Edward IV of England

Was Edward illegitimate?

Until recently, evidence of Edward's illegitimacy was lacking. Despite some concerns raised by some scholars, it was generally accepted that the issue was raised as propaganda to support Richard III.

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In his time, it was noted that Edward IV looked nothing like his father. Questions about his paternity were raised during Edward's own reign, for example by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick in 1469, and repeated by George, Duke of Clarence shortly before his death in 1478, but with no evidence. It was suggested that the real father may have been an archer called Blaybourne.

Related Topics:
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick - 1469 - George, Duke of Clarence - 1478 - Archer

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Prior to his succession, on June 22, 1483, Richard III declared that Edward was illegitimate, and three days later the matter was addressed by parliament. In Titulus Regius (the text of which is believed to come word-for-word from the petition presented by Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham to the assembly which met on June 25, 1483, to decide on the future of the monarchy). It describes Richard III as "the undoubted son and heir" of Richard, Duke of York and "born in this land" -- an oblique reference to his brother's birth at Rouen and baptism in circumstances which could have been considered questionable. Dominic Mancini says that Cecily Neville, mother of both Edward IV and Richard III, was herself the basis for the story: When she found out about Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, in 1464, "Proud Cis" flew into a rage. One of the things she is reported to have then said was that she was of a good mind to declare he was illegitimate and so have him kicked off the throne for his foolishness.

Related Topics:
June 22 - 1483 - Richard III - Titulus Regius - Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham - June 25 - Richard, Duke of York - Rouen - Dominic Mancini - Cecily Neville - Elizabeth Woodville - 1464

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As historical novelist Sharon Kay Penman believes, paid propagandists for Henry Tudor, after he became Henry VII (and King Richard was dead), concocted out of whole cloth the story that Richard III had said his brother Edward was illegitimate: "Tudor's official historian, Polydore Vergil, . . . contend that Richard based his claim to the crown upon his brother Edward's illegitimacy. This was, of course, an out-and-out lie." Richard III's claim to the throne is generally believed to be based on his claim that Edward IV's children were illegitimate.

Related Topics:
Sharon Kay Penman - Polydore Vergil

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The matter is also raised in William Shakespeare's Richard III, in the following lines from Act 3 Scene 5:

Related Topics:
William Shakespeare - Richard III

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:Tell them, when that my mother went with child

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:Of that unsatiate Edward, noble York

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:My princely father then had wars in France

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:And, by just computation of the time,

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:Found that the issue was not his begot

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