April 14, 1483: Edward IV of England Is Killed at the Battle of Barnet

What if Edward IV never survived the Battle of Barnet. What would life have been like had George, Duke of Clarence betrayed his brother to become King George I of England? Would he have succeeded or still faced the same fate?

The Battle of Barnet looked to be a Yorkist victory. Edward IV’s army had its enemies trapped in the mud. They could pick them off one-by-one. Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick had tried, but failed to bring an end to the Wars of the Roses. But he wasn’t going down without a fight and he would have to be killed to give up this battle.

He thought that would happen, until the unthinkable took place. Just as Edward IV came towards him, he stopped; a look of shock in his eyes. Suddenly blood dripped from his mouth and he landed hard on his knees. Warwick looked up in awe to see George, Duke of Clarence standing above his own brother, his own sword stuck into Edward’s back.

George, Duke of Clarence Changes Warwick’s Fate

George had always been a tricky man to trust. He would switch sides whenever it suited him for power. While initially unwilling to kill his brother, that changed today. Warwick wasn’t sure why it changed right now, but it didn’t matter.

The actions of George meant that Edward’s army had no leader. Well they did, but that new leader had just usurped the old one. And that new leader was now clearly on the side of the Lancastrians.

Or was he?

George looked straight at Warwick, glee in his eyes. This was all part of a game; part of a plot. George just wanted his older brother out of the way. The battle was still on and Warwick realised that he wasn’t going to make it out alive.

Yet, somehow he did. He just made it out maimed. George had decided to capture the Lancastrians that still lived and pulled them from the mud. Many of them were executed, but Warwick was spared. It just so happened that Warwick was George’s father-in-law and George didn’t want to leave his wife without a father. He knew how that felt.

Instead, George cut off Warwick’s sword hand. It was excruciating, but Warwick was able to remain alive.

The Battle of Tewkesbury Still Takes Place

Over the next two weeks, Warwick was pulled in to give George some council. No, it wasn’t council, but news of Henry VI’s army. Warwick wasn’t just going to give that answer away. He wanted reassurances from George first.

It was Isabel, his elder daughter, who was able to give him some reassurances. Warwick would be

welcomed back to Court as the king’s advisor and would be made a duke. After all, there were positions available since Edward IV’s downfall and now death. On top of that, his elder daughter would be queen and her children with George would be heirs to the throne.

Unlike Anne, Isabel had already proven fertile. She lost the baby, but she could at least bear children. Anne was still to conceive with her husband. And it wasn’t like Henry VI or his son were really fit to rule. George wasn’t the most stable, but Warwick could help ensure the safety for England, ruling behind the scenes through Isabel.

Yes, he decided to help and that gave George a major advantage when it came to the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4, 1471. Henry VI’s Lancastrian forces were no match. Everyone died, including the king’s son Edward of Westminster. Only the women, Margaret of Anjou and Anne Neville, lived but they were taken straight to the Tower of London to be put on trial for treason.

Henry VI was also captured and taken to the Tower of London.

The Execution of Royalty

George knew that he couldn’t execute Margaret of Anjou without bringing about a war with France. He wasn’t ready to do that, so arrange a ransom for her with the French instead. King Louis XI agreed a handsome sum for his niece and also agreed to the return of some of the lost lands due to Margaret and Henry’s wedding contract.

Warwick was impressed with George’s actions. He never expected this from the wildfire that was now George I of England. However, he was more interested in the action taken against his younger daughter, Anne.

George had wanted to execute her as a traitor. Isabel pleaded with her husband to keep Anne alive, even placing her under house arrest, but George refused. George knew that once Warwick died, Isabel and Anne would get his land and inheritance. He didn’t want Anne to get any of it, so for Anne’s trial put together a range of men who would have a reason to find the young former Princess of Wales guilty of treason.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester attempted to save Anne from her execution, but was caught by guards. George had his own brother locked away, before swiftly taking Anne’s head and life.

