The Wars of the Roses (Part 2)

 

The first part is HERE.

After Edward IV's coronation, the two former monarchs (Henry and Margaret) and their son fled to Scotland.

Everything seemed to be going well for three years, during which, by the way, Former King Henry was captured for a third time (ok, seriously, stop being captured, Henry; this isn't even funny anymore!)

Anyway, after a relatively peaceful period, disagreements arose between King Edward and the Yorkists' powerful ally, Richard Neville.

Neville wanted the English King to marry either the daughter or the sister of King Louise XI of France, for the sake of an alliance between the two countries. However, Edward was like, 'I need no guidance as to what to do with my genitals, dude.' So, instead, he married the chick he really was into: Elizabeth Woodville, a commoner!

Neville tried to put an end to that marriage by accusing Elizabeth of witchcraft. Predictably, that didn't work. 'Come on, dude. You really thought I would buy that?' Edward IV laughed. 'Whom do you take me for? King Henry VIII? That psychopath hasn't even been born yet!'

To make matters worse, Edward went for an alliance with Burgundy, which Neville didn't fancy.

Edward's decision to remove Neville's brother, George, from the office of Lord Chancellor was probably the straw that broke the camel's back.

And so, Neville allied himself with the King's brother, George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, who hated his brother's guts for various reasons.

Although Edward IV was captured at the battle of Edgcote (1469), he was soon released, since it turned out that he was the only one who could control the disorder. Neville and George fled to France, where they switched sides and allied themselves with Former Queen Margaret.

Their forces managed to depose Edward IV and restore Henry VI to power (1470).

Soon, though, Edward returned and, having allied himself to the Duke of Burgundy, regained the throne. Neville was killed. Heir Edward was killed. Henry VI was captured (wow, what a surprise!) and died soon after finding out about his son's death (he either died from depression or was assassinated). As for Margaret, she was captured as well. She was later ransomed by King Louis XI of France and spent the rest of her life there.

From then on, Edward IV enjoyed a relatively peaceful reign until his death, in 1483.

After Edward IV's death, his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, became Lord Protector and ruled England as a regent, since Edward V, Edward IV's son, was still underage. When Richard tasted that kind of power, he went like, 'Wow, I could get used to this!'

In fact, he got so used to this that he decided to keep that power for good! And so, after executing his political opponents without a trial, after declaring Edward IV's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville illegitimate (which, of course, rendered Edward IV's children illegitimate heirs) and after making sure Edward IV's children 'mysteriously disappeared' (for good measure!), Richard managed to be crowned King Richard III.

Unfortunately for the new king, though, he would soon meet his nemesis in the person of Henry Tudor. But, more about that, another time!

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See you next time!