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 represented by the white rose symbol and was founded by Edmund of Langley, the first Duke of York. Key figures from the House of York include Edward IV, who became king in 1461, and his brother Richard III, who was the last Yorkist king. The house ultimately lost power to the House of Tudor after Richard III's defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.