Edward IV
Born on 28th of April 1442
Died on 9th of April 1483
Edward IV was born on the 28th April 1442 in Rouen, France. His father was Richard Duke of York, and his mother was Cecily Neville. Edward had been born into a war torn chapter of time, with the Wars Of The Roses, where the house of Lancastrians battled against the house of York. He spent much of his youth at fortified Ludlow Castle in Shropshire. Edward's father and elder brother were killed at the Battle of Wakefield on 30th December 1460, and Edward inherited his claim to the throne. His Coronation took place on the 28th June 1461 at Westminster Abbey in London, he secretly married Elizabeth Woodville in 1464 who was a commoner which angered the powerful Nobles.
The year of 1470 proved a testing time for Edward as the Earl of Warwick forced him into exile, Henry VI took back the throne. Edward fought for his right to the throne and returned the following year, The Earl of Warwick was killed at the Battle of Barnet, the rest of the Lancastrians were stilled in the ensuing Battle of Tewksbury in 1471. Edward took the throne and Henry was executed at the Tower Of London. The remainder of his reign was a peaceful one, although he did invade France in 1475.
Edward died in 1483, the first Yorkist King, and his son succeeded him, he decreed that due to the young age of his son Edward's brother Richard would become Lord Protector Of The Realm, this proved a fatal decision as the young heir was taken to the Tower Of London, where his younger brother joined him. Richard declared that his brother's marriage to Cecily Neville was illegal, therefore, the two princes were illegitimate. Richard seized the crown for himself and was declared King, he ruled as King Richard III. The two princes were to be remembered throughout the pages of history as the princes in the Tower, where it's believed they were murdered, their bodies were not found until the 17th Century, they were later buried in Innocent's Corner in Westminster Abbey.
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