House of York

House of York
As descendants of the sovereign in the male line the dukes of York bore the arms of the kingdom differentiated by a label argent of three points, each bearing three torteaux gules
Parent house	House of Plantagenet
Country	Kingdom of England Kingdom of France[note 1] Lordship of Ireland
Ethnicity	English
Founded	1385
Founder	Edmund of Langley
Current head	Extinct
Final ruler	Richard III of England
Titles	King of England King of France[note 1] Prince of Wales Lord of Ireland Duke of York Duke of Clarence Duke of Gloucester Earl of Cambridge Earl of March Earl of Rutland Earl of Ulster
Dissolution	1499
Deposition	1485
^ a b titular claim rather than de facto

English Royalty
House of York
Armorial of Plantagenet
Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke
Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke Constance, Countess of Gloucester Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge
Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke
Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge
Isabel, Countess of Essex Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke
Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke
Anne, Duchess of Exeter Edward IV Edmund, Earl of Rutland Elizabeth, Duchess of Suffolk Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence Richard III
Edward IV
Elizabeth, Queen of England Mary Cecily, Viscountess Welles Edward V Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke Anne, Lady Howard Catherine, Countess of Devon Bridget
Edward V
George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence
Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick
Richard III
Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales
v t e

The House of York was a cadet branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet. Three of its members became Kings of England in the late 15th century. The House of York was descended in the male line from Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, the fourth surviving son of Edward III, but also represented Edward's senior line, being cognatic descendants of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, Edward III's second surviving son. It is based on these descents that they claimed the English crown.^[1][2] Compared with the House of Lancaster, it had a senior claim to the throne of England according to cognatic primogeniture but junior claim according to the agnatic primogeniture. The reign of this dynasty ended with the death of Richard III of England at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. It became extinct in the male line with the death of Edward Plantagenet, 17th Earl of Warwick in 1499.

Descent from Edward III[edit]

Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, 1st Earl of Cambridge, KG (5 June 1341 – 1 August 1402) was a younger son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault, the fourth of their five sons who lived to adulthood. He was the founder of the House of York, but it was through the marriage of his younger son, Richard to Anne Mortimer that the Yorkist faction in the Wars of the Roses made its claim on the throne. The other party in the Wars of the Roses, the Lancasters, were descendants of Edmund's elder brother, John of Gaunt whose son Henry usurped the throne of Richard II in 1399.

Edmund had two sons, Edward, and Richard of Conisburgh. Edward succeeded to the dukedom in 1402, but was killed at the battle of Agincourt in 1415, with no issue. Richard married Anne Mortimer, a great-granddaughter of Lionel of Antwerp, the second surviving son (cadet line) of Edward III. Furthermore, Anne's son Richard also became heir general to the earldom of March, after her only brother, Edmund, 5th Earl, died without issue in 1425. Their father Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March had been named heir presumptive of Richard II before Henry IV's accession; although it had been passed over at the time, Anne's son Richard also inherited this claim to the throne.

Richard of Conisburgh was executed following his involvement in the Southampton Plot to depose Henry V of England in favour of the Earl of March. The dukedom of York therefore passed to his son, Richard Plantagenet. Through his mother, Richard Plantagenet also inherited the lands of the earldom of March, as well as the Mortimer claim to the throne.