Dealing with His Sister-in-Law

While all this happened, Elizabeth Woodville remained living in sanctuary with her children. George learned that Elizabeth had given birth to a son while in sanctuary. Those who supported Edward’s

claim to the throne would now have someone to place as a figurehead. He may have just been an infant now, but it wouldn’t take long for him to be a viable contender for the throne. Elizabeth and Anthony Woodville would make sure Edward Plantagenet would become King Edward V one day.

George needed to do something. He needed to remove Edward and the rest of the Woodvilles as a threat, but he couldn’t breach sanctuary. Nobody would ever forgive him if he did that. He would have to lure her out somehow instead.

But before he could do that, he heard news that his wife was pregnant. George excitedly awaited the birth of the prince. After all, if Elizabeth Woodville had finally given birth to a boy, his wife as Queen of England would too. Unfortunately, Isabel gave birth to a girl. This one was quickly named Margaret but George wasn’t happy. He needed an heir to his throne. Edward IV had one and Henry VI had one, so he needed an heir too.

The problem now was the Lancastrians rising again. They had a king in the Tower of London. Lead by the Duke of Buckingham and (as George would later find out) instructed by Margaret Beaufort, they aimed to break Henry VI out of the Tower. The revolt didn’t work. The soldiers were killed, the Duke of Buckingham executed, and Margaret Beaufort placed under house arrest.

As for Henry VI, George had him killed to avoid any more problems. Warwick, who had still not been given the title of duke, reminded George of another man in the Tower who would be a greater threat to his crown: his younger brother, Richard. Richard had gained supporters around England while working with Edward IV. While George had proven to lack loyalty, Richard had not.

George knew that his brother was a bigger threat to his safety than his sister-in-law, nieces, and nephew currently in sanctuary, but wouldn’t do anything yet. He could execute his wife’s sister, but not his own brother. Especially not when he had nothing that he could use against Richard that would warrant death.

The Death of a Queen

Isabel soon found herself with child again. This time the child was a son, named Richard after his father. Bonfires were lit around England, as an heir was born. George was ecstatic, and pushed for Isabel to be rechurched as soon as possible so they could make another heir.

It wouldn’t be good for Isabel’s body. While she quickly became pregnant again, her body hadn’t fully recovered. She was weak from the last pregnancy and gave birth to a weak baby boy, who would be called George. Isabel struggled to recover and was consumed by childbed fever. Just months after the birth of her second son, she died of childbed fever just before Christmas of 1476. Baby George followed on New Year’s Day.

The country mourned for the loss of their queen and prince. George took the deaths extremely hard.

Believing them to be witchcraft, George turned to the only source he could believe would want to see Isabel and the baby dead: Elizabeth Woodville. She had to be conspiring to put her own son on the throne. First it would be Isabel and the new baby, since they were already weak, and then it would be Richard, Margaret, and finally himself.

Without Isabel by his side, Warwick saw that George was losing all sense of control. England had something to worry about when George stormed into Sanctuary to retrieve Elizabeth Woodville and her children. When George and Warwick reached sanctuary, they realised that something wasn’t right.

Everyone had disappeared. Somehow Elizabeth and her children had fled the country. Nobody could tell them when or how. On further inspection around the country, all the Woodvilles had fled. It would be months later that they would hear of the Woodvilles in exile with Margaret of York, Edward’s sister. She refused to allow who she viewed as the rightful heirs to the throne die at the hands of her mad brother.

George was furious. In retaliation, he had his own brother Richard executed in secret. Legend has it that Richard was drowned in a barrel of Malmsey wine, a way that George had said he would always like to go. Margaret Beaufort was also executed, as George didn’t trust her while her son Henry Tudor was in France.

The Death of King George I of England

George didn’t last long after the events of February 1478. England turned against him, as his mental health deteriorated. Warwick had to handle more of the king’s affairs, and worked to put a council in place (with him as Lord Protector, of course) for George’s young son Richard to take the throne.

