What Killed Edward IV?

 In 1483, Edward IV died. Various suggestions were given by medieval chroniclers as to what killed the king. One suggestion was that Edward, just 40, died of grief from unwelcome news that had been brought to him from the continent. To hide his sorrow, Edward had, in the months leading up to his death, put on numerous performances for his court to enjoy and presumably feasting. Given that Edward was very overweight by this point in his life, rumours that suggest he had had a stroke seem very plausible. Another possible reason was that Edward had fallen ill after a day of fishing and had never recovered. And one other possibility is syphilis. Edward liked women to say the least and it’s possible his sexual activities caught up with him. One way or another, Edward’s excessive lifestyle certainly took its toll on him and his premature death would have dramatic consequences.

Before he died, Edward, conventionally, made his peace with God before outlining his wishes for the succession. Edward died at Westminster on 9th April 1483. From there, his body was taken to Windsor Castle in a solemn procession where he was interred in St George’s Chapel. His controversial wife, Elizabeth Woodville, would join him here on her own death. So ended the life of Edward IV. A king who’d proved himself brilliantly capable militarily but was deeply flawed as king. As his first reign (1461-1470) had worn on, Edward found himself increasingly unpopular and this showed itself in the rebellions of Robin of Redesdale and Robin of Holderness. Shortly after those uprisings, Edward had been displaced as king by the unlikely union of Richard Neville and Margaret of Anjou, the queen of Henry VI.

Edward had pushed Neville into an alliance with his enemy Margaret after his secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville whilst Neville had been in France, negotiating for a more high profile marriage for the king. When Neville found out that Edward had married a commoner, he was irate and turned to Margaret. Ultimately Edward survived this fiasco and reclaimed the crown in early 1471. But he would fail to leave a meaningful legacy. More interested in wine, food and women then in long term stability for England. Had Edward’s premature death been avoided, which surely it could have been had Edward shown more restraint with his diet, then the tragic outcome that awaited Edward’s two sons, “The Princes In The Tower” may never have happened and we may have seen what type of king Edward V would have been.