Page "Richard III of England" Paragraph 5

At the time of the death of his father and older brother Edmund, Earl of Rutland at the Battle of Wakefield, Richard, who was eight years old, was sent by his mother, the Duchess of York to the Low Countries, beyond the reach of Henry VI's vengeful Queen, Margaret of Anjou.

He was accompanied by his elder brother George ( later Duke of Clarence ).

They returned to England following the defeat of the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton and participated in the coronation of Richard's eldest brother as King Edward IV in 1461.

At this time Richard was named Duke of Gloucester as well as being made a Knight of the Garter and a Knight of the Bath.

Richard was then sent to Warwick's estate at Middleham for his knightly training.

With some interruptions, Richard stayed at Middleham until early 1465, when he was 12.