In February 1483, George died suddenly. Nobody knows the real causes, but it meant that 8-year-old Richard was now King Richard III of England. The country hoped that he would be as strong has his Uncle Edward, but that wasn’t possible with Warwick controlling everything behind the scenes.

In Europe, the Woodvilles realised that this was the time to attack. They’d spent the last decade recruiting an army and were working with Jasper and Henry Tudor. On August 22, 1485, the Woodville and Tudor army headed to Bosworth Field, against Warwick’s forces. Evenly matched and nothing to lose, Anthony Woodville and Henry Tudor overpowered Warwick and his men, usurping the throne.

The 14-year-old Edward Plantagenet was now able to make his way to England safely and take his place as the rightful King of England. Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York, a promise Elizabeth had made to Jasper in return for his men and smarts. While Henry wouldn’t become king, he would have a place close to the throne. It wasn’t exactly what his father wanted, but it was enough for him, for now.

The young Richard III of England was placed in the Tower of London temporarily. Elizabeth wouldn’t allow her son to act in the same way as George had by executing his own kin. Instead, Elizabeth worked with Margaret of York to have Richard raised with her. He actually didn’t mind, especially when he heard the stories of his father’s actions.

The Plantagenet line continued for another four generations.

What Really Happened on April 14, 1471

George, Duke of Clarence never did betray his brother on the battlefield. Edward IV’s men were able to overpower Warwick’s, killing the Earl of Warwick on the battlefield. At the Battle of Tewskesbury, Richard of Westminster was killed, but Anne Neville’s life was spared. She would go on to marry Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

Elizabeth Woodville would return to Edward IV’s side as his consort and they would have six more children after Prince Edward. George would go on to betray his brother again and did falsely accuse a woman of witchcraft after the death of his wife. After George’s actions, Edward IV felt he had no choice but to execute his brother, and legend says it was in a barrel of Malmsey wine.

The Battle of Tewkesbury would be the last Wars of the Roses battle for more than a decade. Edward IV would remain in power until his death on April 9, 1483.

April 9, 1483: Anthony Woodville and Elizabeth Woodville Named Joint Co-Regents

This is a work of fiction by Alexandria Ingham. It's an imagination of what would have happened had Edward IV named his wife and brother-in-law as protectors of the young Edward V.

King Edward IV feared death. He knew it was happening, but he feared for the future of England. For too long the land had been at war, and he worried that his death would mean more war and destruction for his home. After all, he was leaving a 12-year-old prince on the throne.

England had never really fared well with a young king. His predecessor Henry VI had been the youngest ever English king as 9 months, and had a regency in control for more than a decade. Once he came to the throne, there was little he could do to change everything his regents had done.

Edward IV Chooses Between His Options

Edward knew that he needed a strong regent. There were only a handful of choices: his wife Elizabeth, his brother Richard, or his brother-in-law Anthony.

His wife would have been strong as queen regent, but she was a woman. No man would take orders from her, even if they were for his son. Plus she would often let her feelings get in the way. But she knew court the best. And she would always keep their son’s best interests at heart.

Richard knew court and he was a strong favourite among many of the nobles. However, something deep inside him didn’t trust the young duke. Maybe it was the execution of their other brother five years earlier. Things had never been quite right between them after that. Plus, their mother Cecily could wrap Richard around her little finger and Edward wasn’t too certain about Richard’s wife Anne. Richard wouldn’t be the one in charge. The two women would play him behind the scenes.

Anthony Woodville wouldn’t have the full court backing, but he was known to Prince Edward. He had already proven himself as a strong protector and leader. However, Anthony had been away from court for a long time while looking after Edward. He would need help.

If only he could amalgamate some of his options.

Believing that he only had Richard has an option, he started to write his brother’s name down as regent, but then stopped. He could amalgamate his options. Why did England need just one regent? What about two Woodvilles? Elizabeth and Anthony could work together, and Edward knew that they would—and they would both protect the young king.

