Henry VI Deposed: Wars of the Roses Puts York on the Throne
Edward was already wearing the crown when he fought his first battle as king. The 18-year-old didn't wait for a coronation ceremony after deposing his cousin Henry VI in March 1461—he just declared himself King Edward IV and marched north with his army. Twenty-nine days later at Towton, he'd fight the bloodiest battle ever on English soil: 28,000 dead in a single afternoon, bodies stacked so high in the river that men crossed on corpses. Henry fled to Scotland wearing a disguise. But here's the thing—Edward's hurry wasn't confidence. He knew that in the Wars of the Roses, the crown didn't belong to whoever inherited it. It belonged to whoever could hold it.
March 4, 1461
565 years ago
Key Figures & Places
British monarchy
Wikipedia
Edward IV of England
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Wars of the Roses
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Kingdom of England
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House of Lancaster
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Henry VI of England
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House of York
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Wars of the Roses
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House of Lancaster
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Henry VI of England
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House of York
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Edward IV
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