House of York family tree

- House of York - King of England - Duke/House of Lancaster - Duke of York - House of Tudor Edward III 1312–1377 r. 1327–1377 Edward The Black Prince 1330–1376 Lionel of Antwerp Duke of Clarence 1338–1368 John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster 1340–1399 Edmund of Langley Duke of York 1341–1402 Richard II 1367–1400 r.1377–1399 Edmund Mortimer Earl of March 1352–1381 Philippa Css of Ulster 1355–1382 House of Lancaster Edward of Norwich Duke of York 1373–1415 Roger Mortimer Earl of March 1374–1398 Edmund Mortimer Earl of March 1391-1425 Anne de Mortimer 1390–1411 Richard of Conisburgh Earl of Cambridge ~1375–1415 Richard of York Duke of York 1411–1460 Edward IV 1442–1483 1st r.1461-1470 2nd r.1471-1483 Edmund Earl of Rutland 1443–1460 George Plantagenet Duke of Clarence 1449–1478 Richard III 1452–1485 r.1483–1485 Henry VII 1457–1509 r. 1485–1509 Elizabeth of York 1466–1503 Edward V 1470–? r.1483 Richard of York 1473–? Edward Plantagenet Earl of Warwick 1475-1499 Edward of Middleham Pr. of Wales c. 1473–1484 Arthur Pr. of Wales 1486–1502 Henry VIII 1491–1547 r.1509–1547 Margaret Tudor 1489–1541 Mary Tudor 1496–1533 Two generations skipped James VI & I 1566–1625 r. 1567–1625 (Sc) r. 1603–1625 (En)

Wars of the Roses[edit]

Despite his elevated status, Richard Plantagenet was denied a position in government by the advisers of the weak Henry VI, particularly John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, and the queen consort, Margaret of Anjou. Although he served as Protector of the Realm during Henry VI's period of incapacity in 1453-54, his reforms were reversed by Somerset's party once the king had recovered.

The Wars of the Roses began the following year, with the First Battle of St Albans. Initially, Richard aimed only to purge his Lancastrian political opponents from positions of influence over the king. It was not until October 1460 that he claimed the throne for the House of York. In that year the Yorkists had captured the king at the battle of Northampton, but victory was short-lived. Richard and his second son Edmund were killed at the battle of Wakefield on 30 December.

Richard's claim to the throne was inherited by his son Edward. With the support of Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick ("The Kingmaker"), Edward, already showing great promise as a leader of men, defeated the Lancastrians in a succession of battles. While Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou were campaigning in the north, Warwick gained control of the capital and had Edward declared king in London in 1461. Edward strengthened his claim with a decisive victory at the Battle of Towton in the same year, in the course of which the Lancastrian army was virtually wiped out.

Reigns of the Yorkist Kings[edit]

The early reign of 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, 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. Edward IV's younger brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, was appointed Protector, and escorted the young king, and his brother Richard, to the Tower of London. The famous Princes in the Tower were never seen again. However 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.

Defeat of the House of York[edit]

Richard III had many enemies. Though the House of Lancaster had been extinguished, the Lancastrian sympathisers survived, who now rallied behind Henry Tudor, a descendant of the Beauforts, a legitimized branch of the House of Lancaster. Moreover, the family of Edward IV, and the Edwardian loyalists, were naturally opposed to him, essentially dividing his Yorkist power base. A coup attempt failed in late 1483, but in 1485 Richard met Henry Tudor at the battle of Bosworth Field. During the battle, some of Richard's important supporters switched sides or withheld their retainers from the field. Richard himself was killed. He was the last of the Plantagenet kings, as well as the last English king to die in battle.

Henry Tudor declared himself king, took Elizabeth of York, eldest child of Edward IV, as his wife, symbolically uniting the surviving houses of York and Lancaster, and acceded to the throne as Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty which reigned until 1603.

Later claimants[edit]

The de la Pole family were sometimes suggested as heirs to the Yorkist cause, but Henry Tudor and his son Henry VIII of England efficiently suppressed all such opposition.

Another Yorkist branch descends from George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence, and younger brother of Edward IV. The heir to this branch is the Earl of Loudoun, currently Simon Abney-Hastings. There was in Edward IV's reign a suspicion that this king was illegitimate. In 2004, the British station Channel 4 revived the George branch's claim as "Britain's Real Monarch". The Earls of Loudoun would then, at least, be the heirs to the Yorkists.^[3]

Legacy[edit]

Upon Henry Tudor's uniting the rival houses of Lancaster and York, the title Duke of York became a royal prerogative and is traditionally accorded to the second son of the reigning monarch. Beginning with Richard of Shrewsbury (son of Edward IV, one of the Princes in the Tower), none of its holders were able to transmit it; they either died without a male heir or succeeded to the throne. The title is held today by Prince Andrew, second son of Queen Elizabeth II and her consort Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

The symbol of the House of York was a white rose, still used as the badge of Yorkshire and Jacobitism. York, Pennsylvania, is known as the White Rose City after the symbol of the House of York. The rivalry between York and Lancaster, in the modern form of the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, has continued into the present day on a more friendly basis.