The World Hears of Edward’s Decision

Richard, Duke of Gloucester was not happy with the news. In fact, there were plenty of people at court not happy with the news of who would become regent. How could two Woodvilles—two commoners—become co-regents. Edward V needed someone noble. They needed Richard.

Cecily tried to persuade her eldest son to make Richard regent, but Edward VI wasn’t having any of it. She should have known that her son wouldn’t listen to her.

In an attempt to take back power, Richard set off to Ludlow Castle to take Edward V as a hostage. He had the backing of prominent individuals at court, including the Duke of Buckingham and Lord Hastings. While bringing Edward back to London, Anthony encountered the men and initially put up a fight. Richard wouldn’t even listen to his nephew, who commanded his uncle to stop. Instead, Richard sent Anthony Woodville and Edward’s half-brother Richard Grey north to Pontefract Castle. They were locked away, without any way to keep in touch with the outside world.

As soon as Elizabeth heard about the events, she worked with those at court who did support her. One unlikely supporter was Margaret Beaufort, who was godmother to the now heir to the throne, Richard, Duke of York. Margaret had to choose a side, where neither gave her an advantage to get her own son on the throne…yet. Having Margaret on her side did help Elizabeth come up with a plan of attack to get her brother and son back.

Elizabeth had Anne Neville arrested. It was a risky move, but one that got Richard’s attention. Cecily attempted to get her daughter-in-law out of prison, but Elizabeth threatened her with imprisonment too. The actions of Richard directly affected them. If was a traitor and Elizabeth believed that the two women had something to do with it.

Richard had no choice but to let Anthony and Richard Grey free. They returned to London, along with Edward V, who was now safe with his mother and uncle.

They wouldn’t take any chances, though. Edward V publically ordered his uncle’s arrest. In his first speech, at just 12 years old, he made it clear that Richard had chosen to ignore his direct commend to release Anthony and his half-brother. He also believed that Richard planned to act to harm him. Richard, Duke of Gloucester was placed in the Tower of London for suspicion of treason.

Anne Neville remained in the Tower of London, too. Cecily was placed under house arrest, in the lodgings of Margaret Beautfort and Thomas Stanley. She was in for some dark days with the staunch Lancastrian. While they had the same family line, it was clear they had no liking for each other.

Edward V Is Crowned King of England

Elizabeth and Anthony knew that they needed to act quickly. England didn’t want a young king, so they needed all the right people in their favour. They had some of the right people through marriage, but many were loyal to the Plantagenets—and not to Edward. Despite the king being the son of Edward IV, people hated the Woodvilles. And there were plenty of questions over Edward IV’s birth, and therefore his right to the throne.

The best thing Elizabeth and Anthony could do was arrange a speedy coronation. It took place on July 6, 1483. It was a lavish affair, making it clear that Edward V was the true heir to the throne. Anybody who went up against him would end up in the same position as Richard and Anne, Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Elizabeth also knew that she would have to look abroad for alliances. Edward V needed to be married as soon as he was of age. His father had slipped in this regard, although her daughters had some potential marriages.

As a regent of a young king Elizabeth and Anne of France had plenty in common. Anne was younger than the English queen, but admired her for her assumption and strength. Viewing Richard as an attempted usurper, Anne agreed to offer Elizabeth French support in return for a marriage alliance. Deciding that she couldn’t let her daughter Anne of York marry the aging Maximillian I, Elizabeth suggested a marriage alliance between Anne and the young king Charles VIII of France. Anne found it suitable and the two were officially betrothed.

Knowing that she needed to keep the Archduke on side and finding that the Scottish pact had fallen through after her husband’s death, Elizabeth negotiated with Maximillian to marry her first daughter Elizabeth. The marriage took place extremely quickly, and Elizabeth soon left the English court behind.

Edward V still needed a marriage, but Elizabeth now had time with her two alliances. Besides, she had other things to deal with.

An Attempt at an Uprising

In 1484, there was an attempt to overthrown Anthony and Elizabeth as regents. This uprising wanted to remove Edward from the throne and place the disgraced Richard there instead. Elizabeth turned to her new alliance in France and to the Holy Roman Emperor for help. Both agreed to send ships and an army, quickly quashing the uprising.

