Born in France where his father, the Duke of York, was Lieutenant and Captain-General of Aquitaine as well as Ambassador, he was, however, brought up at Ludlow Castle. Edward grew to be unusually tall, blond and skilled in the martial arts. He was also a favourite companion for the ladies. Edward and his
younger brother, Edmund, joined their father's pursuit for the English crown. However, Edmund and their father fell at the battle of Wakefield in December 1460.

The family fortunes changed and Edward became king on 4 March 1461, to be crowned in Westminster Abbey the day after. For a short while all went well until, three years later, he offended many when his secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was revealed. This marriage alienated him from his main supporter, the Earl of Warwick, who had been seeking a proper princess as Queen instead of this widow who was also five years older than the king. Elizabeth Woodville became the mother of Edward IV's ten children; but as he continued pursuing women, he also fathered two illegitimate
children.

The Earl of Warwick changed to the Lancastrian side, raised troops in France and, in 1470, forced Edward IV to flee the country while his wife and children went into sanctuary at Westminster. King Henry VI was restored but, in April 1471, Edward IV regained his power in England. Warwick and Henry VI's son were both killed in battle and, with Henry VI's murder, the Lancastrian house was ended. Edward IV then imprisoned his younger brother George, Duke of Clarence, who had both been married to Warwick's daughter and sided with Warwick in the Lancastrian cause. While imprisoned in the Tower, he may have been killed by drowning in a butt of malmsey wine. The only brother left was Richard, Duke of Gloucester. He was popular, pleasure-seeking but also ruthless. Had he lived longer, he may have been a more important king. However, he died possibly of pneumonia, not yet forty-one-years of age.

Source: Leo van de Pas