The Four Suns in Splendour: A Wars of the Roses Collaborative Timeline

[RedKing]

December 30th 1460: The Battle of Wakefield has just ended. It has been a disaster for the Yorkists, with their leader, Richard of York falling alongside his close ally the Earl of Salisbury. York’s son, Edmund flees from the Battle, with a vengeful Baron, John Clifford in pursuit. For a moment, it seems as though the Baron has caught the Prince, but Edmund makes it to a nearby Monastery where he is granted sanctuary. Clifford, left with no other choice, returns to the Lancastrian army.

---

Rules

1. Please try not to contradict previous posts.
2. You can, at most only write up to a year worth’s of events, i.e. if you start writing in March 1461, you can only write up to March 1462 at most.
3. Write about what you know/like. Don’t know much about England at this time, but still want to contribute? Write about Spain or hell write about the orient or native Americans, they get neglected a lot in these threads.
4. You can go back in time to write about something that wasn’t covered, but it must not contradict previous posts. Furthermore, you can only jump back at most, 10 years. For example, if everyone is writing about 1485 you can’t jump back to 1473.
5. You can do random/unexpected deaths/events, but please keep them realistic, provide an explanation and use them sparingly. E.g. don’t have X King die suddenly with no explanation, followed up by having the Pope openly convert to paganism. You can have, however, a King die suddenly of x illness and have rumours about the Pope being a non-believer/a follower of an obscure Christian sect in private.
6. No ASB.
7. No wanking or screwing, though you can have a nation get super powerful or super weak over a long period of time with decent explanations.
8. Feel free to correct people on historical facts or give input on updates, it’ll improve the over all quality of the timeline.
9. Lastly, have fun! Feel free to make something that isn’t likely, but not asb happen (i.e. René of Anjou getting the crown of Aragon or the reformation ending with the reunification of the churches).

 

[ordinarylittleme]

January 1, 1461: Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Henry VI dies at the age of seven. This means that the Yorkist claimant, Edward of York, is now heir presumptive. Terrified of what could happen to the Lancasters if York inherits, Margaret of Anjou tries desperately to fall pregnant again.

 

[RedKing]

January 5th 1461: With the aid of sympathisers, Edmund, Earl of Rutland escapes down into London. The Earl of Warwick and his supporters hold a feast in his honour.

January 12th 1461: In a bid to stabilise the Lancastrian cause John Fortescue publishes an article claiming that under the terms of Richard II’s Act of Legitimising the Beauforts, that heirs of John Beaufort precede Edmund of York’s line and hence are the heirs to Henry VI. Fortescue however, fails to declare whether Lady Margaret Beaufort or Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset is the heir. It is considered nothing more than an attempt by Margaret of Anjou to stabilise the Lancastrian cause and is widely criticised.

January 15th 1461: The Lancastrians prepare to March South to free Henry VI. Meanwhile, the Lancastrians in Wales begin hit and run attacks against the Yorkists.

 

[EdwardRex]

February 1, 1461: The Lancastrian cause is struck a blow when King Henry VI dies of a sudden bought of dysentery. Margaret of Anjou is heartbroken and announces she is pregnant, though it is obvious she isn’t (she bleeds not two days after her husband dies). If Edward of York manages to take the throne, he hopes to marry Madeline of Valois.

 

[RedKing]

February 2nd 1461: Edward, Duke of York engages a Lancastrian army led by Jasper, Earl of Pembroke and Owen Tudor. Hoping to stop the Lancastrian forces from joining up, he fights fiercely, yet he and his forces are defeated. Worse still, Edward is separated from his army and wanders into Wales with a handful of men.

February 8th 1461: Just as the Lancastrian army reaches Leicester, defections amass as word of Henry VI’s death spreads throughout it, despite Margaret’s attempts to suppress the rumours. Despite this, the army is relieved when the Welsh forces arrive.

 

[eliamartin65]

14th March 1461: Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy and Holy Roman Emperor Friedrich III agree to a betrothal between Charles's niece Emma of Burgundy and the Emperor's only son, Archduke Maximilian.

 

[RedKing]

16th of March 1461: With the death of Henry VI and Edward of Westminster, Louis XI comes to see the Lancastrian cause as dead in the water and sends an ambassador to London to negotiate an alliance with Edward, whom he refers to as Edward IV.

19th of March 1461: A three way split forms in the Lancastrians. The split is over who should become King. The three factions are the Henryites, Hollanders and Margaretines. The Henryites support Henry Beaufort as King, while the Hollanders back Henry Holland. Lastly, the Margaretines believe that Lady Margaret Beaufort or her son, Henry Tudor should become the new monarch. These divisions cause tensions to arise. However, Margaret manages to keep them together under the goal of reclaiming the government of England. They soon begin preparing to March on London.

At the same time rumours arise across England and Europe, that Edward, Duke of York had Henry VI killed via poison on his orders. Lancastrian sympathisers use this to claim that he is thus ineligible for the throne and conveniently ignore Edmund and his brothers in order to claim that one of the three Lancastrian claimants should be King.

