1471 facts for kids

The year 1471 was a very important time in history, especially for England. It was a year filled with big changes and battles that decided who would rule the country. This period was part of the Wars of the Roses, a long fight between two powerful families, the House of York (who used a white rose as their symbol) and the House of Lancaster (who used a red rose).

Major Events of 1471

The Return of King Edward IV

In March 1471, King Edward IV of the York family came back to England. He had been forced to leave his throne, but he was determined to get it back. His return marked a new phase in the ongoing war.

The Battle of Barnet

• April 14 – A major battle took place at Barnet. King Edward IV led his Yorkist army against the Lancastrian forces. The Lancastrian army was led by Richard Neville, also known as Warwick the Kingmaker. Warwick was a very powerful noble who had changed sides during the war. In this battle, King Edward won, and Warwick was killed. This was a huge victory for the Yorkists.

The Battle of Tewkesbury

• May 4 – Soon after Barnet, another important battle happened at Tewkesbury. King Edward's army faced the remaining Lancastrian forces. These forces were led by Queen Margaret, the wife of the Lancastrian King Henry VI, and her son, Edward of Westminster, who was the Prince of Wales. King Edward won this battle too. Sadly, the Prince of Wales was killed. This defeat almost completely ended the Lancastrian family's hope of ruling England.

King Henry VI's Death

• May 20 – After these two big victories, King Henry VI was held in the Tower of London. He was murdered there, which meant that Edward IV became the only King of England. This event brought a temporary end to the Wars of the Roses, with the Yorkist family firmly in control.

Battle of Brunkeberg in Sweden

• October 10 – Far away from England, in Stockholm, Sweden, another important battle happened. The forces of Sten Sture the Elder, who was the Regent (a temporary ruler) of Sweden, fought against Christian I, the King of Denmark. Sten Sture's forces, helped by farmers and miners, successfully defended their land. This battle was important for Sweden's independence.

Changes in the Inca Empire

In South America, the great Inca Empire saw a change in leadership.

• The first Inca emperor, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, passed away. He was a very important ruler who had greatly expanded the Inca Empire.
• His son, Tupac Inca Yupanqui, became the new emperor. He continued his father's work of building and expanding the empire.

European Explorers Reach São Tomé and Príncipe

• Around this time, two Portuguese explorers, Pedro Escobar and João Gomes, were sailing along the coast of Africa. They were the first Europeans to visit the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. These islands are located in the Gulf of Guinea. Their visit was part of the Age of Discovery, when European explorers were mapping out new parts of the world.

See also

• In Spanish: 1471 para niños