Twelfth Episode of Siggie, presenting her take on the history of the monarchs of England in the context of her favorite topic….herself. Here she discusses the reign of Edward IV (House of York)–interrupted by the return of Henry VI (House of Lancaster)– due to the changing loyalties of powerful noble Richard Neville. She then discusses the infamous disappearance (and likely murder) of young King Edward V, the possible role of his uncle Richard III in this mystery, and lastly the end of Richard’s reign (and of the Wars of the Roses) at the Battle of Bosworth Field.

King Edward IV of the House of York reigned from 1461 to 1470 and from 1471 to

1483. His Reign was interrupted when he was forced to get out of town in 1470

when the 16th Earl of Warwick, Richard Neville, betrayed him. King Edward IV took

over the throne from King Henry VI and his behind-the-scenes Wizard of Oz She

Wolf Margaret of Anjou. Ironically, Richard had helped Edward win

the throne- a reminder to keep your friends close and your frenemies

closer. Edward IV was back in action in 1471.

This leads us to the story of the two princes in the tower. Edward IV had two

sons, Edward V and the younger son, Richard. They were declared illegitimate

by the not so loving Uncle Richard III. Edward V reigned only for two months in

1483, although he was never crowned. He was banished with his brother, Richard, to

the Tower of London while Richard III ascended to the throne. What happened to

the brothers remains a mystery. We don’t know how old Edward V really was when he

died because he and his brother… they just kind of like you know… disappeared.

He may have been 12. The fate of Edward V and his brother is unknown, but it is

popularly believed that they were murdered by the uncle, King Richard

III. They basically completely disappeared from public view in 1483.

They may have been smothered to death with their pillows. This inspired

Shakespeare’s Richard III. But another theory is that Edward simply died of an

illness, as he was regularly visited by a doctor. 

Now let’s move along to the saintly and wonderful and honorable King Richard

III of the House of York, who reigned from 1483 to 1485. After the death of

his brother Edward IV, Richard III was also ironically named Lord protector of

the realm for his young nephew Edward V. So, quote-unquote Lord protector,

quicker than you could bat a protective eyelash, declared his nephew illegitimate

and stole the throne for himself. What a nice guy. He got his comeuppance though. 

He reign was short, he was killed, at the Battle of Bosworth by his successor King Henry VII,

which marks the end of the walls of the Roses.

(Stay tuned for Episodes 13: as we move into the famous Tudor dynasty)