Elizabeth knew who was to blame instantly and looked towards Cecily, Duchess of York. It didn’t take long for Elizabeth and Anthony to find out that Thomas Stanley was also conspiring against the king. Margaret begged Elizabeth for leniency, stating that she had nothing to do with it. She wouldn’t when all she wanted was to see her son Henry back in England.

Inclined to believe Margaret, Elizabeth only had Cecily and Thomas arrested. The Duke of Buckingham was also arrested. It was time to make examples of a few people. The first to be executed was the Duke of Buckingham. He was followed by Thomas Stanley.

During this time, Elizabeth received news that her nephew, Edward of Middleham was extremely sick. Knowing that none of this was the boy’s fault, she sent Edward V’s own doctor to the boy. It was too late and on April 9, 1484, exactly a year after his uncle, Edward of Middleham died. Elizabeth decided to go in person to tell Anne, knowing how hard it was to lose a child. She didn’t

gloat, but it was clear that Anne blamed Elizabeth for everything that had happened to her son.

When Anthony told Richard about the death of Edward, Richard attempted to attack him. Luckily a guard heard the ruckus and stepped in before Anthony was killed. When Edward V heard of his uncle’s actions, he decided the time had come for Richard’s execution. On June 25, 1485, Richard was executed by axe swiftly in front of a small number of people.

Anne Neville had already died in March 1485 of causes unknown. There was only Cecily left, who wept for the loss of her son at the time of his execution. She begged to be taken next, but was left in the Tower until she was almost forgotten about.

A Time for Marriage for Edward V

By the time Edward turned 16, he felt ready to rule himself. His uncle and mother took a small step back, but did ask that they help him arrange a powerful marriage. However, war was brewing with the Scots. Elizabeth and Anthony needed to do something about that and arranged a marriage between James III’s eldest son, James, to Cecily of York. It wasn’t the most popular marriage with the Scottish, but it was the strongest alliance.

When James III died and James IV ascended to the throne, Edward V was now at an age to do more negotiating. The two young kings worked together well to secure the best alliance for their two countries. Cecily became the Queen of Scotland and left England just weeks later.

The next country to turn to was Spain.  Joanna of Castile, daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. It was the perfect alliance. Spain was growing in power. With France, the Holy Roman Empire, and Scotland now in alliance with England, Spain was the next one to work with. Edward did look at others, but he wanted this alliance.

Ferdinand seemed to agree. The problem for Ferdinand was that Joanna was young. By 1491, she was just 12 years old. He didn’t want to send his daughter to a foreign country without some sort of certainty that this marriage would happen. Edward gave his word, but Ferdinand also worried about the support Cecily Neville was still gaining, despite being locked in the castle. Edward made it clear that Cecily had nothing to gain. She didn’t have an heir to the throne.

However, Ferdinand new that Henry Tudor was also growing an army in the Low Countries. He was a huge risk to the throne, thanks to his mother’s devious actions. Edward wanted to know what Ferdinand wanted him to do. There was nothing he could do about Henry, so he could only lock Margaret away. That would just lead to the following growing stronger. Instead, Edward made Margaret come to court. There she could be watched fully. She would also need to act as Lady-in-Waiting to Joanna of Castile when she came to court.

It was good enough. Ferdinand sent his daughter and Edward met her at Dover.

In 1492, Elizabeth Woodville died of natural causes. England had grown to love the queen, as she cared for those lower than her. Her funeral was attended by everyone who could make it, proving to Ferdinand that there was a strong support for the Woodvilles and Edward V. Rather than focusing on grief, Edward arranged his marriage to Joanna. Edward was 22 and Joanna just 13 at the time of their marriage on December 25, 1492.

