The House of York was a prominent royal house in England during the late 15th century. It was one of the two main factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars for control of the English throne. The house was founded by Edmund of Langley, the first Duke of York, and its emblem was a white rose. Key figures from the House of York include Edward IV, who became king in 1461, and his brother Richard III, who ruled from 1483 until his defeat in 1485. The house ultimately lost power to the House of Lancaster, leading to the rise of the Tudor dynasty.