Page 51 - All About History - Issue 11-14
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The key players in the bloody quest for ultimate power
The second cadet branch of the parent House of Tudor at the close of the The first of two junior branches of the execution of the latter’s son, Edward
House of Plantagenet, descended Wars of the Roses. mighty royal House of Plantagenet, Prince of Wales, by the rival House of
down the male line of the house from Main supporters: Prince of Wales; the House of Lancaster was created York during the Wars of the Roses.
Edmund of Langley, the 1st Duke of Lord of Ireland; Dukes of York, with the establishment of the Earldom Main supporters: Earls of Lancaster,
York and the fourth surviving son of Clarence, Gloucester. of Lancaster by Henry III of England Leicester, Moray, Ferrers, Derby,
King Edward III. Three of its members Emblem: A white rose. in 1267. From that date the House of Salisbury, Lincoln; Duke of Lancaster
down the ages became kings of the Claim to the throne: Richard Lancaster provided England with three Emblem: A red rose.
country. The house came to an end Plantagenet was descended from King kings, Henry IV, Henry V and Henry Claim to the throne: Its figurehead
when Henry Tudor established the Edward III. VI before becoming extinct with the was Henry VI, the only son of Henry V.
Duke of York King of England
Date of birth: 6 December 1421
Strengths: Son of the powerful and
Date of birth: 21 September 1411
popular Henry V; married well to Margaret
Strengths: Powerful and well connected;
inherited large estates and influence in of Anjou, was generally considered
benevolent and pious.
England and France.
Weaknesses: A series of military victories Weaknesses: Bouts of crippling mental
illness saw his kingdom ruled by others
led him to overconfidence, ensuring his
own death in a crushing defeat at the during his reign for extended periods of
time.
Battle of Wakefield.
POWER RATING: E E E E E POWER RATING: E E E E E
Queen Consort Queen Consort
Date of birth: 1437 Date of birth: 23 March 1430
Strengths: Politically slick; married well Strengths: Passionate, proud and strong-
above her station and was a renowned willed, Margaret provided the House of
beauty Lancaster the scheming and ruthless ruler
Weaknesses: Not powerful enough to Henry VI failed to be.
hold the throne for her children; let her Weaknesses: Overstepped her power
power be usurped by Lady Margaret level in the Battle of Tewkesbury, leading
Beaufort in later years. to her ultimate fall from grace and power.
POWER RATING: E E E E E POWER RATING: E E E E E
Earl of Warwick Duke of Somerset
Date of birth: 22 November 1428 Date of birth: 1406
Strengths: A principal politician in Strengths: Head of one of the most
England, he deposed two kings to earn the influential families in England. Experienced
nickname ‘the Kingmaker’. and respected by his peers.
Weaknesses: Let his dominant position Weaknesses: Poor temperament, lost
at the English court be gradually eroded more battles than he won; let a personal
in later years due to directing his focus feud with the Duke of York get violently
toward France. out of hand.
POWER RATING: E E E E E POWER RATING: E E E E E
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