George Plantagenet | |
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Duke of Clarence | |
Born | 21 October 1449 Dublin Castle, Ireland |
Died | 18 February 1478 Tower of London | (aged 28)
Burial | 25 February 1478[1] |
Spouse | |
Issue more... | |
House | York |
Father | Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York |
Mother | Cecily Neville |
George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence (21 October 1449 – 18 February 1478), was the sixth child and third surviving son of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and Cecily Neville, and the brother of English kings Edward IV and Richard III. He played an important role in the dynastic struggle between rival factions of the Plantagenets now known as the Wars of the Roses.[2]
Though a member of the House of York, he switched sides to support the House of Lancaster, before reverting back to the Yorkists. He was later convicted of treason against his elder brother, Edward IV, and executed, allegedly by drowning in malmsey wine. He appears as a character in William Shakespeare's plays Henry VI, Part 3 and Richard III, in which his death is attributed to the machinations of Richard.