Edmund de la Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk facts for kids

Edmund de la Pole (born around 1471, died 30 April 1513) was an important English nobleman. He held the titles of 3rd Duke of Suffolk and 6th Earl of Suffolk. Edmund was the son of John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk, and Elizabeth of York.

His family, the Yorks, had been kings of England. After the main Yorkist line ended, Edmund's family tried to claim the throne. This led to a long conflict with the new ruling family, the Tudors. Edmund was eventually put to death at the Tower of London.

Who Was Edmund de la Pole?

Edmund de la Pole was a member of the powerful York family. His mother, Elizabeth of York, was the daughter of Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York. This made her the sister of King Edward IV and King Richard III. Because of this, Edmund was closely related to the royal family.

This is the coat of arms used by Edmund de la Pole.

Serving the Tudor Kings

Edmund's older brother was John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln. John was supposed to be the heir to their uncle, King Richard III. After Richard III died, John swore loyalty to the new king, Henry VII. Henry VII was married to Edmund's cousin, Elizabeth of York.

However, in 1487, John joined a rebellion against King Henry VII. He was killed in the Battle of Stoke. After his brother's death, Edmund became the main person from the York family who could claim the throne. In 1492, he inherited the title of Duke of Suffolk.

Edmund fought for King Henry VII in the Siege of Boulogne in 1492. Later, he agreed to give up his title of Duke of Suffolk. From then on, he was known only as the Earl of Suffolk. This agreement was made official by Parliament in 1495.

In 1497, Edmund helped lead the fight against the Cornish rebels at Blackheath. But in 1498, he was accused of murder. Even though he was pardoned, he left England in 1499. He returned later that year. In 1500, he attended a treaty signing for the marriage of Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon. Soon after, he left England again.

Claiming the Throne

In 1501, Edmund and his brother Richard left England without the king's permission. They joined Emperor Maximilian I and Edmund started using his old title, Duke of Suffolk, again. He was also called the "White Rose," which was a symbol for the York family.

Because he was seen as a threat, Edmund was declared an outlaw in 1502. His titles and lands were taken away. His brother William was arrested and sent to the Tower of London.

Emperor Maximilian I agreed not to help the English rebels in 1502. However, Edmund was allowed to stay in Aix for a few years. When he left, he had to leave his brother Richard behind as a hostage for his debts. Edmund was later imprisoned by the Duke of Guelders and then by Archduke Philip of Burgundy.

Imprisonment and Death

In 1506, Archduke Philip of Burgundy was sailing to Spain but was blown off course to England. King Henry VII convinced Philip to hand over Edmund de la Pole. Henry VII sent Edmund to the Tower of London in March 1506.

When King Henry VII died, his son Henry VIII became king. Edmund was still a prisoner in the Tower. He was not included in the new king's general pardon in 1509. After being held for seven years, Edmund was put to death on Tower Hill. He was about 42 years old. This happened because his brother Richard had joined the service of France, which was then at war with England.

Family Life

Edmund married Margaret Scrope before October 1496. Margaret died in 1515. They had one daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth became a nun and sadly died in 1515 from the Black Plague.

Edmund's younger brother, Richard de la Pole, continued to claim the title of Earl of Suffolk. He was the main Yorkist challenger to the throne until he died in battle in 1525.

In Popular Culture

Edmund de la Pole is a character in the 2019 TV show The Spanish Princess. He is played by actor Nick Barber.