History UsefulNotes / TheHouseOfPlantagenet

->'''Consort''': ''Duchess'' UsefulNotes/EleanorOfAquitaine

Note that the regnal numbers given below for the earlier kings are anachronistic. Like the Normans before them, the early Angevin kings were known only by their first name and a sobriquet, either a nickname or their place of birth--the former being more common in the earlier period, while place names became virtually standard towards the end of the main line of the dynasty. Regnal numbers were assigned by law clerks in the time of Edward [=III=].[[note]]Laws were (and still are) listed by regnal years. Three Edwards in a row was likely a bit much for their filing systems.[[/note]] The tradition of regnal nicknames continued until the end of the Plantagenet era, although (with a few exceptions) it wasn't used as often after Edward's reign. Each king's most common sobriquet is given here in parentheses after his regnal name.

In his youth was probably the best jouster in England (an opportunity to prove it against [[TheRival his only serious rival]] was interrupted by the king), and fought in a crusade. He made a rather sharp contrast with his egotistical (and childless) cousin, Richard II. Considered by many (including himself) to be Richard's obvious and legitimate heir, but never recognised as such by the king himself. Eventually lost patience and seized the throne after the Richard exiled him and took his estate.

His ''administrative'' skills, on the other hand, leave much to be desired. He carelessly eloped with one of his mistresses when a political marriage would have been much more valuable for the dowry it would have brought to England's coffers (ruined by the war with France and then the civil war at home) along with the potential for a powerful political alliance; he failed to anticipate Neville the Kingmaker's double-cross, as well as his own brother's defection against him; and he failed to secure the succession for his own son when his younger brother Richard usurped the throne from him. After his death, in 1483, the House of York lost the throne within two years.

Pretty much controlled by everyone around him, including his wife. His regents handled the emergence of UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc and the concept of France as a unified nation pretty badly, and the previous King of France's son was restored to the throne in 1431. Though saintly in character (indeed, in the early 16th century he was England's foremost folk saint), generally considered weak-willed, and mentally ill in his later years, including several lengthy bouts of mania and catatonia. His grandfather, Charles VI of France, had also suffered from mental illness.

Pretty much controlled by everyone around him, including his wife. His regents handled the emergence of UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc and the concept of France as a unified nation pretty badly, and the previous King of France's son was restored to the throne in 1431. Though saintly in character (indeed, in the early 16th century he was England's foremost folk saint), generally considered weak-willed, and mentally ill in his later years, including several lengthy bouts of mania and catatonia.

Perhaps England's last true warrior king, and an underrated one at that; Edward IV has the rare distinction of being undefeated in battle. It is telling that once his father, previous champion and claimant to the English throne, had been killed in combat in 1460, he was able to win and take the throne outright within a year. In the two episodes that endangered his throne (Edgcote Moor 1469 and the Lancastrian restoration of 1470), he was not in direct field command and was forced to run mostly by political inconvenience or treason on his side. All the same, he ably won back his throne come Tewkesbury 1471--not even a year since his flight. His ''administrative'' skills, on the other hand, leave much to be desired. He carelessly eloped with one of his mistresses when a political marriage would have been much more valuable for the dowry it would have brought to England's coffers (ruined by the war with France and then the civil war at home) along with the potential for a powerful political alliance; he failed to anticipate Neville the Kingmaker's double-cross, as well as his own brother's defection against him; and he failed to secure the succession for his own son when his younger brother Richard usurped the throne from him. After his death, in 1483, the House of York lost the throne within two years.