Edward IV of England: Difference between revisions
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He was one of the [[son]]s of [[Richard of York]], along with [[George, Duke of Clarence]] and the future [[King]] [[Richard III of England|Richard III]]. Edward was central to the [[Wars of the Roses]], succeeding [[Henry VI]] after defeating his [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]] forces in [[battle]]. | He was one of the [[son]]s of [[Richard of York]], along with [[George, Duke of Clarence]] and the future [[King]] [[Richard III of England|Richard III]]. Edward was central to the [[Wars of the Roses]], succeeding [[Henry VI]] after defeating his [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]] forces in [[battle]]. | ||
Edward knew it was important to keep his line going for the stability of [[crown]] and [[country]]. When his first-[[Birth|born]] with his [[consort]] [[Elizabeth Woodville]] was a [[daughter]], also named [[Elizabeth of York|Elizabeth]], he did not worry too much. However, according to one account, his second child was also a girl, causing him to panic. As put by his [[brother]] Richard, the | Edward knew it was important to keep his line going for the stability of [[crown]] and [[country]]. When his first-[[Birth|born]] with his [[consort]] [[Elizabeth Woodville]] was a [[daughter]], also named [[Elizabeth of York|Elizabeth]], he did not worry too much. However, according to one account, his second child was also a girl, causing him to panic. As put by his [[brother]] Richard, the ascension of a [[queen]] to the throne was not feasible as England was a "country stuffed with [[power]]-[[Hunger|hungry]] knobs with their own private [[Army|armies]] just waiting for their chance to make it their own do-it-yourself [[monarchy]]". Not wanting a repeat of the [[decade]]s of fighting that made up the Wars of the Roses, Edward [[Lying|lied]] and announced to the [[world]] that his second-born daughter was a [[son]] in order to "stop the jitters going through the [[kingdom]]". When his third-born was another girl, Edward carried on the pretence to have two, "one for the succession and one for a spare". He also had [[birth certificate]]s for his two "sons" forged. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Kingmaker (audio story)}}) According to another account, there had been no such deception; Edward's final two children were not daughters named [[Susan (The Kingmaker)|Susan]] and [[Judith (The Kingmaker)|Judith]] but really were sons called [[Edward V of England|Edward]] and [[Richard (Sometime Never...)|Richard]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Sometime Never... (novel)}}) as [[history]] recorded. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Sometime Never... (novel)}}, [[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Kingmaker (audio story)}}, {{cs|The Battle of the Tower (audio story)}}) | ||
During Edward's reign, his brother George led an uprising against him, eventually being caught and [[Death sentence|sentenced to death]]. Their brother Richard later claimed George had not been malicious in his actions, simply an [[idiot]], with it being [[Woodville family|the family]] of his [[wife]] who had forced Edward into delivering the sentence. Richard helped George escape and allowed him to live out his days in relative anonymity as the [[landlord]] of [[the Kingmaker]] [[tavern]]. | During Edward's reign, his brother George led an uprising against him, eventually being caught and [[Death sentence|sentenced to death]]. Their brother Richard later claimed George had not been malicious in his actions, simply an [[idiot]], with it being [[Woodville family|the family]] of his [[wife]] who had forced Edward into delivering the sentence. Richard helped George escape and allowed him to live out his days in relative anonymity as the [[landlord]] of [[the Kingmaker]] [[tavern]]. | ||
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Edward [[Death|died]] suddenly on [[9 April]] [[1483]] after catching a chill, paving the way for his second-born child to succeed him as Edward V and, later, his brother Richard as Richard III. | Edward [[Death|died]] suddenly on [[9 April]] [[1483]] after catching a chill, paving the way for his second-born child to succeed him as Edward V and, later, his brother Richard as Richard III. | ||
Edward IV was featured as a character in [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[play]] ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'', being referenced by Richard in the line | Edward IV was featured as a character in [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[play]] ''[[Richard III (play)|Richard III]]'', being referenced by Richard in the line "His royal grace cannot be scarce of [[breathing]] while you trouble him with lewd [[complaint]]s" during a conversation with Elizabeth Woodville. The play mainly dealt with Richard's rise to power and short reign following Edward's death and the brief accession of his son to the throne. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Kingmaker (audio story)}}) | ||
== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
Latest revision as of 14:46, 17 March 2024
Edward IV was the King of England from 1471 to 1483 and the first person from the York family to hold the title.
Biography[[edit] | [edit source]]
He was one of the sons of Richard of York, along with George, Duke of Clarence and the future King Richard III. Edward was central to the Wars of the Roses, succeeding Henry VI after defeating his Lancastrian forces in battle.
Edward knew it was important to keep his line going for the stability of crown and country. When his first-born with his consort Elizabeth Woodville was a daughter, also named Elizabeth, he did not worry too much. However, according to one account, his second child was also a girl, causing him to panic. As put by his brother Richard, the ascension of a queen to the throne was not feasible as England was a "country stuffed with power-hungry knobs with their own private armies just waiting for their chance to make it their own do-it-yourself monarchy". Not wanting a repeat of the decades of fighting that made up the Wars of the Roses, Edward lied and announced to the world that his second-born daughter was a son in order to "stop the jitters going through the kingdom". When his third-born was another girl, Edward carried on the pretence to have two, "one for the succession and one for a spare". He also had birth certificates for his two "sons" forged. (AUDIO: The Kingmaker [+]Loading...["The Kingmaker (audio story)"]) According to another account, there had been no such deception; Edward's final two children were not daughters named Susan and Judith but really were sons called Edward and Richard, (PROSE: Sometime Never... [+]Loading...["Sometime Never... (novel)"]) as history recorded. (PROSE: Sometime Never... [+]Loading...["Sometime Never... (novel)"], AUDIO: The Kingmaker [+]Loading...["The Kingmaker (audio story)"], The Battle of the Tower [+]Loading...["The Battle of the Tower (audio story)"])
During Edward's reign, his brother George led an uprising against him, eventually being caught and sentenced to death. Their brother Richard later claimed George had not been malicious in his actions, simply an idiot, with it being the family of his wife who had forced Edward into delivering the sentence. Richard helped George escape and allowed him to live out his days in relative anonymity as the landlord of the Kingmaker tavern.
Edward died suddenly on 9 April 1483 after catching a chill, paving the way for his second-born child to succeed him as Edward V and, later, his brother Richard as Richard III.
Edward IV was featured as a character in William Shakespeare's play Richard III, being referenced by Richard in the line "His royal grace cannot be scarce of breathing while you trouble him with lewd complaints" during a conversation with Elizabeth Woodville. The play mainly dealt with Richard's rise to power and short reign following Edward's death and the brief accession of his son to the throne. (AUDIO: The Kingmaker [+]Loading...["The Kingmaker (audio story)"])
Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- He has been portrayed by Julian Glover and Brian Protheroe in various BBC series.
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