Dukes of York[edit]

Duke	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Edmund of Langley (House of York founder) 1385–1402		5 June 1341 Kings Langley son of Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault	Isabella of Castile 1372 3 children Joan de Holland ca. 4 November 1393 no children	1 August 1402 Kings Langley age 61
Edward of Norwich 1402–1415		1373 Norwich son of Edmund of Langley and Isabella of Castile	Philippa de Mohun c. 1397 no children	25 October 1415 Agincourt age 42
Richard Plantagenet 1415–1460		21 September 1411 son of Richard of Conisburgh, 3rd Earl of Cambridge and Anne de Mortimer	Cecily Neville 1437 13 children	30 December 1460 Wakefield age 49
Edward Plantagenet 1460–1461		28 April 1442 Rouen son of Richard Plantagenet and Cecily Neville	Elizabeth Woodville 1 May 1464 10 children	9 April 1483 Westminster age 40

Edward Plantagenet became Edward IV in 1461, thus merging the title of Duke of York with the crown.

Yorkist Kings of England[edit]

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Edward IV 4 March 1461 – 3 October 1470 11 April 1471–1483[4]		28 April 1442 Rouen son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and Cecily Neville[4]	Elizabeth Woodville Grafton Regis 1 May 1464 10 children[4]	9 April 1483 Westminster Palace age 40[4]
Edward V 9 April–25 June 1483[5]		2 November 1470 Westminster son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville[5]	unmarried	c. 1483 London age about 12 (presumed murdered)[6]
Richard III 26 June 1483–1485[7]		2 October 1452 Fotheringhay Castle son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York and Cecily Neville[8]	Anne Neville Westminster Abbey 12 July 1472 1 son[8]	22 August 1485 Bosworth Field age 32 (killed in battle)[8]

Coats of Arms[edit]

Armoiries	Écu	Nom et blasonnement
		Edward IV of England (1442 † 1483), son of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York, King of England and Lord of Ireland écartelé, en 1 et 4 d'azur semé de lys d'or, en 2 et 3, de gueules aux trois léopards d'or, armés, lampassés d'azur ou écartelé, en 1 et 4 de France (ancien), en 2 et 3, d'Angleterre (moderne)[9][10][11]
		Edward V of England (1470 † 1483), son of Edward IV, King of England and Lord of Ireland écartelé, en 1 et 4 d'azur semé de lys d'or, en 2 et 3, de gueules aux trois léopards d'or, armés, lampassés d'azur ou écartelé, en 1 et 4 de France (ancien), en 2 et 3, d'Angleterre (moderne)[9][10][11]
		Richard III of England (1452 † 1485), brother of Edward IV, King of England and Lord of Ireland, écartelé, en 1 et 4 d'azur semé de lys d'or, en 2 et 3, de gueules aux trois léopards d'or, armés, lampassés d'azur ou écartelé, en 1 et 4 de France (ancien), en 2 et 3, d'Angleterre (moderne)[9][10][11]

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence	1338-1368	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France ancien, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each charged with a canton Gules[12]	Son of: King Edward III and Queen Philippa.
	Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster	1332–1363	Or, a cross Gules (de Burgh)[12]	Daughter of: William Donn de Burgh, Earl of Ulster and Matilda of Lancaster. Married to: Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence; 1352–1363.