An Heir to the English Throne

It was time to conceive an heir. Edward V had succeeded far better as king than anyone expected, but he needed to make sure his line was protected. Margaret encouraged Edward to hold back for a short period, knowing what it was like to give birth so young, but Edward pressed forward. By the time Joanna was 14, she was pregnant with their first child. The child didn’t survive and almost took Joanna’s life with it.

That death was followed by another: Edward’s uncle, Anthony. There were rumours that he was poisoned, but Edward brushed them off as nothing. However, he did need someone to take his place. As Margaret had proven to be supportive of Joanna, he suggested that Henry Tudor finally come to court. Margaret was delighted. Her son was finally allowed back on English soil without fear of imprisonment.

Joanna’s next pregnancy when she was 16 was more successful. She gave birth to a baby boy, who was named Edward after Edward IV. Two daughters followed, named Elizabeth and Isabella, after Elizabeth Woodville and Isabella I of Castile. A second son followed, but this boy—named Ferdinand—would die just 12 weeks old. Edward was devastated and was full of grief.

The royal couple would have four more children, who would all survive.

Edward V would live to a good age: 54. On June 25, 1524 he died of consumption. His wife was devastated and the first signs of her deteriorated mental health appeared. The 19-year-old Edward, Prince of Wales became King Edward VI of England. He would later become King of Castile and France after his mother’s death in 1555. As Lutherism spread across Europe, he worked with his cousin, the Holy Roman Emperor, to push back conversion across England.

Edward VI contracted smallpox, which weakened his immune system. When France declared war just two years after battling the disease, he was injured and his immune system too weak to fight off the infection that grew. Edward died without heirs, leaving the country to his younger brother, William. William became William IV of England and William I of Castile and Aragon and continue the Plantagenet line for another three generations.

What really happened on April 9, 1483:

On this day, Edward IV died unexpectedly of pneumonia. He did name a regent for his child king, but it would be Richard, Duke of Gloucester. It didn't take long for Richard to imprison Anthony Woodville and Richard Grey in the north. They were executed on June 25, 1483.

Edward V was taken to the Tower of London, possibly as a way to keep him safe. Richard took over the government and soon declared Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville null and void. The children were made illegitimate and Richard, as the only heir to the throne, became Richard III of England with Anne Neville as his queen.

Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York, went missing in the Tower of London and have been presumed dead. Historians debate over what really happened, but we will never know.

Elizabeth Woodville took her daughters into sanctuary, where they remained until 1484. Richard III promised Elizabeth that her daughters would be safe from harm, although there were rumors that he planned to marry his niece Elizabeth of York. Richard III was eventually killed in battle by Henry Tudor and his minority army with the help of his step-father Thomas Stanley. The Wars of the Roses came to an end in 1485, as Henry Tudor and Elizabeth of York married to join the Houses of York and Lancaster together.

April 2, 1502: Arthur Tudor Makes a Full Recovery from Illness

What if Arthur never died of his illness in 1502 and went on to become King of England?

April 2, 1502 was an unsettling day for the Tudor household in Ludlow Castle. Throughout the last few months, both Prince Arthur and his wife Catherine of Aragon had been ill. The last six months had been touch and go, with many in the household fearing that one or both might die. It didn’t help that various members of staff caught the sweating sickness that both had contracted in the last few weeks and had died.

Luckily, the two overcame their illnesses. Nobody would speak of the fears, and it was now time to focus on the future.

That meant consummating the marriage – something that should have happened on their wedding night. Arthur had been so overeager that he had failed to perform his husbandly duty, but refused to let anybody know that. He’s boasted all about his “night in Spain,” and Catherine wasn’t going to embarrass him further.

Sister and Daughter Born Together

Just a month after the fears of death, Catherine announced that she was with child. Arthur’s mother, Elizabeth of York, also announced her seventh pregnancy. Henry VII of England and Arthur Tudor were overjoyed with the news. Unfortunately, nine months later the whole family would deal with devastating news.

Catherine gave birth to a stillborn daughter on January 31, 1503. Two days later, Elizabeth did safely deliver a daughter, named Katherine, but she only lived for a few days. If that wasn’t hard enough for father and son, Elizabeth followed in death on her 37^th birthday.

