The Coronation of our Greatest King Edward IV

28th June 1461

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          Edward, Duke of York has been officially crowned has Edward VI! Indeed he has win the battle which took place at Towton and he defeated the army of Lancaster. 

             50,000 soldiers fought under the banners of the House of Lancaster and the House of York. With a miserable weather, 28,000 men died on the battle field. Some source estimated there were 200,000 soldiers! Please, you aren't serious, are you?

The battle field of Towton
after months

              The Last King and Queen of England stayed at York and this battle was a decisive battle because the winner will be the king. Then from the House of Lancaster, Andrew Trollope and Henry Percy died on the battle field and one of the closest gentleman of the last King of England, Ralph Dacre, has been murdered by an archer who was hid, Lord Robert Horne, a member of the House of York, has been killed too.

               Let's talk about the coronation of this good-looking king. He is at 6 ft 4 and he has an impressive muscular that even hid by his armor all girls and women are dazzled by him! He wore a beautiful coat strewed with ermine. The church was full and the population's screams were so high that no one couldn't hear the archbishop!

But I can assure you the crown suits him perfectly well!

Who was there? Have you seen him or his brother George Plantagenet and Richard Plantagnet, respectively eleven  and nine years old.

Ann ; 9 ; Peasant.

                I am small and I could go wherever I want. I was in front of the crowd and I saw everything. The king is so tall on his horse, and so beautiful. I saw women with blush on her cheeks. He greeted us with a smile I won't forgive, it was so sincere. I guess I love him, I want to be his Queen!

So cute to see a little girl thinking that. But I'm not sure he could married you Ann, he is the king and he has surely a engagement with someone, from Spain? France? Germany? Ask to Richard Neville! 

Richard Neville; 32 ; Earl of Warwick, The Kingmaker

                Edward is now King of England, all efforts we've done to put his father, the greatest Richard Duke of York and then his first born son succeeded today by this official coronation. This is a reborn for England after this fool king who is the grandson of Henry IV who usurped the throne to Richard II. This is a new area for England and I am please to tell you I've great project for him. I have in mind to betrothed him to a Princess, perhaps French.

What? Our prettiest king betrothed to a French Princess? If she is as Margaret of Anjou, please don't. I guess England has had enough with her! But I will find who could be this French Princess... If she disappear, this is probably because of the women who wanted to be the next Queen of England...

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Georges and Richard Plantagenet

5th November 1461

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          This isn't with surprise I tell you George Plantagenet and Richard Plantagenet, King Edward IV's brothers have been titled as Dukes on the first day of this month. The first one was made George Duke of Clarence and the youngest, Richard Duke of Gloucester. This is great new that now they are both an excellent part of the english nobility who need to be married. As King Edward IV!

           They received some proposals but no one could say what will hapen to this. Then at the age of twelve years old - he was born the 21st October 1449-, George could stay at Westminster palace with the king. 

            However, Richard Duke of Gloucester is too young and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, called The Kingmaker, kept him at Middleham Castle. He studies the kinghtly conduct, he learns latin, French, law, mathematics, penmanship, music, horsemanship and military training. Moreover, Warwick teachs him  to pratice with sword, dagger and battle-axe, and how to manage a hawk and to hunt. He'll become the most cultivated man of England my Dear Readers... Then he spends his time at Middleham with Warwick's daughters; Isabel and Anne Neville, and Francis Lovell, one of the boy Warwick has in charge.

Cecily Neville,
Duchess of York

           Then Lord Hasting assured : "Actually, Edward is King of England and to give these titles to his brothers, this is a huge consideration and I do not doubt they will be forever faith to him. He is their brother." and Cecily Neville, the king's mother added : " I rememeber when they were young and now they grew up and they're Dukes. I am proud of them, this was God's wishes, and by the God' sake they are blessed."

             

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The Neville Family

Warwick's Coat of Arms of Richard Neville,
Earl of Warwick

19th December 1461

Hello my Dearest Visitor !

I've decided to tell you more about the Neville family and these members.

Ann Beauchamps

            First of all The Kingmaker; Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, by his actions for the House of York and to put Edward the heir of this greatest house on the throne, he is called the Kingmaker. A great name which stressed the power of the House of Neville. He is a brilliant fighter and strategist, that explain his victory at some battles.

            He is married to Ann Beauchamps, a rich english woman, and he has two daughters. Isabel and Anne who spend their childhood with their cousin Richard, recently Duke of York. Isabel is a pretty Lady and her father will probably ask to King Edward to marry Georges Plantagenet. As he will ask for his youngest daughter Anne for Richard.