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Philippa of Clarence, Countess of Ulster	1355–1382	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France ancien, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each charged with a canton Gules, impaling, Barry of six, Or and Azure, on a chief two pales, the corners gyronny, overall an escutcheon Argent[13]	Daughter of: Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence and Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster. Married to: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March; 1368–1381.
	Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March	1352–1381	Barry of six, Or and Azure, on a chief two pales, the corners gyronny, overall an escutcheon Argent (Mortimer)[13]	Son of: Roger Mortimer, Earl of March and Philippa Montacute.
	Roger Mortimer, Earl of March	1374–1398	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Barry of six, Or and Azure, on a chief two pales, the corners gyronny, overall an escutcheon Argent (Mortimer), 2nd and 3rd Or, a cross Gules (de Burgh)[13]	Son of: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March and Philippa of Clarence, Countess of Ulster.
	Alianore Holland, Countess of March	1370–1405	Gules, three lions passant guardant Or, within a bordure Argent (Kent)[13]	Daughter of: Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent and Alice Holland. Married to: Roger Mortimer, Earl of March; 1388–1398.
	Anne Mortimer, Countess of Cambridge	1390–1411	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with three torteaux Gules, within a bordure Argent charged with lions rampant purpure, impaling, Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Barry of six, Or and Azure, on a chief two pales, the corners gyronny, overall an escutcheon Argent (Mortimer), 2nd and 3rd Or, a cross Gules (de Burgh)[13]	Daughter of: Roger Mortimer, Earl of March and Alianore Holland, Countess of March. Married to: Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge; 1408–1411.

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Edmund of Langley, Duke of York	1341–1402	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France ancien, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with three torteaux Gules[14]	Son of: King Edward III and Queen Philippa. See: House of York
	Isabella of Castille	1355–1392	Quarterly, Castille and Leon (Kingdom of Castille)[14]	Daughter of: King Peter of Castile and María de Padilla. Married to: Edmund of Langley, Duke of York; 1372–1392.
	Joan Holland	1380–1434	Gules, three lions passant guardant Or, within a bordure Argent (Kent)[14]	Daughter of: Thomas Holland, Earl of Kent and Alice Holland. Married to: Edmund of Langley, Duke of York; 1393–1402.

Descendants of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York[edit]

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Edward of Norwich, Duke of York	1373-1415	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France ancien, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Gules each charged with three castles Or[15] Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France ancien, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with three torteaux Gules[15]	Son of: Edmund of Langley, Duke of York and Isabella of Castille.
	Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge	1385-1415	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with three torteaux Gules, within a bordure Argent charged with lions rampant purpure[16]	Son of: Edmund of Langley, Duke of York and Isabella of Castille. Executed in 1415 at the orders of King Henry V, for Treason.
	Anne Mortimer, Countess of Cambridge	1390-1411	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with three torteaux Gules, within a bordure Argent charged with lions rampant purpure, impaling, Quarterly, 1st and 4th, Barry of six, Or and Azure, on a chief two pales, the corners gyronny, overall an escutcheon Argent (Mortimer), 2nd and 3rd Or, a cross Gules (de Burgh)[13]	Daughter of: Roger Mortimer, Earl of March and Alianore Holland, Countess of March. Married to: Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge; 1408-1411. Heiress of the House of Clarence.
	Richard of York, Duke of York	1411-1460	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, quarterly, France moderne, and England, overall a label of three points each charged with three torteaux Gules, 2nd, quarterly, Castile and Leon, 3rd, quarterly, Mortimer and de Burgh, and overall and inescutcheon Gules, three passant guardant Or, a bordure Argent[17] Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with three torteaux Gules[17]	Son of: Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge, Duke of York and Anne Mortimer. Originator of the claim of the House of York to the throne, by combining the claims of Clarence (from his mother) and York (from his father).

Descendants of Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York[edit]

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Richard of York, Duke of York	1411-1460	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France modern, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with three torteaux Gules[17]	Son of: Richard of Conisburgh, Earl of Cambridge, Duke of York and Anne Mortimer. Originator of the claim of the House of York to the throne. Defeated and killed at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460.
	Cecily Neville, Duchess of York	1415-1495	Gules a saltire Argent (Neville)[17]	Daughter of: Ralph de Neville, Earl of Westmorland and Joan Beaufort(daughter of John of Gaunt). Married to: Richard of York, Duke of York; 1429-1460.

