King Otto of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Otto of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Otto of Bavaria (Otto Wilhelm Luitpold Adalbert Waldemar) was the younger son of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. He was born two months prematurely on April 27, 1848, at the Munich Residenz, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, and was named after his uncle King Otto of Greece.

Otto had one older sibling:

Otto (right) with his parents and brother. source: Wikipedia

Otto and his brother were raised primarily at Hohenschwangau Castle by nannies and servants. They had minimal interaction with their parents, who they came to dislike. Their father was brutally strict, especially with Ludwig, as he was heir to the throne.

In 1863, Otto began serving with the Bavarian army, reaching the rank of Lieutenant the following year. By 1866, he had been promoted to Captain and entered active service with the Royal Bavarian Infantry Guards. He fought in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and later served as Colonel in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. By this time, he was also the heir-presumptive to the Bavarian throne, as his brother had become King Ludwig II following their father’s death in March 1864.

In 1871, Otto and his uncle Prince Luitpold represented his brother at the proclamation of  King Wilhelm I of Prussia as the first German Emperor at the Palace of Versailles in France. Despite his attendance, Otto and his brother King Ludwig II did not support the establishment of the German Empire and Prussia’s prominence. These views, often publicly expressed, were well known to the Prussians and the newly established German court.

Otto, c1875. source: Wikipedia

Otto first began showing signs of mental illness, suffering from anxiety and depression, after serving in the Franco-Prussian War. His illness quickly worsened, worrying the court and his brother King Ludwig II who was expecting Otto to marry and provide an heir to the Bavarian throne. Otto was placed under medical supervision and reports of his condition were passed to the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck by spies within the Bavarian court. By 1872, his doctors were reporting that he was mentally ill, and the following year he was moved to isolation in the southern pavilion of Nymphenburg Palace.

Dr. Bernhard von Gudden. source: Wikipedia

Otto’s physician was Dr. Bernhard von Gudden. There is much debate about von Gudden’s actions in treating Otto and his brother King Ludwig II. Dr. von Gudden would later also diagnose Ludwig as mentally ill despite never examining him or treating him. This led to Ludwig being deposed in 1913 and dying mysteriously just days later. Many speculate that the doctor’s actions were politically motivated. Unlike Otto and Ludwig, von Gudden and Otto and Ludwig’s uncle Prince Luitpold supported the establishment of the German Empire and Prussia’s dominance. Some historians suggest that it was German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck pulling the strings, wanting to remove Ludwig and Otto from power, and replacing him with Luitpold who was more easily controlled.

Whatever the reasons, Otto was more or less removed from the public eye. In 1875, he made a very public appearance at a mass in the Frauenkirche in Munich, causing a scene before being removed. Otto was then moved to Schleissheim Palace against his will. He made his last public appearance later that year, in August 1875 at the King’s Parade. His condition continued to deteriorate and in 1883 he was moved for the last time, taking up residence at Fürstenried Palace specially converted to provide for his confinement. Here, Otto was often visited by his brother King Ludwig II who insisted that Otto should be treated well and that no harm should come to him.

Within a few years, King Ludwig II was also declared mentally ill by Dr. von Gudden, and their uncle Luitpold was appointed Prince Regent. Just days later, on June 13, 1886, Ludwig and von Gudden both died under mysterious circumstances, and Otto formally became King. However, because of his incapacity, Otto probably never understood that he had become king, and the regency remained in place under Prince Luitpold.

Fürstenried Palace, By Rufus46 – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1155929

Otto remained in isolation at Fürstenried Palace for the rest of his life. When Prince Luitpold died in 1912, his son Prince Ludwig became Regent. The following year, Ludwig amended the Bavarian constitution to allow for King Otto to be formally deposed. On November 5, 1913, King Otto was formally deposed and replaced by his cousin who took the throne as King Ludwig III.

King Otto died unexpectedly three years later, on October 11, 1916, aged 68, at Fürstenried Palace, as the result of a bowel obstruction. He was buried in the crypt at the Michaelskirche in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, and his heart was entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting.

Coffin of King Otto of Bavaria. photo © Susan Flantzer

The coffin of King Otto of Bavaria. photo © Susan Flantzer

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

July 1916: Royalty and World War I

by Susan Flantzer

Battle of the Somme
Timeline: July 1, 1916 – July 31, 1916
A Note About German Titles
July 1916 – Royals/Nobles/Peers/Sons of Peers Who Died In Action

The Battle of the Somme

Troops “going over the top” at the start of the Battle of the Somme in 1916; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

“Somme. The whole history of the world cannot contain a more ghastly word.” These were the words of Friedrich Steinbrecher, a 24 year old German officer and theology student who fought in the Battle of the Somme and survived, but was killed in action in 1917 in Champagne, France.

The Battle of the Somme was a 141 day battle, more accurately called the Somme Offensive, that lasted from July 1, 1916 until November 18, 1916. Fought in northern France near the Somme River, the battle pitted the British and French forces against the German forces. The first day of the battle holds the record for the bloodiest day ever in British military history. The battle started at 7:30 AM, and by 8:30 AM, 12,000 British soldiers had been killed. By the end of the day, there were 57,420 British casualties: 19,240 dead and 38,180 injured. More than half of the British officers involved lost their lives that day. Many British soldiers were killed or wounded the moment they stepped out of the front lines into No Man’s Land, the area of land between the enemy trenches.  As they walked slowly towards the German lines, burdened with supplies and expecting little or no opposition, they were easy targets for the German machine guns. The British lost nearly as many men in the first hours of the four month long battle than were killed in any of Britain’s wars of the previous 100 years.