 

[EdwardRex]

April 1, 1461: Edmund and his forces are surprisingly joined by Edward “IV”’s forces. A few miles outside of London a very dramatic battle will occur that will shape English history. The “Hollanders” are completely crused and Henry Holland is killed in battle. His wife and newborn daughter are Yorkists anyways, and Edward promises his sister she will make a better match in the future.

April 3, 1461: Edward IV of is proclaimed King of England. Seeing the rapid Yorkist success, many former Lancastrians flock to the Yorkist side. Edward IV is betrothed to Magdalena of Valois (her husband died in January), while his sister Anne is betrothed to the Count of Charolais, Charles, whose wife just died giving birth to a stillborn son.

May 7, 1461: Margaret Beaufort and her son Henry Tudor is captured by the Yorkists. The King offers a generous Margaret a generous truce. She will be given the title Countess of Richmond, which her son can inherit, and security as the bride of Edmund of York. She can raise her son until he can live at court. Margaret, only seventeen, accepts the offer and abdicates her right to the throne for her and her son. Edmund and Margaret are married at the beginning of June, and the two are very happy with each other. Princess Magdalena is set to arrive at the end of August, but Edward must first crush Henry Beaufort, which seems likely due to dwindling support. Realizing this, Henry runs off to Scotland.

 

[ordinarylittleme]

June 1461: Henry Beaufort finds quite a lot of Scottish supporters, much to his delight. He writes to rulers of France, Spain and Burgundy in an attempt to garner more support. Meanwhile Richard of York, son of Cecily Neville, dies of heatstroke.

 

[RedKing]

1st of July 1461: In an elaborate ceremony, Edward of York is crowned King Edward IV by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In attendance are his siblings, Edmund and George, the Earl of Warwick and several of his supporters. Interestingly, Margaret of Anjou is also present, having lost fate in the Lancastrian cause. She has apologised to Edward for her ‘grievous mistakes’ and has accepted him as King of England. In return, Edward has granted her the dower lands she is entitled to as Dowager Queen and allowed her to return home to Anjou and remarry if she so wishes.

3rd of July 1461: Jasper and Owen Tudor, who are currently in hiding in Wales, write to Henry Beaufort offering their support to him. Henry Beaufort accepts and begins preparing for an invasion, though he plans to wait until the following year to launch it.

 

[EdwardRex]

17 July 1461: Anne Beauchamp, Countess of Warwick, gives birth to a third daughter named Eleanor. Unfortunately, Anne succumbs to a fever two weeks later.

3 August 1461: Magdalena of France arrives in Kent to much fanfare. Her future husband is there to meet her. She has a positive impression of him, and he of her. A young courtier described the pair. “The new King Edward is of renowned stature and valor. His hair is a light blonde, his eyes a deep blue, and he is a head taller than everyone else. Queen Magdalena is also very comely. She is quite short and slight compared to her groom, but has a kindly face and dresses very well.”

22 August 1461: Edward and Magdalena are married in Westminster Abbey, the first royal wedding there since Richard II and Anne of Bohemia. The marriage is consummated and the blood stained sheets are shown to roaring crowds in London.

October 1461: Owen and Jasper Tudor make it over to Henry Beaufort in Scotland. Unfortunately France, Castile, and Burgundy have all allied with Yorkist England and the other nations of Europe have no reason to want Beaufort on the throne. Only Scotland has any interest, but that venture ends when Edward promises one of his mother’s posthumously born twins (Cecily and Joan, born in June 1461) to the Duke of Rothesay.

December 1461: Queen Magdalena of England announces a pregnancy, much to her husband’s delight. Margaret Beaufort, Duchess of York, is also pregnant. Margaret of Anjou surprises the court by announcing she is married to the widowed Richard, Earl of Warwick. A staunch Yorkist, he is sure to keep Margaret in check. Moreover, at 31, it’s quite possible she could have more children. Scotland hands over the Lancastrian prisoners, who are thrown in the Tower of London.

 

[ordinarylittleme]

January 1463: Owen Tudor is executed after attempting to start a rebellion from within the Tower. Jasper, having witnessed his father's death, grieves deeply. He stops speaking out loud altogether and now lives only for his nephew, who is allowed to occasionally visit him.
February 1463: Queen Magdalena miscarries her first child, to her husband's grief. This miscarriage is seen by some Lancastrian supporters as God's displeasure at the Yorkist usurper. Joan is chosen as the future Duchess of Rothesay and is shipped off to Scotland as according to the marriage contract.

 

[RedKing]

19th of February 1462: Edmund Beaufort, Earl of Dorset and his younger brother John Beaufort make an appearance at the Court of Francis II, Duke of Brittany. The pair had escaped Edward IV’s wrath and have come to the Duchy seeking sanctuary. Francis agrees and grants them his protection.

28th of February 1462: ‘Tragedy’ strikes the Spanish court when Queen Joan dies giving birth to a daughter, named Juana. Henry IV is devastated and becomes reclusive as a result. Nevertheless, he soon searches for a new bride.

