Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York (1411-1460), was a prominent English nobleman during the late medieval period. He was a key figure in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars for control of the English throne. As a member of the Plantagenet family, he claimed a strong right to the crown, which led to significant political conflict. The Duke was the father of two future kings, Edward IV and Richard III. His rivalry with the ruling Lancaster family intensified, culminating in his death at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460. His legacy significantly influenced the course of English history.