Genealogical table of the descendants of Edward III.
EDWARD III.==Philippa. | ______________________________|_______________________________ | | | | EDWARD LIONEL JOHN EDMUND (The Black (Duke of (of Gaunt, Duke of (Duke of Prince). Clarence). of Lancaster). York). | | | | | | | | RICHARD II. PHILIPPA==Edward Mortimer. HENRY RICHARD==Anne. | | (_See second Column._) | | | ROGER MORTIMER HENRY V RICHARD PLANTAGENET (Earl of Marche). | (Duke of York). | HENRY VI. | | | | ANNE==Richard of York. | | (_See fourth column._) EDWARD _________|__________ (Prince of | | | Wales). EDWARD IV. GEORGE RICHARD III. (Duke of Clarence).
The character == denotes marriage; the short perpendicular line | a descent. There were many other children and descendants in the different branches of the family besides those whose names are inserted in the table. The table includes only those essential to an understanding of the history.
These wars were called the wars of the roses from the circumstance that the white and the red rose happened in some way to be chosen as the badges of the two parties--the white rose being that of the house of York, and the red that of the house of Lancaster.
The reader will observe that the dukes of Lancaster and York are the third and fourth of the brothers enumerated in the table, whereas it might have been supposed that any contest which should have arisen in respect to the crown would have taken place between families of the first and second. But the first and second sons and their descendants were soon set aside, as it were, from the competition, in the following manner.
[Sidenote: Ambition of Richard's uncles.]
The line of the first brother soon became extinct. Edward himself, the Prince of Wales, died during his father's lifetime, leaving his son Richard as his heir. Then, when the old king died, Richard succeeded him. As he was the oldest living son of the oldest son, his claim could not be disputed, and so his uncles acquiesced in it. They wished very much, it is true, to govern the realm, but they contented themselves with ruling in Richard's name until he became of age, and then Richard took the government into his own hands. The country was tolerably well satisfied under his dominion for some years, but at length Richard became dissipated and vicious, and he domineered over the people of England in so haughty a manner, and oppressed them so severely by the taxes and other exactions which he laid upon them, that a very general discontent prevailed at last against him and against his government. This discontent would have given either of his uncles a great advantage in any design which they might have formed to take away the crown from him. As it was, it greatly increased their power and influence in the land, and diminished, in a corresponding degree, that of the king. The uncles appear to have been contented with this share of power and influence, which seemed naturally to fall into their hands, and did not attempt any open rebellion.