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Edward, Earl of March (later King Edward IV)	1442-1483	Quarterly, 1st, quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, 2nd and 3rd Or, a cross Gules (de Burgh), 4th Barry of six, Or and Azure, on a chief two pales, the corners gyronny, overall an escutcheon Argent (Mortimer)[18]	Son of: Richard of York, Duke of York and Cecily Neville.
	Edmund, Earl of Rutland	1443-1460	Quarterly, 1st, quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of five points Argent the two dexter points charged with lions rampant purpure and three sinister points each with three torteaux, 2nd and 3rd de Burgh, 4th Mortimer[19]	Son of: Richard of York, Duke of York and Cecily Neville. Killed after the Battle of Wakefield.
	George, Duke of Clarence	1449-1478	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with a canton Gules[20]	Son of: Richard of York, Duke of York and Cecily Neville.
	Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard III)	1452-1485	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points ermine each charged with a canton Gules (same as Thomas of Lancaster)[21]	Son of: Richard of York, Duke of York and Cecily Neville.

Descendants of Edward IV of England[edit]

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	King Edward IV	1442-1483	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England[22]	Son of: Richard of York, Duke of York and Cecily Neville. Declared king in 1461, usurping the crown from the weak King Henry VI. First king of the House of York.
	Elizabeth Woodville	1437-1492	Quarterly of six, 1st, Agent, a lion rampant double queued gules, crowned Or (Luxembourg), 2nd, quarterly 1st and 4th, Gules, a star of eight points Argent, 2nd and 3rd, Azure semée of fleurs de lys Or (de Baux d' Andrée), 3rd, Barry Argent and Azure, overall a lion rampant Gules (Lusignan of Cyprus), 4th, Gules, three bendlets Argent, on a chief of the first, charged with a fillet in base Or, a rose of the second (Ursins), 5th, Gules, three pallets vairy, on a chief Or a label five points Azure (St. Pol), 6th, Argent, a fess and a canton conjoined Gules (Woodville)[23]	Daughter of: Richard Woodville, Earl Rivers and Jacquetta of Luxembourg. Married to: Sir John Grey; 1452-1461. Married to: King Edward IV; 1464-1483.

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Elizabeth of York	1466-1503	Quarterly, 1st, quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, 2nd and 3rd de Burgh, 4th Mortimer[24]	Daughter of: King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. Married to: King Henry VII; 1486-1503.
	Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward V)	1470-1483?	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent[25]	Son of: King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. One of the two: Princes in the Tower.
	Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York	1473-1483?	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent on the first point a canton Gules[26]	Son of: King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville. One of the two: Princes in the Tower.
	Arthur Plantagenet, Viscount Lisle	?-1542	Quarterly, 1st, quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, 2nd and 3rd de Burgh, 4th Mortimer, overall a baston sinister Azure[27]	Illegitimate son of: King Edward IV. Imprisoned in 1540 at the orders of King Henry VIII for treason. Died two days after receiving the news he was to be released.

Descendants of George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence[edit]

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	George, Duke of Clarence	1449-1478	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent each point charged with a canton Gules[20]	Son of: Richard of York, Duke of York and Cecily Neville. Executed in 1478 at the orders of King Edward IV (his own brother), for having designs on the throne.
	Isabel Neville, Duchess of Clarence	1451-1476	Gules a saltire Argent, a label of three points gobony, Argent and Azure (Neville)[20]	Daughter of: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and Anne de Beauchamp. Married to: George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence; 1469-1476.

