Edward IV

Eduard IV. Born 1442, died 1483, House of York, King of England 1461 – 1470 and 1471 – 1483. He was the second son of Son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and his wife Cecily Neville, ealder brother Richard III who helped him to disposse king Henry VI in 1461 to become king of England. After his father was killed at the Battle of Wakefield with the Lancastrians, Eduard, insead of Henry VI, was proclaimed king in 1460 and declared king in London in 1461. Son insead of House of Lancafter (red rose) the House of York (white rose) became now the ruling house and the bloody civil war called War of Roses began. At the beginning Eduard IV was very successful. He was able to put down Lancastrian rebellions in Wales and North England, Scottland was forced to peace and the insane Henry VI Was imprisoned in the Tower of London. At the end of 1470 he had to flee to the Netherlands because of a Act of Parliament which brought back Henry VI from the Tower to the throne. With the help of his brother-in-law Charles the Bold Henry IV could be captured again and was executed in 1471. So Eduard IV could confirm his dominion again.

He was an extremely capable and daring military commander, and had a excellent financial management. He was able to the House of Lancaster and was himself never defeated on the battlefield. Together with his wife Elisabeth he had seven daughers and three sons and two children born out of wedlock.

Souces: [[1]] [[2]] E. B. Pryde (Herausgeber)u.a., Handbook of British Chronology, Cambridge University Press; Auflage: 3, Cambride 1996. Michael Hicks, Edward IV., Arnold Books, London 2004