British stretcher bearers recovering a wounded soldier from a captured German trench during the Battle of Thiepval Ridge, late September 1916, part of the Battle of the Somme; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Trench warfare was used during World War I and it was common practice to rotate troops. For example, a typical British soldier’s year could be divided as follows: 15% front line, 10% support line, 30% reserve line, 20% rest, and 25% other (hospital, travelling, leave, training courses, etc.). Trench warfare was intense and that meant that about 10% of the fighting soldiers were killed. This compared to 5% killed during the Second Boer War and 4.5% killed during World War II. Antibiotics had not yet been discovered and that meant what would be a minor injury today could result in death. World War I was the first war in which disease caused fewer deaths than combat, but sanitary conditions in the trenches were poor. Many soldiers suffered from dysentery, typhus, cholera, parasites and fungal conditions. Exposure was also a problem since the temperature in a trench in the winter could easily fall below freezing. The burial of the dead was frequently a luxury that neither side could easily afford. The bodies would lie in No Man’s Land until the front line moved and by that time the bodies were often unable to be identified.

Cheshire Regiment trench near La Boiselle, July 1916; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

By November 18, 1916, when the battle ended, British and French forces had penetrated only 6 miles (9.7 km) into German occupied territory and more than 1,300,000 soldiers from all countries involved were dead or wounded, making the Battle of the Somme one of the bloodiest battles in history. The British and the French won a Pyrrhic victory, a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is equivalent to a defeat. The phrase Pyrrhic victory is named after King Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose army suffered irreplaceable casualties in defeating the Romans at Heraclea in 280 BC and Asculum in 279 BC during the Pyrrhic War.

Progress of the Battle of the Somme between 1 July and 18 November; Credit – Wikipedia

Many members of the British Royal Family attended Centenary Commemorations of the Battle of the Somme, the bloodiest day in British military history.

To learn more about the Battle of the Somme, see:

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Timeline: July 1, 1916 – July 31, 1916

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A Note About German Titles

Many German royals and nobles died in World War I. The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent states, most of them ruled by royal families. Scroll down to German Empire here to see what constituent states made up the German Empire.  The constituent states retained their own governments, but had limited sovereignty. Some had their own armies, but the military forces of the smaller ones were put under Prussian control. In wartime, armies of all the constituent states would be controlled by the Prussian Army and the combined forces were known as the Imperial German Army. German titles may be used in Royals Who Died In Action below. Refer to Unofficial Royalty: Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles.

24 British peers were also killed in World War I and they will be included in the list of those who died in action. In addition, more than 100 sons of peers also lost their lives, and those that can be verified will also be included.

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July 1916 – Royals/Nobles/Peers/Sons of Peers Who Died In Action

The list is in chronological order and does contain some who would be considered noble instead of royal. The links in the last bullet for each person is that person’s genealogical information from Leo’s Genealogics Website or to The Peerage website.  If a person has a Wikipedia page, their name will be linked to that page.

Jost Christian, 2nd Fürst zu Stolberg-Rossla

The Honorable Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Charles Walter Palk

 

The Honorable Captain George Guy Hermon-Hodge

 

Captain The Honorable Roland Erasmus Philipps

Freiherr Franz von Doblhoff

William Charles Wynn, 4th Baron Newborough

King Ludwig II of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Ludwig II of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

King Ludwig II of Bavaria (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm) was born on August 15, 1845, at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria. He was the elder of two sons of King Maximilian II of Bavaria and Princess Marie of Prussia. He was named after his grandfather, the reigning King Ludwig I of Bavaria as the two shared a birthday, which was also the feast day of Saint Louis IX of France, the patron saint of Bavaria.

Ludwig had one younger brother who succeeded him:

Ludwig was raised primarily at Hohenschwangau Castle in Hohenschwangau in southwestern Bavaria by servants and tutors. His education was very strict, and he showed an early interest in art and literature. Neither Ludwig nor his brother were very close with their parents and were much closer to their grandfather King Ludwig I. At an early age, Ludwig developed a close friendship with Prince Paul of Thurn und Taxis who served as his aide de camp, as well as with his first cousin once removed Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria (the future Empress Elisabeth of Austria), with whom he would remain very close for his entire life.

Ludwig and his fiancée, 1867. source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig never married, but in January 1867, he became engaged to his first cousin once removed Duchess Sophie Charlotte in Bavaria. Sophie was the younger sister of Ludwig’s close friend Duchess Elisabeth. After postponing the marriage several times, Ludwig eventually broke the engagement in October of the same year. Most historians believe that Ludwig was actually gay, although he struggled to suppress his desires due to his strong Catholic faith.

Ludwig was just 18 years old when he became King of Bavaria upon his father’s death on March 10, 1864. He continued with his father’s policies and retained his ministers, but his interests were not in ruling the country. His interests lay almost solely in the arts. Soon after becoming King, he established a new Court Theater (now the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz) and began a lifelong project of constructing numerous palaces and castles. He strongly disliked public functions and formal social events, and by 1876 had largely withdrawn from public life. Despite this, and the tension it caused among his ministers, Ludwig remained very popular with the Bavarian people.

His reign saw Bavaria’s defeat in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, having sided with Austria. After the war, Bavaria was forced to enter into a mutual defense treaty with Prussia. Four years later, the country was forced to side with Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War. In late 1870, Bavaria joined the North German Confederation, losing its status as an independent Kingdom, but retaining a much more privileged status than many other constituent states.

In December 1870, King Ludwig was coerced into endorsing the creation of the new German Empire. Despite his endorsement, Ludwig was strongly opposed to the creation of the German Empire and refused to attend the proclamation ceremony held at the Palace of Versailles. In his place, he sent his brother Otto and his uncle Luitpold.

