King Henry VI captured at the Battle of Northampton
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Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales (1453-1471)

Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales was the only son and rightful heir of King Henry VI of England and Queen Margaret of Anjou. Also known as the Edward of Lancaster, the young Prince had a short and unpredictable life and died at the age of seventeen.

Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales (1453-1471)
Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales (1453-1471)

Early Life

Contents

Edward was born on 13 October 1453 at the Palace of Westminster, London.

During  Edward’s birth, there was a conflict between the supporters of Henry and Richard Plantagenet, the 3rd Duke of York.

The Yorkists challenged Henry’s authority and claimed that he was incompetent to govern his state. Henry suffered serious mental illness and was diagnosed likely to be suffering from catatonic schizophrenia.

Furthermore, there were several rumors surrounding the legitimacy of the birth of Edward. There was a widespread rumor that the prince was actually a result of an affair of Queen Margaret.

Both Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset and James Butler, the 5th Earl of Ormonde were suspected to have an affair with the Queen.

There was no evidence supporting the rumors and Henry VI eventually came to his senses and willfully accepted the child as his own.

In 1454, he publicly acknowledged his son as his legal heir and made him Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle.

Queen Margaret of Anjou
Queen Margaret of Anjou

The Disinheritance of Edward of Westminster

In 1460, King Henry VI was captured at the Battle of Northampton by the Duke of York. Henry VI was imprisoned in London and Duke of York was appointed the Protector of England.

Margaret as rebellious she was, did not take this lightly and gathered an army to fight against York, Salisbury and Warwick.

An Act of Accord was passed by the Parliament and a state of compromise was reached. According to the act, Henry VI will reign for the remaining of his life, but the right to his heir will pass on to the legal heirs of York and not Edward.

King Henry VI captured at the Battle of Northampton
King Henry VI captured at the Battle of Northampton

Edward’s Exile in France

Meanwhile, after the disinheritance, Margaret and Edward fled to Cheshire to take refuge. Margaret raised supporters to recognize her son as the legal heir of England and gathered forces of outlaws and pillagers.

York was killed at the Battle of Wakefield. After proclaiming their victory, Margaret and her army advanced towards South and defeated Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, one of the prominent supporters of York at the 2nd Battle of St. Albans.

Warwick brought King Henry and left him abandoned on the battlefield. Two of his loyal Knights William Bonville, 1st Baron of Bonville and Sir Thomas Kyriell were left to see that no harm is caused to Henry VI.

After King Henry was rescued, Margaret inquired young Edward about the fate of the two Knights.

Much to surprise, the young Edward ordered that the Knights should be beheaded without much hesitation.

Margaret and Edward were alarmed by the news of the plundering and ransacking of the Lancastrian army in London. So, they instead decided to sail to France. For three years Edward along with his mother remained there in exile. Meanwhile, Henry VI was again recaptured and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Edward, who has now grown up already has earned a reputation of being fierce and unruly continuously assaulting his peers and young attendants with swords and weapons.

Marriage of Edward of Westminster and Anne Neville

After years in exile, Margaret decided to ally with the Earl of Warwick. In December 1470, Prince Edward was married to Anne Neville, daughter of Warwick. The marriage ensured that Warwick will remain faithful in his support to the Lancastrians and will not change sides with the Yorkists.

Anne of Warwick (Anne Neville)
Anne of Warwick (Anne Neville)

Death of Edward of Westminster

Warwick with the help of the Duke of Clarence dethroned Edward IV and put King Henry to the throne.

On 1471, Edward IV returned to England from his exile in Burgundy. Warwick was defeated and killed at the Battle of Barnet.

On 14 April 1471, the young Prince Edward met his death in the hands of Edward IV at the Battle of Tewkesbury.

After his death, his widow Anne Neville married the Duke of Gloucester who eventually became King Richard III in 1483.

Edward’s body was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire, England.

Battle of Tewkesbury
Battle of Tewkesbury
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