Henry VII spared no expense for his wife’s burial, who would be buried with their daughter. He also arranged for Arthur’s daughter to be brought from Ludlow to London, where she would be buried with her aunt and grandmother. The English people wept, as three bodies laid in state.

Already having an heir, a spare, and two daughters, Henry looked half-heartedly for another wife. However, Arthur and Catherine had to move past the devastation. Catherine was heartbroken, fearing that she was at fault. One thing that Arthur assured her was that it was God’s will and nothing she did. They were still young and they would have more children.

If anything, the loss of a child brought the two together much closer than ever before. They opened up about their feelings and concentrated on providing more heirs for the Tudor dynasty.

Babies Elizabeth and Henry Follow the Devastation

There is always a rainbow at the end of the storm. For Catherine and Arthur that was the birth of their daughter, Elizabeth. Arthur chose the name for his mother. Two years later, a son followed and Arthur chose the name Henry, after his father. Henry would live for just 56 days, dying of an infant illness and fever.

On April 21, 1509 Arthur learned of the death of his father. The news of the death was kept a secret from England, as Catherine had just gone into labour with the couple’s fourth children. Arthur needed this to be a success and had to push the grief of the loss of his father to one side. Shortly before midnight, Catherine gave birth to another boy.

This boy did live and Arthur named him Edmund, after the brother who died in 1500. While Catherine recovered from childbirth, she learned of the news that her father-in-law had died, just before the news broke to the people. Arthur and Catherine were now the King and Queen Consort of England, with the world learning that young Prince Edmund was born on the day his grandfather died. It was viewed as a sign from God that this boy would become their saviour.

Once Catherine was re-churched, she and Arthur were crowned in a lavish coronation. Arthur spared no expense.

Unfortunately, Arthur learned that two of his father’s ministers, Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley had extorted money. Arthur made the swift decision to execute the men for treason, but he would act more kindly towards the House of York potential claimants to the throne. Deciding that he had nothing to fear, he released them, including Edmund de la Pole.

When Edmund’s brother Richard headed a rebellion against the young king, Arthur’s council advised him of taking a stronger stance. To show that he would not be threatened, Arthur executed both Richard and Edmund, after the council apparently found evidence that Edmund had been involved.

By the time of the executions in 1513, Catherine had learned she was with child again. This one wouldn’t make it to term, and Catherine miscarried what doctors believed was a girl at four months.

Finding a Marriage for Mary Tudor

One thing that his father had left undone was finding a marriage for his youngest sister, Mary. The

council had suggested the ailing King of France, but Arthur just couldn’t do it. He wouldn’t subject his sister to such a disastrous marriage for the sake of the French alliance.

Unfortunately, that decision led to the French deciding to invade some of the English-held lands. Arthur and his army attacked in France, just as Scotland attacked in the north. Catherine used her power as Regent, while Arthur was overseas, to lead the army against the Scottish. Both king and queen won their respective battles, gaining praise from the people around them.

The Scottish defeat led to the death of King James IV of Scotland, making Arthur’s sister Margaret a widow. Arthur did welcome the eldest of his two younger sisters back to English court, but she decided to remain in Scotland.

As for Mary, Arthur turned to Spain for a marriage upon the request of Catherine. It didn’t take long for Mary to be betrothed to Charles, the son of Catherine’s sister Joanne of Castile. The two were married by proxy and Mary travelled to Spain to be with her betrothed. Mary would become the Holy Roman Empress and England kept the support of Spain for a long time.

Luckily, Arthur didn’t have to worry about a marriage for his younger brother. Prince Henry Tudor had opted for a lifetime in the church – not that their father had given Henry much of a choice.

Arthur could focus on the political marriages of his children. Before he could settle anything for either of them, Catherine announced that she was with child again. In February 1516 she gave birth to another girl. Arthur named her Margaret, after his favourite sister – Mary Tudor had been Henry’s favourite sister. Two years later, Catherine would give birth to another child, another stillborn girl.