 

[EdwardRex]

March 1462: Henry Beaufort is executed as is Jasper Tudor. Anne of York is shipped off to Burgundy, while Margaret of York is engaged to the widowed King of Castile. In Brittany, Duke Francis’ wife dies giving birth to a son named Jean, Count of Montfort, who is sickly and follows his mother to the grave.

May 1462: Queen Magdalena, recovering rapidly from her miscarriage in early February, announces another pregnancy. Margaret Beaufort gives birth to a healthy son named Richard. Elizabeth of York is betrothed to the widowed Duke of Brittany, while he hands over Edmund and John Beaufort. Charlotte of Savoy, Queen of France gives birth to a son named Louis, who is made Dauphin. Louis XI is immensely happy.

June 1462: Edmund Beaufort is tried and convicted of treason. He is executed like on tower green. John Beaufort is given a lighter sentence, since he wants to take vows as a priest. Pregnant Queen Magdalena makes a show by begging for his life in front of her husband. By the end of the year, he will have taken vows. The Lancastrian cause is dead. Surprisingly, the most happy is Margaret of Anjou, who is now expecting her second child, and her first with Warwick.

August 1462: Infanta Isabella of Castile is betrothed to Ferdinand, Prince of Girona. Infanta Juana of Castile is herself betrothed to the newborn Dauphin of France.

November 1462: Queen Magdalena gives birth to a healthy son, christened Edward after his father. The young child is large and beautiful, the spitting image of his father, Edward IV. Happiness is also found by Margaret of Anjou, who gives birth to a son named Richard after his father. The realm of England finally settles into a peace after years of fighting.

 

[RedKing]

14th of December 1462: Lady Elizabeth Grey (née Woodville) arrives at the English court, where she soon becomes a maid for Queen Magdalena. Soon, the young widow catches Edward IV’s eye.

16th of December 1462: Louis XI’s wife, Charlotte falls pregnant with child, much to his delight. He prays eagerly for a spare. At the same time, he offers his daughter Anne to Holy Roman Emperor Fredrick’s son, Maximilian with a dowry of 300,000 francs. This is in hope to deprive Philip, Duke of Burgundy of allies.

 

[ordinarylittleme]

January 1463: Edward, the son of the king and queen, dies as the year starts. King Edward and Queen Magdalena are devastated, since this is the second child they lost. Seeing this, Margaret and Elizabeth of York are both shipped off to marry their husbands immediately so they can get out of England before the court plunges itself into mourning.
February 1463: Elizabeth Grey becomes the king's mistress, and rumors begin floating that she might even be pregnant. However the widow herself refuses to confirm anything and even publicly states that she could be considering remarriage as her sons will need a father figure.
March 1463: Queen Charlotte of France miscarries her child and dies in the process. Cecily of York is betrothed to his son while he begins looking for a new wife.

 

[RedKing]

April 19th 1463: Queen Magdalena falls pregnant with child once more, much to her and her husband’s delight. However, the happiness is short lived as on the same day her pregnancy is revealed, it becomes quite apparent that Lady Elizabeth Grey is pregnant. It doesn’t take a genius to find out that Edward IV is the father.

April 29th 1463: George, Duke of Clarence is betrothed to Isabel Neville, Countess of Warwick. They are scheduled to marry in 1466, when Isabel turns 15.

 

[EdwardRex]

May 1463: Anne, Duchess of Burgundy gives birth to a son named Philippe. Only two months after his birth, Philippe’s namesake grandfather dies in his sleep. Charles is now Duke of Burgundy, with Philippe the Count of Charolais.

July 1463: Margaret Beaufort, Duchess of York is pregnant again. King Henry IV of Castile is, thus-far, unable to consummate his marriage to Margaret of York. Trying a surgery to fix his impotence, his genitals are dangerously cut.

August 1463: Henry miraculously recovers, but is still unable to sleep with Margaret. Moreover he is incredibly sickly and doctors doubt he will love much longer. Meanwhile Elizabeth, Duchess of Brittany announces a pregnancy,

September 1463: Edward IV’s two women give birth only three days apart. First is Elizabeth Woodville, who has been given the title the Countess of Winchester. She gives birth to a daughter, christened Elizabeth. Her rival, Queen Magdalena, also gives birth to a daughter, christened Magdalene. Both daughters are healthy.

 

[RedKing]

November 12th 1463: Edward IV summons Parliament, the first of his reign. There he levies new taxes to refill the English treasury and introduces legal reforms.

November 25th 1463: Louis XI writes to René of Anjou offering his support to the Duke, should he press his claim to Aragon. Louis’s offer is one of pragmatism. He knows that Castile is currently allied with England and that peace between England and France shall not last. Hence, he wants to set up René as the King of Aragon, so that he shall act as a counter to an English allied Aragon. René responds enthusiastically and the two begin discussing the matter in detail.

 

[ordinarylittleme]

January 1463: Henry IV of Castile dies in his sleep. His widow, Margaret of York, returns to England.