Richard Wagner, 1871. source: Wikipedia

By 1871, Ludwig spent most of his time pursuing his interests in the arts, music, and architecture. At a very young age, he first saw an opera by famed composer Richard Wagner and became enthralled with his work. Shortly after becoming King, he summoned Wagner to court and became his primary patron. Many credit King Ludwig’s support for establishing Wagner’s career and legacy. When Wagner was forced to leave Munich in 1865, the King considered abdicating to follow him into exile, but Wagner insisted that he remain. Ludwig provided Wagner with a home in Switzerland and continued to support him from afar. Eventually, Wagner returned and the relationship between the two continued. Along with Wagner, King Ludwig supported many other artists and saw over 200 private performances of plays ballets, and operas in the court theaters.

Besides his interest in the arts, King Ludwig is probably best known for his love of architecture. Using his personal funds, he built several magnificent palaces and castles, the most famous being Neuschwanstein Castle.

Neuschwanstein Castle, c1900. source: Wikipedia

Neuschwanstein Castle was built near Hohenschwangau Castle where Ludwig spent much of his youth and was dedicated as a tribute to Richard Wagner. The cornerstone was laid in 1869 and construction went on for many years. It was not until 1884 that King Ludwig was able to take up residence in the still unfinished castle.  Other projects included Linderhof Palace, Herrenchiemsee, and the royal apartment at the Munich Residenz.

By 1885, Ludwig was millions of marks in debt due to his spending on his castles and palaces and had all but withdrawn from his duties as King of Bavaria. Several of his government ministers began trying to find grounds to depose him, believing him to be mentally ill. Ludwig’s uncle Luitpold agreed to become Regent, provided the ministers could reliably prove that Ludwig was unfit to rule. In early 1886, a medical report was drawn up, listing a string of bizarre behavior, Ludwig’s unwillingness to deal with state business, and many other supposed examples of his mental instability. In June 1886, the report was completed and signed by several psychiatrists including Dr. Bernhard von Gudden, the chief of the Munich Asylum. None had met Ludwig except von Gudden,  who met him one time, nearly twelve years earlier.

King Ludwig, c1882. source: Wikipedia

On the morning of June 10, 1886, Dr. von Gudden and several others arrived at Neuschwanstein to present Ludwig with a document of deposition. Ludwig had been made aware of the situation by a servant and ordered the castle to be surrounded by the local police. That same day, Ludwig’s uncle Luitpold was proclaimed Prince Regent. The commission returned again on the morning of June 12, and Ludwig was taken to Berg Castle on Lake Starnberg in Berg, Bavaria.

The following day, June 13, 1886, Ludwig went for a walk on the grounds of Berg Castle, accompanied by Dr. von Gudden and several attendants. Ludwig and the doctor went out again that evening without attendants but never returned. Several hours later, King Ludwig II’s and Dr. von Gudden’s bodies were found in the water of Lake Starnberg.

King Ludwig II’s death remains a mystery. It was ruled a suicide by drowning, but no water was found in his lungs during an autopsy. One belief is that Ludwig was murdered while trying to escape and another is that he died of natural causes, possibly due to the extremely cold temperature of the water.

King Ludwig II lying in state, June 1886. Source: Wikipedia

After laying in state in the royal chapel at the Munich Residenz in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, a grand funeral was held, and his remains were interred in the crypt of the Michaelskirche in Munich. In keeping with tradition, his heart was entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting in Altötting, Bavaria.  He was succeeded as King by his brother, Otto. However, Otto had also been declared mentally ill – also by Dr. von Gudden – and so their uncle Luitpold remained Prince Regent.

Tomb of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Maximilian II of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Maximilian II of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Maximilian II of Bavaria was born November 28, 1811, in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, the eldest son of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. He had eight younger siblings:

Maximilian studied history and constitutional law at the University of Göttingen and the Friedrich Wilhelm University of Berlin (now Humboldt University) from 1829-1831 and reportedly said that had he not been born into his position, he would have liked to be a professor. In 1830, he was named a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. He was also an avid hiker, and while on a hike in 1829, he came across the ruins of Hohenschwangau Castle. Three years later, he purchased the castle and rebuilt it as a summer residence for his family.

On January 23, 1842, Maximilian became engaged to Princess Marie Friederike of Prussia, the daughter of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and Marie Anne of Hesse-Homburg. The two married on October 12, 1842, in Munich, and had two sons:

King Maximilian II with his wife and sons, Ludwig (left) and Otto (right). source: Wikipedia

Maximilian came to the throne suddenly on March 20, 1848, when his father abdicated, and quickly introduced reforms to the constitution to establish a more constitutional monarchy. Unlike his father, who focused on his personal interests and extravagance, Maximilian focused primarily on his duties. However, his tendency to rely heavily on the advice of his ministers, along with his frequent travels, often led to long delays before any decisions were made.

Maximilian wanted to preserve Bavaria’s independence in the German Confederation and refused to accept the constitution put forth by the Frankfurt National Assembly in 1849. At home, he was a strong supporter of science and the arts. He worked to transform Munich into one of the most cultural and educational cities in Europe, and funded studies into the art, costumes, and customs of the Bavarian people, promoting a sense of national identity in the face of growing Pan-Germanism. He also supported many writers and developed a close friendship with the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.

Another of Maximilian’s passions was architecture and the building and restoration of several royal residences. In addition to rebuilding Hohenschwangau Castle, he oversaw the rebuilding of Hambach Castle and the redesigning of Berg Castle. He also had several other residences built, including a villa on Rose Island which later became a favorite getaway of his son, King Ludwig II.

