Edward V

Edward V was a king of England from the House of York. He became king in April 1483 when he was only twelve years old. Edward V did not have a full coronation, which is a ceremony where a new king or queen is crowned. His short reign took place during a time of dispute over the English throne, following the death of his father, Edward IV.

Edward V was born in 1470 to Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. As the eldest son, he was expected to become king. When his father died in April 1483, Edward was living in the north of England under the care of his uncle, Anthony Woodville, who was also known as Lord Rivers. Edward began traveling to London for his coronation. However, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who was Edward's other uncle, met them on the way and took Edward into his own custody.

Richard said he wanted to protect the young king. He brought Edward to the Tower of London, which was often used as a royal residence before a coronation. Soon afterward, Edward's younger brother, Richard, Duke of York, was also taken to the Tower. Later that year, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, declared that Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville had not been lawful. He claimed this made Edward V and his brother unable to rule. Richard then became King Richard III.

After Richard III took the throne, Edward V and his brother remained in the Tower of London. Over time, they were seen less and less by people outside the Tower. By the end of 1483, the boys were no longer seen at all. Their disappearance led to many ideas about what might have happened to them. Because Edwards’s death was never officially recorded and no clear explanation was given, the two boys became known as the "Princes in the Tower."

Edward V never ruled England as an adult and never issued laws or led the government. His brief reign is mostly remembered because of the events that followed, including the claim by Richard III and the later rise of Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII. Henry Tudor defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, ending the Wars of the Roses and starting the Tudor dynasty.

The story of Edward V continues to be studied by historians. Many records from the time no longer survive, and the exact events inside the Tower are still not known. Because of this, Edward V remains one of the most mysterious figures in English royal history.