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EDWARD
IV (born 1442 - died 1483), (reigned 1461-1470 and 1471-1483)
Edward was the eldest
surviving son of Richard Plantaganet, Duke of York (the
Grand Old Duke of York), who was declared Lord protector
and heir apparent to Henry VI after the battle of Northampton
in July 1460. Margaret of Anjou, the queen of Henry VI (whose
own son had thus been disinherited) gathered forces to defeat
the Yorkists at the battle of Wakefield on 30th December 1460,
in which Richard of York was slain. Following Richard of York's
death that December, Edward, having joined forces with Richard
Neville, Earl of Warwick, (the Kingmaker) defeated the Lancastrians
at the battle of Mortimer's Cross in Feb 1461. He made a triumphal
entry into London, where he seized the throne to became Edward
IV.
Edward
IV's army fought the Lancastrians at Towton in March 1461
and the Lancastrians suffered a resounding defeat. The remains
of his father Richard Plantagenet and brother, Edmund, Earl
of Rutland, had been interred in St Richard's Friary, Pontefract
- their heads had been recovered from York (where they had
been displayed above Micklegate bar) and reunited with their
bodies. After Edward IV had gained control of the country
he arranged for a funeral for them at Fotheringhay.
Until 1470 he concentrated
on suppressing opposition to his rule. His real problem, however,
lay with the Earl of Warwick, 'the Kingmaker'. Warwick expected
his support in 1461 to be repaid with power. However, Edward
was determined to rule independently. In 1464 he disclosed
his secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner having
no "royal blood".Warwick, who was planning a political
marriage for Edward with a French royal bride, became alienated
. Edward was reluctant to allow his brothers George, Duke
of Clarence and Richard, Duke of
Gloucester to marry Warwick’s daughters Isabella
and Anne. When the Woodville family became came to be favoured
over the Nevilles at court Warwick plotted with Edward's jealous
brother George, Duke of Clarence to overthrow him. George,
Duke of Clarence married Warwick's daughter Isabella despite
Edward's opposition. They defeated Edward's forces at the
Battle of Edgecote Moor, capturing King Edward and ruling
in his name for a few months. He was freed by his loyal brother
Richard, Duke of Gloucester with
the help of Warwick's brother John Neville who remained loyal
to Edward.
Warwick was attainted
as a traitor in 1470 and had to flee to France There he formed
an alliance with his old enemy Margaret of Anjou , queen of
King Henry VI . They agreed to marry off his younger daughter,
Anne , to Margaret's son, Edward, Prince of Wales. Margaret
insisted that he cement their alliance by returning to England
with an army. This time Warwick's brother John supported him
with an army from the north and Edward was forced to flee
while Warwick restored King Henry VI to the throne on October
30 1470.
Warwick now consolidated
his alliance with Louis XI of France by helping France to
invade Burgundy . King Louis promised to five him the Burgundian
territories of Zeeland and Holland . Charles the Bold , the
Duke of Burgundy then assisted Edward with funds and an army
to invade England in spring 1471. Warwick and his brother
and chief supporter the John Neville were defeated and killed
by the returning Edward IV at the Battle of Barnet 1471. He
defeated the Lancastrian army of Margaret of Anjou at Tewkesbury.
Henry VI was put to death in the Tower.
Edward made peace
with France; by a shrewd display of force to exert pressure,
he reached a profitable agreement with Louis XI at Picquigny
in 1475.
Edward took personal
control in government, reviving the ancient custom of sitting
in person 'on the bench' (i.e. in judgement) to dispence justice.
He removed Lancastrian supporters from office and used his
financial acumen to introduce tight management of royal revenues
to reduce the Crown's debt. He encouraged commercial treaties
and successfully traded in wool on his own account to
restore the family fortunes. This enabling the king to "live
of his own", paying the costs of the country's administration
from the Crown Estates income. This freed him from dependence
on "subsidies" (taxes) from Parliament. He called
Parliament only six times during his reign. The right of Parliament
to grant income to the Monarch became a great issue in subsequent
reigns and finally lead to the Civil War over 150 years later.
Edward rebuilt St George's Chapel
at Windsor (possibly seeing it as a mausoleum for the Yorkists,
as 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 (in the British
Library) - and patronised the new invention of printing. Edward
died in 1483, leaving by his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville
a 12-year-old son, Edward, to succeed him.
Councils were set up to govern in the Marches of Wales and
in the north. His brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester was
gievn the North of England to rule.
Edward died in 1483, allegedly worn out by his debauchery.
His sons, Edward and Richard, were left in the protection
of their uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester,
and he housed them in the Tower of London, where it is said
he had them killed. On the day after the date set for Edward
V's coronation, Parliament unanimously requested the Duke
to take the throne. He accepted and was crowned Richard
III.
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