Richard, Duke of York, was born on the 21st of September. His father was Richard, Earl of Cambridge, and his mother was Anne Mortimer.

Richard Duke of York married Cecily Neville.

Richard, Duke of York, is appointed lieutenant-general in France by the king, Henry VI.

Richard, Duke of York was re-appointed lieutenant-general of France and Normandy. ^[1]

Although Richard, Duke of York, had been appointed governor of France and Normandy he did not go until reports from Rouen in Normandy of French attacks persuaded him to do so. ^[1]

The position of lieutenant of France was contested by Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset and Richard, Duke of York. Richard wanted to be re-appointed to the position but the Duke of Somerset was appointed instead. Edmund and Richard would become bitter rivals in the future battles of the Wars of the Roses. ^[1]

Richard, Duke of York, had previously been the Lieutenant of France and Normandy but this had expired and the title had gone to his rival Edmund Beaufort (later Duke of Somerset). Instead, Richard was appointed the title of Lieutenant of Ireland. ^[1]

The Duke of York sailed for Ireland, landing at Howth, Dublin.

As a possible heir to throne of England, Richard, Duke of York returned from Ireland where he had been placed as lieutenant by the Duke of Somerset who had possible aspirations of taking the throne for himself. Edmund Beaufort, the Duke of Somerset and his associates were being shown favouritism and Richard along with the Welsh land owners were finding it hard to retain the earnings they were making from their own estates. William Tresham, a supported of Richard's was murdered as he travelled to meet the Duke. At first Richard attempted to hide his intentions of overthrowing the king.

With William Oldhall, a supporter of Richard Duke of York, in the speaker's seat, Parliament was on the the Duke's side. It was agreed that those at the king's side should be arrested including the Duke of Somerset.

Thomas Young, the member of Parliament for Bristol stood up and declared that Richard, Duke of York's claim to the throne should be considered. Thomas Young was quickly arrested and locked up in the Tower of London.

The Duke of York writes to supporters in Norfolk asking for their support in an uprising against the King. ^[2]

The Duke of York gathered an army and marched on London intent on persuading King Henry to remove Somerset from power. The king took an army north to Northampton to prevent Yorkist supporters in the east joining York in the west. The king also sent word to the city of London to not allow York to enter. Learning that he was refused entry to the city, the Duke of York continued south and crossed the the River Thames at Kingston. York moved his army to Dartford while King Henry came back south to London. ^[3]

Queen Margaret had raised an army and with the King they confronted the Duke of York at Dartford. Outnumbered, York disbanded his army and surrendered. He was taken to London and later at St. Paul's Cathedral was forced to swear an oath saying he would not oppose King Henry. ^[3]

Richard, the future King of England, was born in Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire. His father was Richard Duke of York and his mother was Cecily Neville. Richard was their fourth son.

From August 1453 until the end of 1454, the mental health of King Henry VI was such that he was unable to conduct the day-to-day government of the country. The illness was some kind of mental condition possibly inherited from his grandfather Charles VI of France who also suffered from bouts of madness. What followed was a struggle for power and control of the English throne. Amongst the main rivals were Richard, Duke of York and Edmund Deaufort, the Duke of Somerset.

With support of the other barons Richard, Duke of York won over the unpopular Edmund Beaufort, the duke of Somerset. He had only kept his position of power with the support of the King and without that support all was lost. Somerset was arrested and sent to the Tower of London.

With the King unable to govern, Queen Margaret with the support of the powerful Neville Earls gave Richard, Duke of York the position of 'Protector of England'.

With Richard, Duke of York running the country, several changes were made, one of which was to make the elder Richard Neville the Chancellor of England. Richard also made himself the Captain of Calais removing his rival the Earl of Somerset from the post.

King Henry returned to health and Richard, Duke of York was removed from the position of Protector.

King Henry's return to sanity swung the balance of power back to favour the Duke of Somerset and he was quickly restored to his former position of Captain of Calais. The Yorkists at this time felt it wise to leave London in fear of reprisals.

King Henry VI had by his side at St. Albans the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham, Lords Pembroke, Northumberland and Devon and around 2,000 Lancastrian men. They tried to hold the town against the Yorkists led by Salisbury and Warwick but Warwick was able to enter the town through an unguarded spot and attack the flanks of the Lancastrian barricades. Although this battle was small it left the Duke of Somerset dead along with Lord Northumberland and Clifford. As a result of this victory power again swung to the Yorkists although support from the Barons was not total. Richard, Duke of York, again became Protector of the Realm and the powerful position of Captain of Calais was given to the Earl of Warwick.

A Parliament was held after the Battle of St. Albans to confirm the changes of appointment. Richard, Duke of York became protector for the second time. ^[4]

King Henry VI suffered another bout of mental illness. This time to last until February of the following year. ^[4]

King Henry VI again came around from a bout of mental illness and Richard, Duke of York, was relieved from the position of Protector of the Realm. ^[4]

The Earl of Warwick arrived in England from Calais. He was welcomed in London before setting off north to meet up with the Duke of York. ^[2]

Led by Richard Earl of Salisbury the Yorkists in the north mobilised an army and headed south to meet the Duke of York at Ludlow. Salisbury was intercepted by a Lancastrian army led by Lord Audley at Blore Heath in Shropshire. The Lancastrians were the first to attack. Their first and second cavalry charges were repulsed and when the Lancastrian foot soldiers were also repulsed they turned and fled. In the battle Audley was killed and although two of Salisbury's sons were captured they were quickly released. The Yorkists had won this battle.

The Earl of Warwick with a force from Calais reached Ludlow and the combined army of the Yorkists attacked the King's army at Ludford Bridge near Ludlow. The men from Calais refused to fight their king and a weak Yorkist army was defeated. Richard Duke of York and his younger son escaped and fled to Ireland while Salisbury, Warwick and Edward of March (later Edward IV) fled to Calais.

With the Yorkists in control of the seas around the south coast of England, the Earl of Warwick was able to leave Calais and sail to Ireland where the Duke of York had taken refuge. There they planned their invasion of England and the defeat of the Lancastrians. ^[5]

Richard, Duke of York returned from Ireland arriving somewhere near Chester.

Richard, Duke of York returned from Ireland to claim the throne of England as a direct descendant of King Edward III. The Lords refused to abandon Henry VI and Parliament agreed he should remain King until his death after which Richard or his heir should become the next king of England.

Queen Margaret had been building an army in the North and started attacking Yorkist held settlements. Richard left London with a small army to deal with the Queen. He had underestimated the Lancastrians and at his castle at Sandal Richard was confronted by superior forces. Although Richard sent word to the Earl of March for assistance he didn't wait and attacked. The battle left Richard Duke of York and his son Earl of Rutland dead.