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When Edward IV died suddenly in April 1483, the Yorkists expected his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester, to assume the regency as Protector until the young Edward V (1483) came of age. However, Richard took them by surprise when he seized the young king at Stoney Stratford and executed his companions. He wooed the remainder of his brother\'s servants by telling them that he was only against the family of his brother\'s widow, the Wydevilles. But soon after several of the most important were summarily executed in their turn (probably for refusing to support Richard\'s bid for the throne). Richard III (1483-85) was crowned on 26 June, and, soon after, he probably had his young nephews murdered in the Tower of London.
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