Isabel Neville

            Richard Neville has been betrothed to his future wife at the age of six and he has been made knight in 1445. Then in September 1459, he went to Ludlow and crossed England after his victory at Blore Heath, but he is forced to run away to Calais in France with the Earl of Salisbury and Edward, Earl of March. They come back the next year but the 30th December at Wakefield, he lost his brother Thomas Neville, his cousin Edmund, Earl of Rutland, his uncle, the Duke of York and his father Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, executed the next day. But as you know Edward was crowed the 4th March 1461.

           During the coronation of Edward in London, he stayed in the North to remain pacify this part of England, while the last Queen Marguerite d'Anjou escape to Scotland with her husband the last King Henri VI and their son, Edward of Westminster.

           This isn't information enough of his daughters, especially of Isabel but some cookers from Middleham Castle said between Anne and the Duke of Gloucester there is something special. Love? Too earlier to say it but I've made my own investigation! Imagine me under a tree, watching these little children... No, I wasn't hid! But I can assure I see them smile, laugh, and whisper to each other. But could we say this is love? They are probably friend but this is a case to follow! Then I hope the best for them.

Have a nice day, or night my Dearest Readers.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

King Edward IV betrothed to a French Princess?!

17^th July 1462

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Bona of Savoy

          This is for women a sad new. Our beloved King of England is already betrothed to a French Princess, as Warwick wished.

          To secure the alliance between England and France, Richard Neville plans to marry Edward IV to Bona of Savoy.

          She is the daughter of Louis, Duke of Savoy and of his beloved wife Anne de Lusignan of Cyprus. His father thought to engage her to Galeazoo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan.

Richard Neville; 33; Earl of Warwick, The Kingmaker

          Edward IV and England have to secure the alliance with France, Marguerite d'Anjou is French and the cousin of Louis XI of France. Then we have to eliminate all possibilities of  a war with France.

Engage our greatest King Edward IV in a wedding with a French Princess, you don't eliminate all possibilities of war with the noble english women, a fight will come to determine who could be the next Queen of England.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Our King Edward already married?! Who is the greatest Lady?

3rd May 1464

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          Some rumours say our King Edward IV refused the betrothal of the French Princess, Bona of Savoy because he is already married! Creating by this way a huge conflict with his cousin Richard Neville, Earl of Wawrick.

          Who could be this lucky women who caught the king's heart, daring the Warwick influenced? No one know, some of them tell she is a whore or a married woman.

George Plantagenet; 14 ; Duke of Clarence

          There is no one who know who she is, but I can assure you, she must have skills that any other women have to keep close to her the king..
.

Those words cannot be tell by a young boy as you are, Duke... But who knows? You are probably right.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Edward IV revealed his name's wife

24th November 1464

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          Edward IV has confirmed his wedding with a women and revealed her identity and sit down comfortably on your chair my Dearest Reader; she is a Lancastrian Woman!

The Marriage of Elizabeth Woodville and Edward IV

          Her name is Elizabeth Woodville, a Lancastrian widow of Sir John Grey of Groby who died on the battle field of St Albans in december 1461. She has two sons, Thomas and Richard Grey.

          But what an ironic thing, a Lancastrian widow married with Edward IV, a Yorkist fighting  and claiming the throne of England as his own.

          This announcement sounds has an horrible revelation, Yorkist soldiers died to put on the throne the heir of this house, and now he is married with a woman from the ennemy house. Warwick must be the most angry man of the world.

Richard Neville; 35 ; Earl of Warwick, the Kingmaker

          I cannot realise that Edward, my beloved cousin, is married to a Lancastrian woman. Does he forgot his brother Edmund and his father Richard has been executed by the Lancastrian army in 1461? Does he forgot all the sacrifies we've done for him? How could he do that to me and to the Yorkist soldiers? Then the betrothal with the French Princess, Bona of Savoy, is annulled but I won't forget what he has done to me. I have done too much for him and lost enough to forget. I swear I won't.

Jacquetta of Luxembourg; 48 ; Countess Rivers

           I am glad to see my eldest daughter happy with the king and this is an honour to be his mother-in-law. What could be more wonderful to marry my daughter by love to a man? I married Sir Richard Woodville because of love and we've had fourteen children. England will have heirs soon, I am sure of it. And I am not afraid of the rumours, King Edward IV loves Elizabeth and all will be fine for them.

 
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, appointed by King Edward IV

2nd February 1465

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Coat of Arm of Richard,
Duke of Gloucester

           Richard, Duke of Gloucester, aged of eleven, has been appointed by our prettier King of England the sole Commissioner of Array in the last months of 1464 for the Western Counties. This is a great distinction made by Your Majesty and it shows his trust in his brother.

           Now aged of tweleve, he has left Middleham Castle, the mansion where Warwick made his knightly training, and he is now involved in the politics of the War of the Roses even if he is young.

