Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York

Edmund of Langley, born on 5 June 1341, was the fourth surviving son of King Edward III of England and Philippa of Hainault. His place of birth was Kings Langley Palace in Hertfordshire, which inspired his nickname. Edmund was instrumental in founding the House of York. However, it was through the union of his younger son, Richard of Conisburgh, with Anne de Mortimer, that the Yorkist claim to the throne during the Wars of the Roses was solidified.

The Wars of the Roses saw the House of York in opposition to the House of Lancaster, which descended from John of Gaunt, the third son of Edward III and Edmund’s elder brother. This dynastic conflict had a profound impact on the history of England, shaping the monarchy and the nation’s political landscape.