Read Online Divorced, Beheaded, Died: The History of Britain's Kings and Queens in Bite-Sized Chunks by Kevin Flude - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Kevin Flude
Tags: Historical, History, Biography & Autobiography, Reference, Europe, Great Britain, Royalty, Queens
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with the French King and restored Henry VI to the throne in 1470. Edward was forced into exile, although he recovered his throne in 1471 and had Henry murdered.
Edward’s second mistake was his failure to support the Duke of Burgundy against the French. The Burgundian alliance was the mainstay of English foreign policy throughout the Hundred Years War and helped protect vital English trading interests in the Low Countries. In return Edward received a pension from Louis XI of France, but strategically the subsequent defeat of Burgundy was deeply unpopular and dangerous to England’s long-term interests.
Apart from these mistakes, Edward’s management provided good solutions to problems in Wales, Scotland and France. He also governed the country firmly, so that the economy flourished and law and order improved, and his regime remained popular.
However, the Queen’s numerous relatives, the Woodvilles, became very unpopular, particularly with the old nobility, and it is possible to blame the Woodville marriage for the collapse of the Yorkist dynasty. It caused the revolt of Warwick and arguably led to the execution of one of Edward’s brothers, the Duke of Clarence, who was drowned, it is said, in a barrel of wine.
Edward suffered a notable decline in his later years, becoming corpulent and lacking the energy and enthusiasm that marked the early years of his reign. His brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, blamed his decline and subsequent death in 1483 on the Woodvilles, who had made the court a riotous place of feasting, drunkenness and intrigue.
King Edward had ten children by Elizabeth Woodville and at least four illegitimate children by three different mothers. His favourite mistress was Jane Shore, wife of a City merchant.
E DWARD V
Reigned 1483
Edward was born in 1470 at Westminster, the son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. He was declared king on the death of his father in 1483, with his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as regent. The young King Edward V had been brought up by his mother’s relatives, and the opening days of the new reign saw the Woodvilles attempt to exclude Richard from his position as Lord Protector. They set up their own ruling council and ordered an immediate coronation of the twelve-year-old king, who was still to arrive from Ludlow, his seat as Prince of Wales.
But Richard was warned by the loyal Lord Hastings that he faced what amounted to a coup, so he intercepted the young King on his way to London and arrested the Woodville leaders. The Queen and her younger son (also called Richard) sought sanctuary in Westminster Abbey, but other members of the Woodville clan were executed. Edward was taken to the Tower of London (which served as a royal palace as well as a prison) and was joined a short time later by his younger brother.
Richard called a meeting of the full Council of the Protectorate in the Tower, where he accused the astounded Lord Hastings of a treasonable conspiracy with the Woodvilles. Richard had Hastings executed immediately without trial. Plans for Edward’s coronation were then put on hold, as Richard sought to have the King and his brother declared illegitimate, on the grounds that Edward IV had been contracted to marry another woman before marrying Elizabeth Woodville in secret. Parliament accepted this, declared Richard king and he was crowned on 6 July.
Nobody knows for sure what happened to the two boys, but they were never again seen outside the Tower. Were they murdered and if so at whose command? Richard clearly had the motive and the opportunity. Did he personally give the order? Or was it an overzealous supporter who took matters into his own hands? It is worth noting that the Duke of Buckingham and Henry Tudor both had claims to the throne and would also benefit from the death of the Princes. And if they could manage this while placing the blame on Richard, they would kill two birds with one stone. Whatever the case, the Princes simply vanished –
Edward’s second mistake was his failure to support the Duke of Burgundy against the French. The Burgundian alliance was the mainstay of English foreign policy throughout the Hundred Years War and helped protect vital English trading interests in the Low Countries. In return Edward received a pension from Louis XI of France, but strategically the subsequent defeat of Burgundy was deeply unpopular and dangerous to England’s long-term interests.
Apart from these mistakes, Edward’s management provided good solutions to problems in Wales, Scotland and France. He also governed the country firmly, so that the economy flourished and law and order improved, and his regime remained popular.
However, the Queen’s numerous relatives, the Woodvilles, became very unpopular, particularly with the old nobility, and it is possible to blame the Woodville marriage for the collapse of the Yorkist dynasty. It caused the revolt of Warwick and arguably led to the execution of one of Edward’s brothers, the Duke of Clarence, who was drowned, it is said, in a barrel of wine.
Edward suffered a notable decline in his later years, becoming corpulent and lacking the energy and enthusiasm that marked the early years of his reign. His brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, blamed his decline and subsequent death in 1483 on the Woodvilles, who had made the court a riotous place of feasting, drunkenness and intrigue.
King Edward had ten children by Elizabeth Woodville and at least four illegitimate children by three different mothers. His favourite mistress was Jane Shore, wife of a City merchant.
E DWARD V
Reigned 1483
Edward was born in 1470 at Westminster, the son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. He was declared king on the death of his father in 1483, with his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as regent. The young King Edward V had been brought up by his mother’s relatives, and the opening days of the new reign saw the Woodvilles attempt to exclude Richard from his position as Lord Protector. They set up their own ruling council and ordered an immediate coronation of the twelve-year-old king, who was still to arrive from Ludlow, his seat as Prince of Wales.
But Richard was warned by the loyal Lord Hastings that he faced what amounted to a coup, so he intercepted the young King on his way to London and arrested the Woodville leaders. The Queen and her younger son (also called Richard) sought sanctuary in Westminster Abbey, but other members of the Woodville clan were executed. Edward was taken to the Tower of London (which served as a royal palace as well as a prison) and was joined a short time later by his younger brother.
Richard called a meeting of the full Council of the Protectorate in the Tower, where he accused the astounded Lord Hastings of a treasonable conspiracy with the Woodvilles. Richard had Hastings executed immediately without trial. Plans for Edward’s coronation were then put on hold, as Richard sought to have the King and his brother declared illegitimate, on the grounds that Edward IV had been contracted to marry another woman before marrying Elizabeth Woodville in secret. Parliament accepted this, declared Richard king and he was crowned on 6 July.
Nobody knows for sure what happened to the two boys, but they were never again seen outside the Tower. Were they murdered and if so at whose command? Richard clearly had the motive and the opportunity. Did he personally give the order? Or was it an overzealous supporter who took matters into his own hands? It is worth noting that the Duke of Buckingham and Henry Tudor both had claims to the throne and would also benefit from the death of the Princes. And if they could manage this while placing the blame on Richard, they would kill two birds with one stone. Whatever the case, the Princes simply vanished –
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