Richard de la Pole

Richard de la Pole, who died on 24 February 1525, was a claimant to the English throne, often referred to as ‘White Rose.’ As the final Yorkist contender, he actively and openly pursued the English crown. After witnessing the execution of many of his family members, he lived in exile and aligned with Louis XII of France during the War of the League of Cambrai, where he was favored as a potential English monarch over Henry VIII.

In 1514, Richard prepared to reclaim the throne for the Yorkists from Brittany with an army of 12,000 mercenaries, targeting St. Malo for their departure to England. However, the impending invasion was aborted due to a peace treaty between France and England. Later, under Francis I’s rule, he formed an alliance in 1523 and planned another invasion, which did not occur. Richard’s life ended at the Battle of Pavia, where he fought alongside Francis I.