King George I of England: 1483

King Edward IV reigned 1461 to 1470 and 1471 to 1483.
Suppose Edward and his wife, Queen Elizabeth Woodville have no children.
Edward dies in 1483. Suppose his brother George, Duke of Clarence, does not die in 1478.
George lives numerous years past 1478.
Thus in 1483 the Duke of Clarence becomes King George I. What happens then?
 
Suddenly I'm considering a 15th century version of a brain transplant, and it's not pretty:eek:

Whether George was just a shallower personality than EIV or RIII, IDK, but I'm thinking that if his actions OTL are anything to go by, then he's more likely to be a puppet-king - controlled by whomever is the real eminence grise. However, until I've read up on George personally, I would point out that this is merely my opinion. Speaking of: can anyone know of/recommend a decent biography of George?
 
However, until I've read up on George personally, I would point out that this is merely my opinion. Speaking of: can anyone know of/recommend a decent biography of George?

Yeah, he's very much the forgotten brother (unless you count poor Rutland).
 
The reason, George, Duke of Clarence died in 1478, was because although a member of the House of York, he switched sides to support the Lancastrians, before reverting to the Yorkists. He was later convicted of treason against his brother, Edward IV, and was executed (allegedly by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine).

In 1470, there was a plot to put George, on the thrown by his cousin Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick ("The Kingmaker") have this a successful plot. You would see Edward and Richard, executed.

King George I, would be the first king of England to be born in Ireland.
 
Assuming OTL Richard III doesn't try for a coup (which he probably would, if only because...Clarence), the Tudor/Lancastrian exiles just got a big boost.

Clarence may invite some of them back/pardon them in order to try and build a power base (he was intriguing with them on and off OTL; Oxford's doomed invasion was probably intended to coordinate with Clarence, after all). Alternatively, they get a fairly massive boost from ex-Yorkist opponents of Clarence fleeing into exile (much like they did after Richard III deposed Edward V OTL).
 
In 1483 the Duke of Clarence begins to reign as King George I.
On July 11, 1469, Clarence married Isabel Neville. Isabel (1451-1476) lives numerous years past 1476.
The children of George I and Isabel:
Edward born 1471
Margaret born 1473
Richard born 1475
Cecily born 1477
 
A few points if Elizabeth Woodville is childless (and that is a real push to imagine given her and her mother's considerable fertility) then Edward will face incredible pressure in the 1470s to have the marriage annulled and it wouldn't have been that difficult to obtain.
George's issues in part relate to how easily manipulated by Warwick he had been in the late 1460s (and Warwick's grievances with Edward were minor) and his position up till Elizabeth gave birth to Edward's first son as an obvious claimant and heir (as few would have accepted the couple's daughter's as heirs).
 
Perhaps you could have Elizabeth Woodville give birth to 5 girls (spread out those births over Edward's reign) and then become sterile. OR Edward and Elizabeth have 4 girls and 1 sickly boy who doesn't make it to his majority like Ferdinand and Isabella. Those options are more in line with what we know about Elizabeth Woodville's fertility.

Perhaps EIV cuts a deal to make Clarence King on his death in exchange for a marriage between Clarence's oldest son and Elizabeth of York. England avoids civil war over a female heir and EoY get to be a Queen Consort.
 
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