King Maximilian II, circa 1860. source: Wikipedia

King Maximilian II died suddenly on March 10, 1864, after a brief illness. He is buried in a small chapel in the Theatinerkirche in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany, and his heart is entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Queen of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Queen of Bavaria; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Therese Charlotte Luise Friederike Amalie of Saxe-Hildburghausen was the wife of King Ludwig I of Bavaria. She was born on July 8, 1792, at Jagdschloss Seidingstadt, the summer residence of the Dukes of Saxe-Hildburghausen, in Straufhain, Duchy of Saxe-Hildburghausen, now in Thuringia, Germany. Therese was the fifth of the six daughters and the sixth of the eleven children of  Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

She was the sixth of eleven children, and her siblings included:

Therese was raised primarily at Schloss Hildburghausen in Hildburghausen, now in the German state of Thuringia, where the family’s finances were often strained. Her mother, who was very intelligent and artistic, brought musicians and artists to the court to teach the children, along with various prominent scholars. Therese proved to be a very good student, mastering several languages at a young age, and excelling in the arts.

In 1809, Therese was included on a list of prospective brides for Napoleon I, Emperor of the French who was looking to marry into one of the old royal houses of Europe. However, the future King Ludwig I of Bavaria would become her husband. Ludwig was the son of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. The couple met in December 1809 when Ludwig visited Hildburghausen and became engaged on February 12, 1810. After prolonged negotiations, primarily due to Therese’s unwillingness to convert to Catholicism, she and her family traveled to Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, for the marriage.

Therese and Ludwig married on October 12, 1810, and celebrations were held for several days following at the Theresienwiese in Munich, a large outdoor space named in her honor. Theresienwiese is the site of Oktoberfest, held each year to commemorate the wedding.

Ludwig and Therese had nine children:

 

Queen Therese, painting by Joseph Stieler, 1825. source: Wikipedia

Seemingly always pregnant, Therese still managed to participate in charitable events and organizations. While living in Salzburg, she organized meals for the poor and was the patron of the Salzburg Women’s Association. In October 1825, Ludwig and Therese became King and Queen of Bavaria following the death of King Maximilian I Joseph. Therese soon began a more public role, devoting much of her time to assisting the poor, widows, orphans, and the sick. She became the patron of several organizations, including the Women’s Association for Infant Care Institutions. In 1827, she established The Order of Therese which still exists to this day.

Queen Therese with her family, c1830. source: Wikipedia

Queen Therese maintained a great interest in state affairs and was very aware of the politics of the day. She often deputized for the King while he was out of the country, and kept him fully informed of what was happening at home. Sadly, however, her marriage was not always a very happy one. King Ludwig had a constant stream of mistresses, few of which were kept very private. Therese often left the country in defiance of her husband’s actions and received much sympathy and support from the Bavarian people. When Ludwig’s relationship with Lola Montez began in 1846, Queen Therese refused to back down. She publicly chastised the King and refused his request to grant Montez the Order of Therese.

Queen Therese, painting by Julie von Egloffstein, c1836. source: Wikipedia

In March 1848, King Ludwig I abdicated because he refused to reign as a constitutional monarch, and lost the support of his family and government ministers. Queen Therese enjoyed a more private life with her growing family. She died on October 26, 1854, in Munich,  Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, and was initially buried in the royal crypt at the Theatinerkirche in Munich. Three years later, her husband had her remains moved to St. Boniface’s Abbey in Munich where he was also buried after his death in 1868. As she was not Catholic, her heart was not interred at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting with the other Bavarian Kings and their consorts. Instead, it is interred at St. Boniface’s Abbey.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Bavaria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Ludwig I of Bavaria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Kingdom of Bavaria: The House of Wittelsbach ruled as Dukes, Electors, and Kings of Bavaria from 1180 until 1918. Today Bavaria is a landlocked federal state of Germany, occupying its southeastern corner.  Maximilian IV Joseph, Prince-Elector of Bavaria allied his electorate with Napoleon and adopted many of the French beliefs of the Enlightenment. It was this loyal service to Napoleon through which Maximilian’s electorate was created the Kingdom of Bavaria with Maximilian at its king. He officially became the Maximilian I Joseph, the first King of Bavaria on January 1, 1806. On November 13, 1918, King Ludwig III would be the first monarch in the German Empire to be deposed at the end of World War I, bringing an end to 738 years of rule by the Wittelsbach dynasty.

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King Ludwig I of Bavaria – source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig I of Bavaria (Ludwig Karl August) was born on August 25, 1786, at the Hôtel des Deux-Ponts in Strasbourg, France. He was the eldest son of the future King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his first wife, Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt, and was named for his godfather King Louis XVI of France.

Ludwig had four full siblings:

Ludwig had seven half-siblings from his father’s second marriage to Caroline of Baden:

When Ludwig was born, his father was serving with the French army stationed at Strasbourg. By the time he was 13, his father had become Duke of Zweibrücken, and then Elector of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine. On January 1, 1806, Ludwig became Crown Prince when his father became the first King of Bavaria.

Ludwig studied with Johann Michael Sailer at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Landshut (now in Munich), and the University of Göttingen, and became proficient in several languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. He also received a strong religious education from the Catholic priest Joseph Anton Sambuga.

As was expected at the time, Ludwig also pursued a military career. Despite being against his father’s alliance with the French Emperor Napoleon I, he fought with the allied Bavarian troops in the French wars. He served as commander of the 1st Bavarian Division in VII Corps and led his division into the Battle of Abensberg in 1809. At the Treaty of Ried in 1813, Bavaria left the Confederation of the Rhine and joined the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon. Just days later, Bavaria formally declared war against France, a move Ludwig strongly supported.

Ludwig served briefly as governor-general of the Duchy of Salzburg and spent much of the next 10 years in Würzburg and at Villa Malta, his home in Rome. During this time, he was an ardent supporter of the Greek War of Independence, even providing a loan of 1.5 million florins from his personal funds for the effort. Years later, his generosity would be rewarded when his second son Otto was named King of Greece.

Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Ludwig’s wife; Credit – Wikipedia

On October 12, 1810, Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, the daughter of Friedrich, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen (later Duke of Saxe-Altenburg) and Duchess Charlotte Georgine of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The wedding was held in a large outdoor space called the Theresienwiese in Munich. Named for his bride, Theresienwiese is the Oktoberfest site, held yearly to commemorate the wedding.

Ludwig and Therese had nine children:

Ludwig became King of Bavaria upon his father’s death on October 13, 1825. His reign saw the reorganization of the administrative regions of Bavaria and the establishment of the city of Ludwigshafen. The King established the Ludwig Canal between the Main and Danube rivers, and in 1835, the first German railway was constructed between the cities of Fürth and Nuremberg.

However, his previous liberal policies became more repressive after the July Revolution of 1830. Several years earlier, he had reinstated policies of strict censorship greatly opposed by the population. In 1837, he saw the Ultramontanes, backed by the Roman Catholic Church, gained control of Parliament and made drastic changes to the constitution, including removing the civil rights granted to Protestants. Ludwig himself was a strong opponent of Protestantism, but his views changed in 1841 following the funeral of his Protestant stepmother Queen Caroline. Catholic factions held large demonstrations and King Ludwig, who had a very close relationship with Queen Caroline, was greatly disturbed by the disturbances.

Lola Montez, circa 1851. source: Wikipedia

In 1846, Ludwig met Lola Montez, an Irish dancer and actress, and she quickly became his mistress. She was very unpopular with the Bavarian people, because of her influence over the King, and became even more so when they discovered she was trying to become a naturalized citizen. The Ultramontanes fought strongly against the naturalization, resulting in the King removing them from power. The following year, after becoming naturalized, the King granted her the title Countess of Landsfeld and a large annuity.

By 1848, Ludwig’s reign was coming to an abrupt end. Facing protests and demonstrations by students and the middle classes, the King had ordered the university closed. Shortly after, the crowds raided the armory on their way to storm the Munich Residenz. Ludwig’s brother Karl appeased the protesters, but the damage was done. The King’s family and advisors turned against him, forcing him to sign the March Proclamation, giving substantial concessions toward a constitutional monarchy. Unwilling to rule this way, King Ludwig I abdicated on March 20, 1848.

King Ludwig I, c1860. source: Wikipedia

King Ludwig spent the rest of his life in Bavaria, devoting his time to supporting and fostering the arts. He published several books of poems and translated several plays. On February 29, 1868, King Ludwig died in Nice, France, aged 81, having survived his wife and five of his children. He was buried at St. Boniface’s Abbey in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany. Keeping with tradition, his heart was entombed at the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting in Altötting, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in Bavaria, Germany.

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Anne Neville, Queen of England

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Anne Neville, Queen of England; Credit – Wikipedia

The wife of Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales (son of King Henry VI) and the wife of King Richard III, Lady Anne Neville was born on June 11, 1456, at Warwick Castle in Warwickshire, England. She was the younger of the two daughters of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick and Lady Anne Beauchamp.  Anne’s father, known as “the Kingmaker,” was one of the major players in the Wars of the Roses, originally on the Yorkist side but later switching to the Lancastrian side.  Both Anne’s parents were descendants of King Edward III of England.

Anne had one elder sister:

Following the death of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, at the Battle of Wakefield in December 1460, his younger sons, George, Duke of Clarence, and Richard, Duke of Gloucester (the future King Richard III), came into the care of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick and lived at Middleham Castle with Warwick’s family. The two sisters became acquainted with the two brothers, who were their first cousins, and would become their husbands. After the Duke of York’s death, with Warwick’s help, his eldest son became King Edward IV in March 1461. Edward IV initially ruled with Warwick’s support, but the two later had a falling-out over foreign policy and Edward’s choice of Elizabeth Woodville as his wife. After a failed plot to crown Edward’s brother, George, Duke of Clarence, Warwick instead restored the Lancastrian Henry VI to the throne. To cement his alliance with the Lancastrians, Warwick betrothed his daughter Anne to Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, who was King Henry VI‘s heir. The couple married in Angers Cathedral in France on December 13, 1470, and Anne became the Princess of Wales.

Henry VI’s return to power was short-lived. On April 14, 1471, the Lancastrians were defeated at the Battle of Barnet and the Earl of Warwick, Anne’s father, was killed in battle. Edward IV was once again king. On May 4, 1471, the forces loyal to the House of Lancaster were completely defeated by the rival House of York under King Edward IV in the Battle of Tewkesbury.  Among the Lancastrians killed in the battle was Anne’s husband, Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales. Henry VI, who had been imprisoned in the Tower of London, died on May 21, 1471, probably from murder.

The widowed Anne became the focus of a struggle between the brothers George, Duke of Clarence and Richard, Duke of Gloucester. With Warwick dead, his two daughters now stood to share his estate. George, already married to Anne’s elder sister, wanted to secure the entire estate. He treated Anne as his ward and opposed her getting married because it would strengthen her position to claim a share. Richard had wanted to marry Anne before her first marriage, still wanted to marry her. There is a story that George hid Anne from Richard in a London cook shop and that Richard eventually tracked Anne down. To marry Anne, Richard had to agree to renounce most of the property Anne would have received after her father’s death. Anne and Richard were married on July 12, 1472, at the Chapel of St. Stephen in the Palace of Westminster. They lived in the familiar Middleham Castle in Yorkshire, England, where they had both grown up.

