Edward IV

Also known as: Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March / Edward earle of March / Edward erle of March / Edward king of England / Edward the fourth / K. Edward / K. Edward the fourth / K. Edwards / King Edward / King Edward the fourth / king Edward himselfe / king Edward the fourth / king Edwards / this yoong prince · Family: House of York · Role: son of Richard of Conisburgh and king · First appears: Richard II 29

Edward IV was born at Rone in 1441 while his father, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, served as the king’s lieutenant in Normandy. By 1459, Edward, then Earl of March and heir to Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, had escaped to Devonshire with Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick; Henry VI later attainted him and his Yorkist allies. After the Yorkist victory at Northampton and the capture of Henry VI, Edward received the Tower of London, defeated the Lancastrian forces at Towton, and in 1461 was elected king, the people acclaiming him with cries of “king Edward.” He was crowned at Westminster, created George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence and Richard III dukes, and fought opponents including Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, Ralph Percy, John de Vere, Earl of Oxford, and Margaret of Anjou.

In 1465 Edward secretly married Elizabeth Woodville at Grafton, and her father, Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers, was made Earl Rivers and high constable. The marriage turned Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, formerly Edward’s close ally, against him; Warwick later captured Edward and imprisoned him at Warwick Castle, though Edward escaped with the aid of William Stanley and Thomas Borough. In 1470, Warwick and George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence restored Henry VI’s authority, forcing Edward to flee to Burgundy, where Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy secretly financed his return. Edward landed at Rauenspurgh in 1471, gathered support, was received again as king at York and Warwick, reconciled with George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, and recovered London. He captured Henry VI, defeated Warwick at Barnet and Margaret of Anjou’s faction at Teukesburie, and granted pardons to some defeated opponents, while ordering others executed or imprisoned.