Marriages for Arthur Tudor’s Children

It would be the last child for the royal couple. Now Arthur had to seriously focus on the marriages. While Edmund was the most important of the three children, Arthur knew that he needed to set up some sort of peace with Scotland. Arthur wanted to make it clear that there were no hard feelings from when Scotland broke the Treaty of Perpetual Peace in 1513. His advisors had advised against this, but Arthur acted.

Princess Elizabeth was betrothed to her Scottish cousin James V of Scotland. The marriage took place on March 3, 1519 and the 16-year-old Elizabeth left her English home for her new Scottish one just a week later. It was a tearful moment for Catherine, but she could be safe in the knowledge that her sister-in-law was still in Scotland. While Margaret was in a tricky situation, Arthur’s support and this new alliance protected them all.

The next child to work on was Prince Edmund, Prince of Wales. Before Arthur could do that, he learned of the son King Francis of France had. He realized there was an advantageous alliance he could gain with his younger daughter, the infant Margaret. Sure, Catherine wasn’t happy about a French alliance, but she couldn’t deny the powerful element of it.

Arthur and Francis agreed to an alliance between the young Princess Margaret and Francis, Dauphin of France. It wouldn’t last. The French broke the alliance, after hearing that Arthur was considering an alliance with the Spanish. What they hadn’t waited for was to hear that Arthur was arranging a marriage for his son. By 1528 the French alliance was over and Arthur put his focus back on an alliance with Spain.

Charles and Mary Tudor had already given birth to a daughter and two sons. They were both open to marriages to either Edmund or Margaret, although of course preferred Edmund. They wanted their daughter Maria to become the Queen of England. The marriage talks broke down after Mary’s death in 1533. Charles went into a state of mourning and wanted nothing to do with the English for a short time. Arthur stepped back to allow him time.

Nothing happened until November 1535. And it wasn’t the Spanish alliance that Catherine wanted. When Francis visited the English court with his daughter Madeline, Edmund feel in love with her. Arthur knew that this marriage wouldn’t work out as Madeline was a sickly girl, but he wanted his son to be happy.

The happiness was short-lived. On January 7, 1536, the world mourned the death of Queen Catherine. When doctors found a black mark on her heart, Arthur instantly decided she had been poisoned and would spend the rest of his life searching for her murderer. Just a year later, Arthur had died and Edmund found himself king on April 2, 1537. He chose his middle name Henry as his royal title, becoming King Henry VIII of England, with Madeline as his queen consort.

Life as King of England

Edmund’s marriage wouldn’t be a fruitful one. As Arthur had once expected, Madeline failed to provide heirs. On July 7, 1537, Madeline died in her husband’s arms and Edmund was heartbroken.

Whilst in mourning, Edmund heard of a protestant uprising. Europe had been overtaken by the religious reformation. While Charles, the Holy Roman Emperor had tried to fight it back, there were various nations making a switch to Protestantism. Edmund refused to let that happen to England and his Uncle Henry, who was made Archbishop of Canterbury and Henry’s close friend Sir Thomas More worked together to burn heretics and prevent Protestantism from spreading.

But Edmund needed to do more. To help do that, he decided to turn his attention to Spain. Allying with a strong Catholic nation had to be the best for the country and that meant a marriage to the young Maria. The 15-year-old girl was the perfect age for the now 31-year-old king. They married on April 29, 1541 at Old St. Paul’s Cathedral, where his mother and father had married. Edmund hoped that it would lead to a fruitful, caring marriage like his parents had.

Their marriage only produced one child, a son named Arthur. Unfortunately, Arthur Tudor died before becoming king and the crown passed to his Scottish cousins, joining the two countries together. Despite Edmund’s attempts at holding back Protestantism, the Scottish king introduced the religious reformation and Catholicism fell by the wayside. It was the start of a new age.

Image of Arthur Tudor

Image of Catherine of Aragon