Anne and Richard had one child:

Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales; Credit – Wikipedia

On April 9, 1483, King Edward IV died, several weeks before his 41st birthday, and his eldest son Edward became king with his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester as his Lord Protector. Richard feared that the Woodvilles would attempt to take control of the young king. Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, the young king’s maternal uncle, and Sir Richard Grey, the young king’s half-brother, were arrested and executed. The Duke of Gloucester had his nephew brought to the Tower of London on May 19, 1483, to await his coronation, which never happened. The widowed Elizabeth Woodville and her children once again sought sanctuary at Westminster Abbey, fearing the Duke of Gloucester’s further actions. Cardinal Thomas Bouchier, Archbishop of Canterbury persuaded Elizabeth to let her second son, Richard, Duke of York, leave sanctuary and join his lonely brother at the Tower of London. Richard joined his brother on June 16, 1483. The two boys were seen less and less until the end of the summer of 1483 when they disappeared from public view altogether. Their fate is unknown.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester was informed by an unknown clergyman, probably Robert Stillington, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, that Edward IV’s marriage was invalid because he had previously contracted to marry Lady Eleanor Butler, who was living when the marriage to Elizabeth took place. This made Edward IV and Elizabeth’s children illegitimate and upheld Richard’s claim to the throne. The citizens of London drew up a petition asking Richard to assume the throne, which he agreed to on June 26, 1483. On July 6, 1483, Richard and his wife Anne Neville were crowned in Westminster Abbey. The Titulus Regius, enacted by Parliament in 1484, officially declared Edward IV’s children illegitimate.

King Richard III and Queen Anne; Credit – Wikipedia

Anne and Richard’s son Edward of Middleham, now Prince of Wales, died on April 9, 1484, at the age of ten at his birthplace, Middleham Castle. Anne survived her son by less than a year, probably dying of tuberculosis, on March 16, 1485, at the Palace of Westminster. She was buried in Westminster Abbey in an unmarked grave to the right of the High Altar, next to the door to Edward the Confessor’s Chapel. Her husband Richard survived her by only five months, losing his crown and his life on August 22, 1485, in the Battle of Bosworth Field.

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King Edward V of England

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

by Unknown artist, oil on panel, 1590-1610

King Edward V by unknown artist, oil on panel, 1597-1618, NPG 4980(11) © National Portrait Gallery, London (Note: Not a contemporary portrait)

Immortalized as one of the “Princes in the Tower,” King Edward V of England, along with disputed monarchs Empress Matilda and Lady Jane Grey, and King Edward VIII who abdicated in 1936, is one of the four British monarchs since the Norman Conquest who were never crowned. Edward V was the third child, but the eldest son of the Yorkist King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville. From October 1470 – April 1471, when the Lancastrian King Henry VI regained power, King Edward IV and his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III) fled to Burgundy where they knew they would be welcomed by their sister Margaret, the wife of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. Elizabeth Woodville and her children sought sanctuary at Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth’s first son, the future, but short-lived, King Edward V, was born there on November 2, 1470.

Edward had nine siblings:

Edward had two half-siblings from his mother’s first marriage to Sir John Grey of Groby:

In 1471, after his father was restored to the throne, Edward was created Prince of Wales. A household was established for him at Ludlow Castle near the Welsh border and King Edward IV created the Council of Wales and the Marches to counsel and act on behalf of his young son. Young Edward’s maternal uncle Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers was appointed Governor of the Prince of Wales’ household. King Edward IV set up a regime for educating the Prince of Wales, including how the household should be run and how the household staff should behave. An agreement had been made in 1480 with Francis II, Duke of Brittany for Edward to marry Anne of Brittany, who would become the Sovereign Duchess of Brittany upon her father’s death.

On April 9, 1483, King Edward IV died, several weeks before his 41st birthday. 12-year-old Edward received the news of his father’s death at Ludlow Castle on April 14, 1483. King Edward IV had named his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester Edward’s Lord Protector. The new king, King Edward V, set off for London with a party that included his uncle Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers and his half-brother from his mother’s first marriage, Sir Richard Grey.  King Edward V and his party were intercepted by his paternal uncle and Lord Protector, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who was coming from York. Richard feared that the Woodvilles would attempt to take control of the young king. Anthony Woodville and Richard Grey were arrested and executed. The Duke of Gloucester had his nephew brought to the Tower of London on May 19, 1483, to await his coronation, which never happened. The widowed Elizabeth Woodville and her children once again sought sanctuary at Westminster Abbey, fearing the Duke of Gloucester’s further actions. Cardinal Thomas Bouchier persuaded Elizabeth to let her second son Richard, Duke of York leave sanctuary and join his lonely brother at the Tower of London. Richard joined his brother on June 16, 1483.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester was informed by an unknown clergyman, probably Robert Stillington, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, that Edward IV’s marriage was invalid because he had previously contracted to marry Lady Eleanor Butler, who was living when the marriage to Elizabeth took place. This made Edward IV and Elizabeth’s children illegitimate and upheld Richard’s claim to the throne. The citizens of London drew up a petition asking Richard to assume the throne, which he agreed to on June 26, 1483. On July 6, 1483, Richard and his wife Anne Neville were crowned in Westminster Abbey. The Titulus Regius, enacted by Parliament in 1484 officially declared Edward IV’s children illegitimate.

Edward and his brother Richard were seen less and less until the end of the summer of 1483 when they disappeared from public view altogether. Their fate is unknown and remains one of history’s greatest mysteries. There are several theories, and the most plausible lay blame on King Richard III (the former Duke of Gloucester), Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, or King Henry VII.

On August 22, 1485, Henry Tudor defeated King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field and became King Henry VII, the first Tudor king of England. Elizabeth of York and Henry VII married on January 18, 1486, at the Palace of Westminster. Henry VII had Parliament repeal Titulus Regius, the act that declared King Edward IV’s marriage invalid and his children illegitimate, thereby legitimizing his wife. The Tudor Rose, a combination of the Red Rose of Lancaster and the White Rose of York, symbolized the new House of Tudor.

