
Edward V of England (2 November 1470 – 1483) was King of England from 9 April to 26 June 1483, succeeding Edward IV of England and preceding Richard III of England. Richard usurped the throne from Edward and had the former king and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York imprisoned in the Tower of London. The "Princes in the Tower" were murdered by James Tyrrell that same year.
Biography[]
Edward was the son of King Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville, and he was created Prince of Wales in June 1471, following his father's restoration to the throne. Prince Edward was kept under the supervision of Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, and Rivers attempted to take Edward to London in 1483 upon the death of King Edward IV. However, Edward's uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, intercepted them and had Rivers and Richard Grey executed, and Richard escorted Edward and his brother Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York to the Tower of London. Edward was never crowned, as Gloucester declared the two to be illegitimate, and Gloucester proceeded to become "King Richard III". He then had James Tyrrell smother the two "Princes in the Tower" with a pillow to remove the threat posed by them.