Writing after Edward's death, none other than Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) described Edward as "princely to behold," "politic in counsel," and "joyful rather than proud." Edward's contemporary described him as "licentious to the extreme." He pointed out that Edward womanized indiscriminately, joining with noble and lowly, married and unmarried.
Sir Thomas More
King Edward IV, Edward, Duke of March (1442-1483), born 28 April 1442, was the eldest surviving son of Richard, Duke of York (1411-1460), and Cecily Neville (1415-1495). Edward was an impressive young man, tall, fair-haired, and handsome. The city of London received Edward well; he was a favorite of the ladies. Edward's promiscuity didn't matter; he did not have to force himself on the women. The image of Edward passed down through the ages is one of a young man attractive and appealing, confident in his self-image, and more than willing to attend to his impressive libido. Edward ruled England from 1461 through 1470 and from 1471 until his death in 1483. Edward's status as King of the Realm at nineteen years of age, most certainly, added to his considerable appeal.
Edward, the Earl of March, was the second child and first-born son of Duke of York and Cecily Neville.
Edward's six siblings in birth order were:
1. Anne, Duchess of Exeter (1439-1476),
2. Edmund, Earl of Rutland (1443-1460),
3. Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy (1446-1503),
4. William (1447-1448)
5. George, Duke of Clarence (1449-1478), and
6. Richard, Duke of Gloucester (1452-1485), future Richard III.
Edward, both as the Earl of March and Edward IV, had a substantial number of, but not fully documented, liaisons. He had three acknowledged illegitimate children:
1. Elizabeth Plantagenet (c.1461-??),
2. Arthur Plantagenet (1460s/1470s-1542), and
3. Grace Plantagenet (?-?).
As King Edward IV, Edward had ten children by his wife, Elizabeth Woodville, as follows:
1. Elizabeth of York (1466-1503), Queen Consort to Henry VII,
2. Mary of York (1467-1482),
3. Cecily of York (1469-1507),
4. Edward V (1470-1483), one of the Princes in the Tower,
5. Margaret of York (1472-1472),
6. Richard, Duke of York (1473-1483), the other Prince in the Tower,
7. Anne of York (1475-1511),
8. George Plantagenet (1477-1479),
9. Catherine of York (1479-1527), and
10. Bridget of York (1480-1517), Nun.
Edward's known mistresses were:
1. Lady Eleanor Talbot,
2. Elizabeth Lucy, and
3. Jane Shore, Edward's most infamous mistress.
Again, according to Sir Thomas More (1478-1435):
Edward, in his later years, was given to an "over liberal diet," and "somewhat corpulent and burly," but "not uncomely." Others described Edward as "lazy," ruthless, and able to act quickly when necessary. Edward maintained his relationship with Jane Shore until the end.
A Fateful Decision
Edward IV died suddenly on 9 April 1483, but not before assuring that his twelve-year-old son, Edward, Prince of Wales, would succeed him to the throne, and designating his youngest brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as Edward's V's Lord Protector. One source stated that Edward IV probably died of pneumonia after catching a cold on a fishing trip on the Thames. Others have speculated that it could have been malaria. Several sources suggested that Edward's use of emetic drugs that allowed him to gorge himself at table, vomit, and then start all over again was the source of his declining health and, ultimately, death. The warrior, turned statesman and businessman later in life, appears to have given himself over to the opulence of success. Meanwhile, Edward never gave up his philandering ways.
Just before death, he made the fatal decision to assign his younger brother, Richard, the role of Edward V's Lord Protector.
Next up: The King who never had a chance.
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