Workers remodeling at the Tower of London in 1674 dug up a wooden box containing two small human skeletons. The bones were found buried 10 feet under the staircase leading to the chapel in the White Tower. Presuming the remains were those of King Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, King Charles II ordered the remains placed in an urn in Westminster Abbey. In 1933, the remains were removed from the urn and examined. The conclusion was that the bones belonged to two children around the correct ages for the princes. This examination has been criticized with one of the issues being no attempt was made to determine if the remains were male or female. There has been no further examination and the remains are still in the urn in Westminster Abbey.

The urn in Westminster Abbey containing the supposed remains of King Edward V and Richard, Duke of York; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1789, workers doing repairs in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle accidentally broke into the vault of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Adjoining that vault was another vault, which contained the coffins of two children, and was inscribed with the names of two of Edward IV’s children who had predeceased him, George, 1st Duke of Bedford, who had died at age two, and Mary of York who had died at age 14. However, during the 1810 – 1813 construction of the Royal Tomb House in St. George’s Chapel, two other coffins clearly labeled as George Plantagenet and Mary Plantagenet were discovered and moved into Edward IV’s adjoining vault. Especially after the excavation and positive identification of King Richard III’s remains, this leads us to question exactly whose remains are in those four coffins. However, the royal approval required for any testing of an interred royal has not been granted.

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Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Elizabeth Woodville, Queen of England; Credit – Wikipedia

The wife of King Edward IV of England, Elizabeth Woodville was born around 1437 at the family home in Grafton Regis, Northamptonshire, England. She was the eldest of the 13 children of Sir Richard Woodville and Jacquetta of Luxembourg, daughter of Peter I of Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol, Conversano and Brienne.  Jacquetta was the widow of John, 1st Duke of Bedford, son of King Henry IV of England.

Elizabeth had 13 siblings:

As a young girl, Elizabeth was a maid of honor to Margaret of Anjou, wife of King Henry VI of England.  Elizabeth married Sir John Grey of Groby, a Lancastrian knight around 1452. In 1461, Sir John was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans.

Elizabeth and Sir John had two sons:

The widow Dame Elizabeth Grey first came to the attention of King Edward IV when she petitioned him for the restoration of her husband’s forfeited land. Traditionally, the wedding is said to have taken place at Elizabeth’s family home in Northamptonshire on May 1, 1464. Elizabeth was crowned queen in Westminster Abbey on May 26, 1465.

Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, from the illuminated manuscript Anciennes Chroniques d’Angleterre by Jean de Wavrin; Credit – Wikipedia

Elizabeth Woodville and King Edward IV had ten children:

King Edward IV of England; Credit – Wikipedia

The favors that were given to the Woodville family and the excellent marriages arranged for Elizabeth’s siblings caused much resentment at court. In particular, the king’s brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III) had great resentment and showed his dislike for Elizabeth at every opportunity. From October 1470 – April 1471, when the Lancastrian King Henry VI regained power, Elizabeth and her children sought sanctuary at Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth’s son, the future, but short-lived, King Edward V, was born there.

On April 9, 1483, King Edward IV died, several weeks before his 41st birthday, and his eldest son Edward became king with his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester as his Lord Protector. Richard feared that the Woodvilles would attempt to take control of the young king. Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, the young king’s maternal uncle, and Sir Richard Grey, the young king’s half-brother, were arrested and executed.

The Duke of Gloucester had his nephew brought to the Tower of London on May 19, 1483, to await his coronation, which never happened. Elizabeth and her children once again sought sanctuary at Westminster Abbey, fearing the Duke of Gloucester’s further actions. Cardinal Thomas Bouchier, Archbishop of Canterbury persuaded Elizabeth to let her second son, Richard, Duke of York, leave sanctuary and join his brother, who was lonely, at the Tower of London. Richard joined his brother on June 16, 1483. The two boys were seen less and less until the end of the summer of 1483 when they disappeared from public view altogether. Their fate is unknown.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester was informed by an unknown clergyman, probably Robert Stillington, the Bishop of Bath and Wells, that Edward IV’s marriage was invalid because he had previously contracted to marry Lady Eleanor Butler, who was living when the marriage to Elizabeth took place. This made Edward IV and Elizabeth’s children illegitimate and upheld Richard’s claim to the throne. The citizens of London drew up a petition asking Richard to assume the throne, which he agreed to on June 26, 1483. On July 6, 1483, Richard and his wife Anne Neville were crowned in Westminster Abbey. The Titulus Regius, enacted by Parliament in 1484, officially declared Edward IV’s children illegitimate.

The Lancastrian heir, Henry Tudor had been in exile for 13 years. Lady Margaret Beaufort, Henry Tudor’s mother, despite being married to a Yorkist, Thomas Stanley, was actively promoting her son as an alternative to King Richard III. Elizabeth Woodville and Henry’s mother made a secret agreement that their children should marry. On Christmas Day in 1483, still in exile in France, Henry Tudor pledged to marry King Edward IV’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth of York, who was also Edward IV’s heir since the presumed deaths of her brothers, King Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York. In 1485, having gained the support of the Woodvilles, the in-laws of the late King Edward IV, Henry Tudor sailed to Wales with a small French and Scottish force. On August 7, 1485, they landed in Mill Bay, Pembrokeshire, Wales, close to Henry’s birthplace. Henry Tudor then marched towards England accompanied by his uncle Jasper Tudor and John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford.

