"The Rose King" is a work by Aya Kanno, based on William Shakespeare's historical drama and centered around the Wars of the Roses. Due to its theme of war, many characters die, highlighting the seriousness of the story. This time, I'd like to introduce the characters who died among the two major powers in the story, the House of York and the House of Lancaster.
What is the story of "The Rose King"?
The story is set in medieval England. Richard, the third son of the House of York, was scorned by his mother and called the "son of the devil," but favored by his father. Richard's wish was for his father, the Duke of York, who showered him with love, to ascend to the throne. However, Richard's pure and simple desire turned England into a battlefield for the throne. Furthermore, Richard possesses both male and female characteristics, essentially a "hermaphrodite," but he kept this secret from those around him. Richard, too, became embroiled in the battle while harboring a secret.
Richard, Duke of York
He is the father of the protagonist, Richard. He treats Richard with love, even though his mother, Cecily, scorned him and called him the "son of the devil." With a strong sense of justice and a goal of overthrowing the House of Lancaster, he marched north. Along the way, he confronted and fought Queen Margaret of Lancaster, but was captured after the battle. Margaret ultimately beheaded him and displayed his head in the city, a truly gruesome end.
Earl of Warwick
He served as a strategist for Richard, Duke of York. After the Duke of York was murdered by the House of Lancaster, he played the role of kingmaker, working hard to ensure that the Duke's eldest son, Edward, became king. To gain France's support, he attempted to marry Edward to the French king's sister-in-law. However, Edward married Elizabeth, causing Warwick to defect. He allied with the Lancastrians to overthrow Edward, but was stabbed in the back by Buckingham and killed.
Prince Edward
The son of King Henry VI of the Lancastrians and Queen Margaret. Unlike his father, he possessed a self-centered and arrogant personality. Like his father, he found Richard attractive as a woman and fell in love with him. He married Anne Neville of the Neville family, daughter of the Earl of Warwick, in an arranged marriage. Because it was an arranged marriage, there was no love between the two. However, as a member of the House of Lancaster, Anne puts her pride on the line and plays Edward's double, standing up to the House of York.
George
The second son of the House of York. He was cheerful and kind to Richard, who was discriminated against by his mother. However, compared to Edward and Richard, he was an ordinary person with no outstanding qualities. After the death of his wife, Isabel, he became depressed and turned to alcohol. Driven by his desire to become king himself, he attempted to cast a curse on his brother Edward, but was caught and nearly executed. Edward saved him from execution, but he was later killed by James Tyrrell, who made it look like a suicide.
Edward, Duke of York
Edward, the eldest son of the House of York, succeeded Henry VI as prince. He was talented, charismatic, and handsome. However, he also had a love for women and had a weakness for them. He even had a mistress named Jane, and lived a sexually promiscuous life. Perhaps this lifestyle backfired, as he fell ill and was unable to participate in battle, eventually dying. Historically, it's believed he died of pneumonia.
Death or Death Unknown: Henry VI
A devout Christian, he disliked conflict and was indecisive, much to the dismay of his wife, Queen Margaret. He met and fell in love with Richard, but things didn't go well with his enemies, the House of York, and he was ultimately stabbed by a deranged Richard. However, there is no depiction of his death, and a character resembling Henry VI appears later. While it may be reasonable to assume they are the same person, this is not confirmed, so his death or death is unknown.
Summary of Characters Who Met Their End
We've introduced the characters who met their end in "The Rose King." Many characters die during the fierce battle for the throne. Since the original work is still being serialized, it's likely that more characters will die in the future. It might be fun to read the story while wondering who will die next! That's all for today. Thank you for reading.
