Editing House of York (section)

== Reigns of the Yorkist Kings ==

The early reign of [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] was marred by Lancastrian plotting and uprisings in favour of Henry VI. Warwick himself changed sides, and supported Margaret of Anjou and the king's jealous brother [[George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence|George, Duke of Clarence]], in briefly restoring Henry in 1470–71. However, Edward regained his throne, and the House of Lancaster was wiped out with the death of Henry VI himself, in the [[Tower of London]] in 1471. In 1478, the continued trouble caused by Clarence led to his execution in the [[Tower of London]]; popularly he is thought to have been drowned in a butt of [[malmsey]] wine.

On Edward's death in 1483, the crown passed to his twelve-year-old son [[Edward V of England|Edward V]]. Edward IV's younger brother [[Richard III of England|Richard, Duke of Gloucester]], was appointed Protector, and the young king, and his brother [[Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York|Richard]], were accommodated into the Tower of London. The famous [[Princes in the Tower]]'s fate remains a mystery. As today it is unknown whether they were killed or who might have killed them. Parliament declared, in the document ''[[Titulus Regius]]'', that the two boys were illegitimate, on the grounds that Edward IV's marriage was invalid, and as such Richard was heir to the throne. He was crowned Richard III in July 1483.