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How Did Edward Vii Cause A Political Crisis

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How Did Edward Vii Cause A Political Crisis
Explain why the death of Edward IV caused a political crisis in England 1483.
Edward IV, king of England, died suddenly and prematurely without an obvious cause in April 1483 aged only 40 years. Edward IV had been a strong king after 1471, and very much able to control the rival factions between the Yorks & the Lancaster’s, but his death opened up a Yorkist family feud. After the sudden kings death the throne should have passed smoothly to his son of Elizabeth Woodville; Edward V, who was aged twelve at the time. Edward V could rule with the help of a selected protector and council but things never work out to be simple. Edward IV’s death caused a political crisis in England for a number of reasons.
One of the first reasons was that both …show more content…
Richard feared that once Edward was crowned, the Woodville’s would dominate power. Richard (Duke of Gloucester) decided to seize his nephew Edward V. He also arrested Elizabeth's brother, Anthony, Earl of Rivers, and Sir Richard Grey, her son by her first marriage who were both were executed in June 1483, whiping the Woodville family of their power as quickly as he possibly could. Slowly the Woodville family was loosing their newfound power more and more, which had started to raise suspicions. Elizabeth decided enough was enough and took sanctuary with Richard, Duke of York (Edward IV's youngest son) in Westminster Abbey, but he was soon extracted by Richard Duke of Gloucester and joined his brother to remain hidden in the Tower. With the boys now hidden away and Richard Duke of Gloucester claiming that he was the legitimate heir to the throne, he was made Richard III the new King of England on 6th July 1483. He finally had his way and the power he believed that he rightfully deserved. Although, the two princes in the Tower were never seen publicly again. Two skeletons discovered in the Tower in 1674, and examined in 1933, are thought to have possibly been those of Edward V and Richard, but it is not certain. However, the most probable explanation of their disappearance is that Richard III ordered them to be
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