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GEORGE DUKE OF CLARENCE

GEORGE PLANTAGENET, DUKE OF CLARENCE

1449-1478

Brother of King Edward IV and Richard III, War of the Roses, was drowned in wine

George of Clarence was the son of Richard of York and Cecily Neville and was a claimant to the English throne. His brother Edward IV reigned from 1460-1483, and George was heir to the throne.

During Edward IV’s reign, George was jealous, impatient, and power-hungry. The Earl of Warwick ‘Warwick the Kingmaker’ influenced George in 1468 to rebel against Edward IV and told him he wanted him on the throne instead. George was married to Warwick’s daughter Isabel. However, Warwick actually wanted to replace Edward IV with the previous king, Henry VI. Henry VI’s son Edward the ‘Prince of Wales’ was married to Warwick’s daughter, Anne.

Warwick’s plan was successful, but not for long. In, 1471, Edward IV went into battle to gain his throne back, knowing he was losing the battle, George quickly deflected back to his brother’s side after he fell out with Warwick. During the battle, Prince Edward died and Warwick was defeated and killed, Henry VI was murdered in mysterious circumstances.

George had been in a continual rivalry with his younger brother Richard and tensions arose when Edward IV awarded Richard for remaining loyal to him. Richard wanted to marry Anne Neville, Warwick’s daughter who was incredibly wealthy. George attempted to prevent this by hiding her in his kitchen and dressing her up as a kitchen maid. Richard discovered her and married her.

In 1476, George’s wife Isabel died after giving birth to their son and George unfairly accused one of her servants of poisoning her. After a trial; the servant was found guilty and hanged after George had compelled the hasty judgment.

George continued to scheme against his brother and spread rumors that Edward IV was a bastard and had no claim to the throne. George who was behaving irrationally was arrested, imprisoned in the Tower of London, and charged with high treason.

George denied the charges; however he was executed on 18 February 1478 by drowning in a barrel of wine; at his own request, as he loved to drink.

Edward IV died of an illness in 1483, and the throne went to his heir and son Edward V, Richard III snatched the throne from him and Edward V and his younger brother disappeared (most likely murdered). Richard III lost his throne during battle and King Henry VII became the first Tudor monarch.

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