The New Student's Reference Work/York, House of

York, House of, was founded by Edmund Langley, fifth son of Edward III, being made Duke of York in 1385. Richard, the third duke, claimed the throne of England in opposition to Henry VI, but never succeeded to it himself. After seeking for many years to correct the weaknesses of Henry's government, Richard first took arms against the ill-advisers who were his personal enemies, and at length claimed the crown in Parliament as his right. A compromise was proposed that Henry should retain his crown during his life, and the duke and his heirs succeed after Henry's death. This was accepted both by Henry and by Richard, but the act was repudiated by Queen Margaret and her followers, and the duke was slain at the battle of Wakefield soon after. In little more than two months, however, Richard's son was proclaimed king in London as Edward IV, and the bloody victory of Towton soon after drove his enemies into exile and prepared the way for his coronation. Edward reigned from 1461 to 1483, when Edward V, his oldest son, after a nominal reign of two months and a half, was put aside and murdered by Richard III, his uncle. Richard then became king; but in a little more than two years was defeated and slain at Bosworth (Aug. 22, 1485) by Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, who was crowned as Henry VII. His marriage with the daughter of Edward IV (1486) united the houses of York and Lancaster. See Roses, Wars of.