ten children in total, seven of whom survived their father:
Elizabeth of York, queen consort to Henry VII of England (11 February 1466 – 11 February 1503).
Mary of York (11 August 1467 – 23 May 1482)
Cecily of York (20 March 1469 – 24 August 1507); married first John Welles, 1st Viscount Welles and second Thomas Kyme or Keme.
Edward V of England (4 November 1470 – 1483?); briefly succeeded his father, as King Edward V of England. Was the elder of the Princes in the Tower.
Margaret of York (10 April 1472 – 11 December 1472).
Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York (17 August 1473 – 1483?). Was the younger of the Princes in the Tower.
Anne of York, Lady Howard (2 November 1475 – 23 November 1511); married Thomas Howard (later 3rd Duke of Norfolk).
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Bedford (March 1477 – March 1479).
Catherine of York (14 August 1479 – 15 November 1527); married William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon.
Bridget of York (10 November 1480 – 1517); became a nun.
Edward had many mistresses. The best known was Elizabeth Shore, also called Jane Shore. He allegedly had several illegitimate children:
Elizabeth Plantagenet (born c.1464), married Thomas Lumley, Esquire, of Beautrove, Durham.
Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle (1460s/1470s – 3 March 1542).
Both are said to be mothered by Elizabeth Lucy (or Elizabeth Wayte). Other children from unknown mothers (although recent speculations suggests them also to be children by Lucy or Wayte.
Grace Plantagenet. She is known to have been present at the funeral of her stepmother Elizabeth Woodville in 1492.
Mary Plantagenet, married Henry Harman of Ellam, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Harman and widower of certain Agnes. A daughter said to have been the first wife of John Tuchet, 6th Baron Audley
Edward Plantagenet was born on 28 April 1443 in Rouen, Normandy, as the oldest son of Richard Duke of York and Cecily Neville. After his father’s death in 1460 at the Battle of Wakefield, Edward, at that time still Earl of March, was able to defeat the Lancastrian forces at Mortimer’s Cross and Towton.
The Battle of Towton is known to be the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil and it is claimed that around 28.000 men lost their lives. After this, Edward usurped the crown and became Edward IV.
Edward IV was able to restore order, despite the temporary return to the throne of Henry VI from 1470-71, during which time Edward fled to the continent in exile (Holland, Flanders and Burgundy. Edward also made peace with France; by a shrewd display of force to exercise pressure, Edward reached a profitable agreement with King Louis XI of France at Picquigny where a treaty was signed in 1475.
Edward's reign saw the restoration of law and considerable order in England, like his royal motto said: modus et ordo, or "method and order".
He discharged the Lancastrian office-holders and used his financial insight to introduce strict organization of royal revenues to reduce the Crown's debt.
Edward was also a cunning and successful businessman and merchant, heavily investing in several businesses within the city of London.
He rebuilt St George's Chapel at Windsor, probably seeing it as a mausoleum for the Yorkists, since he was buried there, and a new great hall at Eltham Palace.
Edward collected illuminated manuscripts, his is the only intact medieval royal collection to survive (housed in the British Library)
Edward suddenly died in 1483. It is not known what actually caused his death. Pneumonia and typhoid have both been speculated. Some attributed his death to an unhealthy lifestyle, as he had become over weighted and lazy in the years before his death.
By his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV had ten children, seven of whom survived their father. His eldest son, the 12-year-old, Edward, to succeed him. With Elizabeth Woodville, Edward had ten children in total, seven of whom survived their father:
Elizabeth of York, queen consort to Henry VII of England (11 February 1466 – 11 February 1503).
Mary of York (11 August 1467 – 23 May 1482)
Cecily of York (20 March 1469 – 24 August 1507); married first John Welles, 1st Viscount Welles and second Thomas Kyme or Keme.
Edward V of England (4 November 1470 – 1483?); briefly succeeded his father, as King Edward V of England. Was the elder of the Princes in the Tower.
Margaret of York (10 April 1472 – 11 December 1472).
Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York (17 August 1473 – 1483?). Was the younger of the Princes in the Tower.
Anne of York, Lady Howard (2 November 1475 – 23 November 1511); married Thomas Howard (later 3rd Duke of Norfolk).
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Bedford (March 1477 – March 1479).
Catherine of York (14 August 1479 – 15 November 1527); married William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon.
Bridget of York (10 November 1480 – 1517); became a nun.
Edward had many mistresses. The best known was Elizabeth Shore, also called Jane Shore. He allegedly had several illegitimate children:
Elizabeth Plantagenet (born c.1464), married Thomas Lumley, Esquire, of Beautrove, Durham.
Arthur Plantagenet, 1st Viscount Lisle (1460s/1470s – 3 March 1542).
Both are said to be mothered by Elizabeth Lucy (or Elizabeth Wayte). Other children from unknown mothers (although recent speculations suggests them also to be children by Lucy or Wayte.
Grace Plantagenet. She is known to have been present at the funeral of her stepmother Elizabeth Woodville in 1492.
Mary Plantagenet, married Henry Harman of Ellam, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Harman and widower of certain Agnes. A daughter said to have been the first wife of John Tuchet, 6th Baron Audley