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury	1473-1541	Quarterly, 1st, Quarterly, France modern and England, a label of three points Argent each charged with a canton Gules (Clarence), 2nd, Gules a saltire Argent, a label of three points gobony Argent and Azure (Neville), impaling Gules, a fess between six crosses crosslet Or (Beauchamp), 3rd, Chequy Or and Azure, a chevron ermine (Newburgh), impaling Argent, three lozenges conjoined in fess Gules (Montacute), 4th, Or, an eagle displayed Vert (Monthermer), impaling Quarterly 1st and 4th, Or, three chevrons Gules (Clare), 2nd and 3rd, Quarterly, Argent and Gules, a fret Or, overall a bendlett Sable (Despencer)[20]	Daughter of: George, Duke of Clarence and Isabel Neville. Married to: Sir Richard Pole; 1487-1505?. Matriarch of the Pole family; mother of Cardinal Reginald Pole, later Archbishop of Canterbury. Executed in 1541 at the orders of King Henry VIII for treason. Later beatified by the Catholic Church as Blessed.
	Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick	1475-1499	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points gobony, Argent and Azure (Neville)[28]	Son of: George, Duke of Clarence and Isabel Neville. Nominated heir of King Richard III in 1484. Executed in 1499 at the orders of King Henry VII for treason. Last legitimate male-line member of the House of Plantagenet.

Descendants of Richard III of England[edit]

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	King Richard III	1452-1485	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England[21]	Son of: Richard of York, Duke of York and Cecily Neville. Defeated and killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, fighting against Henry Tudor, later King Henry VII. Last legitimate male-line Plantagenet king.
	Anne Neville	1456-1485	Quarterly of seven, 1st, Gules, a fess between six crosses crosslet Or (Beauchamp), 2nd, Chequy Or and Azure, a chevron ermine (Newburgh), 3rd, Argent, three lozenges conjoined in fess Gules (Montacute), 4th, Or, an eagle displayed Vert (Monthermer), 5th, Gules a saltire Argent, a label of three points gobony Argent and Azure (Neville), 6th, Or, three chevrons Gules (Clare), 7th, Quarterly, Argent and Gules, a fret Or, overall a bendlett Sable (Despencer)[29] Gules, a saltire Argent[21]	Daughter of: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and Anne de Beauchamp. Married to: Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales; 1470-1471. Married to: King Richard III; 1472-1485. Anne sometimes bore her father, Warwick the Kingmaker's, full achievement, however at other times she also bore the arms of Neville without difference.

Arms	Name	Life	Blazon	Notes
	Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales	1473-1484	Quarterly, 1st and 4th, France moderne, 2nd and 3rd England, with a label of three points Argent[30]	Son of: King Richard III and Anne Neville, Died at age 10 in 1484, Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick nominated heir in his place.

York badges[edit]

The most popular symbol of the house of York was the White Rose of York. The Yorkist rose is white in colour, because in Christian liturgical symbolism, white is the symbol of light, typifying innocence and purity, joy and glory.^[31] During the civil wars of the fifteenth century, the White Rose was the symbol of Yorkist forces opposed to the rival House of Lancaster. The red rose of Lancaster would be a later invention used to represent the House of Lancaster, but was not in use during the actual conflict.^[32] The opposition of the two roses gave the wars their name: the Wars of the Roses (coined in the 19th century).

• 

  White Rose Badge of York.

• 

  Sun of York.

• 

  Rose en Soleil Badge of York.

• 

  White Lion of Mortimer Badge of Edward IV.

• 

  Falcon and Fetterlock Badge of Edward IV.

• 

  Black Bull of Clarence Badge of Edward IV.

• 

  White Boar Badge of Richard III (Loyaulte Me Lie).

See also[edit]

• House of Lancaster - The rival House
• Quia Emptores
• Yorkshire

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

• Neubecker, Ottfried; Harmingues, Roger (1982) [1976], Le Grand livre de l'héraldique, Paris: Bordas, p. 288, ISBN 978-2-04-012582-0
• Louda, Jiri; Maclagan, Michael (12 December 1988), "Netherlands and Luxembourg, Table 33", Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe (1st (U.S.) ed.), Clarkson N. Potter, Inc.
• Pinches, John Harvey; Pinches, Rosemary (1974), The Royal Heraldry of England, Heraldry Today, Slough, Buckinghamshire: Hollen Street Press, ISBN 978-0-900455-25-4

External links[edit]

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• The White Rose of York on the 'History of York' website.
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