Henry VI Deposed: Wars of the Roses Puts York on the Throne
Edward was already wearing the crown when he fought his first battle as king. The 18-year-old didn't wait for a coronation ceremony after deposing his cousin Henry VI in March 1461—he just declared himself King Edward IV and marched north with his army. Twenty-nine days later at Towton, he'd fight the bloodiest battle ever on English soil: 28,000 dead in a single afternoon, bodies stacked so high in the river that men crossed on corpses. Henry fled to Scotland wearing a disguise. But here's the thing—Edward's hurry wasn't confidence. He knew that in the Wars of the Roses, the crown didn't belong to whoever inherited it. It belonged to whoever could hold it.
March 4, 1461
565 years ago
Key Figures & Places
British monarchy
Wikipedia
Edward IV of England
Wikipedia
Wars of the Roses
Wikipedia
Kingdom of England
Wikipedia
House of Lancaster
Wikipedia
Henry VI of England
Wikipedia
House of York
Wikipedia
Edward IV
Wikipedia
House of Lancaster
Wikipedia
House of York
Wikipedia
Wars of the Roses
Wikipedia
Henry VI of England
Wikipedia
What Else Happened on March 4
Roman soldiers executed Adrian of Nicomedia after he converted to Christianity upon witnessing the steadfast faith of prisoners he was tasked to guard. His deat…
Claudius officially designated his stepson Nero as princeps iuventutis, signaling his status as the empire's heir apparent. This title fast-tracked the teenager…
Roman soldiers executed Adrian of Nicomedia for refusing to sacrifice to pagan gods during the Great Persecution under Emperor Diocletian. His public defiance a…
San Adriano de Nicomedia se convierte en mártir.
The Roman executioner couldn't do it. Adrian of Nicomedia, imperial officer in charge of torturing Christians, watched prisoners refuse to renounce their faith …
He'd just been regent for his grandson — but Yang Jian couldn't resist. The former Northern Zhou general forced the seven-year-old emperor to abdicate and crown…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.