Edward IV; 22 ; King of England

          I've appointed my youngest brother, Richard Duke of York, as Commissioner of Array because he has grow up and I am sure he will be a great man in politic.

This is indeed a huge distinction give to the Duke, but what about George, Duke of Clarence? Isn't he enough faith to you, King of England? Rumours tell he is obsessed by the power and the power of money...

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

A Lancastrian Queen on the throne!

26th May 1465

Elizabeth's dress during her coronation

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          This is official, any other women will be the next Queen of England but Elizabeth Wydville, the wonderful woman with gorgeous blond hair. And she is just 28 years old!

          She has been crowned at Westminster Abbey as Queen of England, and the abbey was full of Yorkist Soldiers.

          All her familly was present as Jacquetta of Luxembourg, Countess of Rivers, her husband, Earl of Rivers, Richard Wydville, and her sisters and brothers as Anthony Wydville.

          Her beauty caught the attention of everyone and the whispers of jealousy current all of the coronation. She looked majestic on her seat with the crown on her pretty head. She gave us a little smile and among the crowd there were the Dukes of Clarence and Gloucester, the Earl of Warwick and his wife and daughters, Anne and Isabel Neville. All of the greatest nobility were here!

Have you seen the Queen of England, the woman who is called "the most beautiful woman in the Island of Britain" with "heavy-lidded eyes like those of a dragon".

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Gregory; 45 ; Loyal man from the House of Lancaster

          How could I be happy? She is not a Lancastrian Queen. She is a traitor who betrayed us of marrying this impostor! She is attracted just by the power, and she will fall as all of the women who've done this.

Good to see you, Gregory, I remind that after your declaration of the hasty coronation of Edward IV on 4 March 1461, you've been imprisoned during one month. But I am not sure you will keep your head where she is, the king is actually in love with his Queen. Pay attention of what you say.

Anne Wydville; 27 ; Lady-in-waiting

          My sister Elizabeth, the Queen Consort of England, was the most beautiful women in the abbey. She wore a pretty coat with ermine and the crown suits her perfectly. I guess, this was the wishes of God, she was made to be queen.

If this was the wishes of God, the we've nothing to say. I hope you will serve perfectly your beloved sister.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence is dead

19th February 1478

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          We have learned the George, the Royal Duke of Clarence has been executed on 18 February in the Tower of London. The Duke was jailed in the tower after his several treasons and his disloyalty towards our beloved King Edward IV. He was obsessed by the power, the money and his wicked whispers against the legitimacy of Edward IV have had his own life.

          We remind that he married Isabel Neville on July 1469 by interest and he orgenised a rebellion against his own brother the king with his father-in-law, the Earl of Wawrick. He put back on the throne the last King Henry VI and his French Queen on 30 October 1470 and he realised that all efforts which were done were for the Warwick's own interests. They were vain and he turned his coat.

          After the defeat of the Lancastrian Army and the death on the battle field of Tewkesbury of Warwick, he returned to the court, the king forgiving him. Despite the forgive of King Edward IV, George had never change his behavior. However, he was avid of the Neville's fortune and found in his broother Richard a rival. Indeed, Richard of Gloucester married Anne Neville, the youngest Warwick daughter in 1472, but he didn't  inherit the entire Warwick estate.

        Isabel Neville died on 22 December 1476 after giving birth to Richard, two months ago. Clarence accused one of her Ladies-in-waiting of killing the Duchess of Clarence and executed her. Their surviving two children, Margaret and Edward who will be cared by Anne Neville, their aunt, after their father's death.

         Clarence's mental state was questioned because of conspiring and ploting against our Majesty. Our Grace severly upbraided him and ordered his immediate confinement in the Tower of London by accusing him of treason George, Duke of Clarence was imprisoned and a trial of treason against his brother Edward IV began. Trying in vain to find evidence because of love which could clear him, the king heard the verdict as "Guilty", convicting George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence to the death sentence. He has been also "privately executed" yesterday, rumours pretending ha has been drowed in a butt of Malmsey wine, the Queen's favorite...

            Thus, the Three Sons of York is an achieved age. Are they destined to destroy the other?

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

The Royal Crown ; Subjet of War and Death

24th April 1483

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

           Our country is divided since 1455, the beginning of the war between York and Lancaster. Today, while King Edward IV is dead, the conflict continue... 

           Even if the beginning of the quarrel dates since 1455, in reality the discord already exist for almost a century. Indeed, in 1399, Henry Bolingbroke (future Henry IV), Duke of Lancaster, dethroned his cousin Richard II however Henry wasn't legitimate. He descended from John of Gaunt, third son of Edward III and normally the throne was for the descendant of Lionel of Antwerp, second son of Edward III. Lionel's grandson, Roger Mortimer, was considered the true heir to the throne.

