One of my readers took me to task for not including the two other lines between Edwards IV and III, and referring to them as “distaff” as if that were a politically incorrect insult. Since it is my policy to never apologize, I only explain that it was because of lack of space and the desire not to appear too pedantic that I omitted those lines. Because of immensely popular demand, here they are.
York/Mortimer Line
King Edward IV – Great x18 Grandfather
Richard, Duke of York – Great x19 Grandfather
Anne Mortimer
Roger Mortimer, Earl of March
Phillipa of Hanault
Lionel of Antwerp
King Edward III
In this line, there are 2 additional generations. Richard, Earl of Cambridge married Anne Mortimer (2nd cousin, twice removed) and became parents of Richard, Duke of York.
York/Beaufort/Neville Line
King Edward IV – Great x18 Grandfather
Cecily Neville – Great x19 Grandmother
Joan Beaufort
John of Gaunt
King Edward III
Cecily Neville married Richard, Duke of York and they were the parents of Edward IV and Richard III.
Henry VII Tudor, who defeated Richard III in the Battle of Bosworth Field, resulting in his son and grandchildren ruling England for the following century, had a much weaker claim to the throne than Richard, at least insofar as kinship goes. He did, as it turned out, have the Mao-esque kind of political power. Not from the barrel of a gun in this case, but the point of a sword. Makes us grateful for our messy, contentious, but peaceful means of choosing our Chief Executive.
One word about Henry Tudor’s great-granddaughter Queen Jane, who reigned for nine days in 1553 – this very month of July 460 years ago. Henry’s son, the VIII of the same name, created havoc with the English government, church, and society so as to have a legitimate son to avoid the possibility of succession wars like those of the past century. He married six times, and succeeded with his third wife. That son, Edward VI, a sickly teenager, died before reaching majority. On his deathbed, he named Jane, descended from Henry Tudor through her mother Frances and grandmother Mary, to succeed him. The Privy Council accepted his wish and proclaimed Jane Queen. Mary, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, had her own Mao-esque power, as well as a legal right though Henry’s will, and deposed Jane after nine days. Though Mary initially regarded Jane as a mere pawn and was inclined to show clemency, politics intervened. Jane lost her head the next year. She was seventeen.
