Edward IV Dies - Richard Of Gloucester Becomes King

Edward took control of Calais and rewarded his brother Richard with Warwick's possessions. Clarence received Courtenay lands in the west country and was made Lieutenant of Ireland, but after several clashes with his brothers and inspiring an uprising he was sent to the Tower and soon after died.

In April 1483 Edward IV also died. He left behind a twelve year old son, who was declared King Edward V. He had intended that Richard of Gloucester be regent, but a rift soon developed between Richard on one side and the Queen's family and allies on the other. Richard travelled south and joined Henry Stafford Duke of Buckingham.

Anthony Woodville heard of Richard's opposition whilst at Ludlow with his nephew Edward V. He set out towards London to confront Richard but was arrested. In June 1483 Anthony was beheaded at Pontefract Castle. On his death he was found to be wearing a hair shirt. Anthony had lived an ascetic life, been on several pilgrimages and co-published the first printed book in England with William Caxton (The Dictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres). He had also excelled in the joust, having defeated Anthony Bastard of Burgundy in two days of combat.

Dorset fled the country and Elizabeth Woodville was left to seek sanctuary in Westminster Abbey.

Edward V was declared a bastard by Richard, who argued that Edward and Elizabeth's marriage had been invalid. Richard was crowned King Richard III. Edward V and his brother Richard were sent to the Tower and later vanished. The debate surrounding their possible murder and the suspects continues to rage (so I'll say no more on the matter).

Richard III Defeated at Bosworth

In Autumn Richard moved to crush a revolt in the West Country. It seemed that Buckingham had intrigued with the Woodvilles, Courtenays and with Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond. Buckingham was executed but Henry Tudor travelled to France to raise an army.

In 1485 Henry landed in Pembrokeshire with three thousand French mercenaries and gathered further support as he marched to meet Richard. Henry and Richard clashed at Bosworth on 22 August 1485. Henry claimed right to the throne through his mother Margaret Beaufort, the Beauforts being descended from John of Gaunt. The conflict had come full-circle.

As the battle progressed Stanley and Nothumberland were slow to commit themselves to either side. Following an archery duel the Stanleys began to move against Richard. Seeing that Northumberland had remained immobile Richard seized the moment and launched a daring charge against Henry Tudor. Eventually overwhelmed, Richard was dragged from his mount and killed. Henry Tudor was declared King Henry VII.

The wars End

Between 1485 and 1500 Henry was troubled by a number of battles, abortive uprisings and plots. He was able to consolidate his claim to the throne and lay foundations for the security of his dynasty; The House of Tudor.

But what of the Woodvilles? Elizabeth survived the conflict but died at the Abbey of Bermondsey in 1492. Her eldest daughter Elizabeth of York married Henry Tudor and became queen. Lancaster and York were at last united, as symbolised by the combined Tudor rose.