Henri VI

           This is why, in 1455 while Henry VI was king, Richard, Duke of York rebel against King Henry reminding the illegitimancy of the House of Lancaster and claiming himself as the true heir. And on 22th May 1455, he won the battle of Saint Albans, after that Richard Duke of York, headed the country during four years, Henry suffered of madness, he lived out of the kingdom. 

           But in 1459, Richard was hunting out of the court by Henry VI, still king, and Margaret of Anjou. At this moment, Richard formed an alliance with Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick but Duke of York died during the Battle of Wakefield. Then, Henry took the power again. 

           In 1461,Yorkist won the battle of Towton. And on 28th July, 1461, Warwick made Edward IV, Richard's son, the king. Margaret and Henry ran away in Scotland. 

           In 1469, Warwick betrayed King Edward IV with George, Duke of Clarence, Edward lost the battle of Edgecote Moor and he was jailed. But he recovered the throne quickly and forgave them. After an other treason, Warwick and George ran away in France and made an alliance with Margaret of Anjou. Warwick suceeded and put back Henry VI to the throne. But, Edward IV won the battle of Barnet where Warwick was killed and then the battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

           From this moment and nowdays, there were no more battles between the two roses however with the death of our King, things can change... 

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Finally, because of this war, many important people died...

• Richard, Duke of York,1460;
• Richard Wydville, Earl of Rivers, Last Queen Elizabeth's father, 1469;
• John Wydville, Last Queen Elizabeth's brother, 1469;
• Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, 1471;
• Edouard of Wesminster, Last King Henry VI' s IV son, 1471;
• Georges, Duke of Clarence, 1478;
• Henry VI, 1471.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

Shakespeare's trickery !

25th November 2013

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

          I know William Shakespeare is a huge writer who is still in our cultural inheritence but when I read his historical playwright "The Tragedy of Richard the Third", I wonder: Did Shakespeare receive his world? Did he favor his own interest rather than the true story?

 

         Indeed, in the playwright, W.Shakespeare painted King Richard III as an ugly man who was deformed. Richard described himself as "deform'd, unfinish'd, spent before (his) time", and "lamely", his Lady Mother, Cecily Neville, added he was "long a-growing" and perhaps that was the main cause of his ugliness. But in 2012, the body of King Richard III has been discovered under a parking in Leicester and proved by DNA analyses of his bones. Proving that he wasn't hunchback but he suffered of scoliosis. One of his shoulder was higher than the other and that explain all of the prejudicies against him. His look is as deformed as the Shakespeare's playwright this way he tried to discredit the king, making the people scared and digusted by this terrible look.

          And this look is accorded to his character, he's ready to do everything for the power, as murdered his own family. At the beginning, he was extremely jealous of his brother King Edward IV but he tried to manipulate everyone to keep the power and the throne to himself. He eliminated all the heirs of the king, even his own brother Clarence also his nephews then he pushed aside the Rivers family. He married the widow Anne Neville and convinced her he didn't killed her first husband and his beloved father at Tewkesbury. Therewith increase his power, he decided to marry Elizabeth of York and he poisoned Lady Anne. His victims came to haunt him the eve before the battle and accused him of his crimes and cursed him when they say "despair, and die!". Richard was not only hated by his enemies but also by his trusty people.

          The next morning, during the Richard's last battle which took place in Bosworth, he was betrayed by his own soldiers. Shakespeare painted him as self-confident enough to wear the crown during the battle and to ride a white horse and by this way be more vulnerable. He was so confided by his victory that he didn't thought he will fall. Richard died face to Henri Tudor described by Shakespeare as a brave man and who deserved the victory and even the closest persons of Richard wished him to fall. His last words were "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" and despite his manipulation of the society of his time, Richard had an humiliated and ridiculous death.

Cardiff Castle Stained Glass

          Indeed, in "The Tragedy of Richard III" Richard III is painting as a tyrannical and bloodythirsty man but when we study the historical Richard, we understand that Shakespeare has exaggerated his bad sides and his deformities. He invented many crimes like his wife, Anne Neville. She died probably of tuberculosis. He emphasized his physical defects to increase the disgust towards Richard. However Richard wasn't so ugly, the recentdiscover of his skeleton has rehabilitated his look.


          In conclusion, I think this playwright haven't to be called historical playwright. First of all, the play has been written and published in 1592, and Richard is dead one hundred years ago! He has been influenced by Thomas More with his novel "The History of Richard the Third" in 1513 but published after his death during the Henri VIII's reign.

Richard III, Facial Reconstruction 

 On the BBC website: "The youthful result impressed Richard III Society member Philippa Langley, who described him as "handsome". "It does'nt look like the face of a tyrant," she said.

ஜ۩۞۩ஜ