On August 22, 1485, at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the last king of the House of York and the Plantagenet dynasty, 32-year-old King Richard III of England, lost his life and his crown. The battle was a decisive victory for the House of Lancaster, whose leader 28-year-old Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, became the first monarch of the House of Tudor. One of his first acts was to have the Titulus Regius repealed. King Henry VII married Elizabeth of York and reinstated his mother-in-law as Queen Dowager.

Double Portrait of Elizabeth of York and Henry VII; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1487, Elizabeth Woodville retired to Bermondsey Abbey in London, England where she lived for the rest of her life. She was present at the birth of her granddaughter Margaret Tudor at Westminster Palace in November 1489 and at the birth of her grandson, the future Henry VIII, King of England, at Greenwich Palace in June 1491. Elizabeth died at Bermondsey Abbey on June 8, 1492, at the age of 55. With the exception of her daughter Elizabeth, who was awaiting the birth of her fourth child, and her daughter Cecily, her other daughters, Anne, Catherine, and Bridget attended her funeral at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle where Elizabeth Woodville was buried with her husband King Edward IV of England.

Tomb of King Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth Woodville

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King Edward IV of England

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

King Edward IV of England; Credit – Wikipedia

The first Yorkist King of England, King Edward IV of England, was born on April 28, 1442, in Rouen, Duchy of Normandy, now in France. He was the fourth of the thirteen children, but the first surviving son of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York and Cecily Neville, both great-grandchildren of King Edward III of England.

King Edward IV’s siblings:

Edward’s father was the Yorkist leader during the Wars of the Roses until he died in battle. In 1399, Henry of Bolingbroke, the eldest son of John of Gaunt who was the third surviving son of King Edward III, overthrew his cousin King Richard II and assumed the throne as King Henry IV. Henry IV’s reigning house was the House of Lancaster as his father was Duke of Lancaster and Henry assumed the title upon his father’s death. Henry IV’s eldest son, King Henry V, retained the throne, but died when his only child, King Henry VI, was just nine months old. Henry VI’s right to the crown was challenged by Richard, 3rd Duke of York, who could claim descent from Edward III’s second and fourth surviving sons, Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence and Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York.

During the early reign of King Henry VI, Richard, 3rd Duke of York held several important offices and quarreled with the Lancastrians at court. In 1448, he assumed the surname Plantagenet and then assumed the leadership of the Yorkist faction in 1450. The first battle in the long dynastic struggle called the Wars of the Roses was the First Battle of St. Albans in 1455. As soon as Edward, known then as the Earl of March, and his next youngest brother Edmund, Earl of Rutland, were old enough, they joined their father, fighting for the Yorkist cause. Richard, 3rd Duke of York was killed on December 30, 1460, at the Battle of Wakefield along with his son Edmund, who was only 17 years old.

Edward was now the leader of the Yorkist faction. On February 3, 1461, Edward defeated the Lancastrian army at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross. Edward then took a bold step and declared himself king on March 4, 1461. His decisive victory over the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton on March 29, 1461, cemented his status as King of England. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey on June 29, 1461. However, the former king, Henry VI, still lived and fled to Scotland.

In 1464, King Edward IV married the widowed Elizabeth Woodville. Elizabeth’s father, Sir Richard Woodville, was only a knight at the time of her birth. Her mother was Jacquetta of Luxembourg, daughter of Peter I of Luxembourg, Count of Saint-Pol, Conversano and Brienne, and widow of John, 1st Duke of Bedford, the third surviving son of King Henry IV of England and the brother of King Henry V of England. Traditionally, the wedding is said to have taken place at Elizabeth’s family home in Northamptonshire, England, on May 1, 1464. Elizabeth was the widow of Sir John Grey of Groby, who was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans in 1461, fighting for the Lancastrians. There were two sons from this marriage, including Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset, who was the great-grandfather of Lady Jane Grey.

Elizabeth Woodville, Edward’s wife; Credit – Wikipedia

King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville had ten children:

Henry VI returned from Scotland in 1464 and participated in an ineffective uprising. In 1465, Henry was captured and taken to the Tower of London. His wife, Margaret of Anjou, exiled in France, wanted to restore the throne to her husband. Coincidentally, King Edward IV had a falling out with his major supporters, his brother George, Duke of Clarence and Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, known as the Kingmaker. Margaret, Clarence, and Warwick formed an alliance at the urging of King Louis XI of France. Edward IV was forced into exile, and Henry VI was restored to the throne on October 30, 1470.

Edward and his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III) fled to Burgundy, where they knew they would be welcomed by their sister Margaret, the wife of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. The Duke of Burgundy provided funds and troops to Edward to enable him to launch an invasion of England in 1471. Edward returned to England in early 1471 and killed Warwick at the Battle of Barnet.  The final decisive Yorkist victory was at the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4, 1471, where Henry VI’s son Edward, Prince of Wales was killed.

Battle of Tewkesbury from a Ghent manuscript; Credit – Wikipedia

Henry VI was returned to the Tower of London and died on May 21, 1471, probably murdered on orders from Edward IV. Edward’s brother, George, Duke of Clarence, was eventually found guilty of plotting against Edward, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and privately executed on February 18, 1478. Tradition says he was drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. King Edward IV did not face any other Lancastrian rebellions. His only rival, Henry Tudor, the future King Henry VII, was living in exile. He would eventually return to England and defeat Edward’s brother King Richard III, the last Yorkist king, at the Battle of Bosworth Field and become the first Tudor king.

Had King Edward IV lived longer, he may have become one of England’s most powerful kings. He died on April 9, 1483, a few weeks before his 41st birthday. His cause of death is not known for certain. King Edward IV was buried at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, close by his rival King Henry VI. King Edward IV’s 12-year-old son, King Edward V, briefly succeeded his father. He is one of the Princes in the Tower, whose fate is unknown.

Tomb of King Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth Woodville

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