Wars of the Roses: An Overview (2024)

Dynastic Politics

The antagonism between the houses of Lancaster and York began in 1399 when Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster (left)deposed his unpopular cousin King Richard II. A grandson of Edward III, through John of Gaunt, his claim to the English throne was relatively weak compared to his Yorkist relations.

Reigninguntil 1413 as Henry IV, he was forced to put down numerous uprisings to maintain the throne.On his death, the crown passed to his son, Henry V.A great warrior known for his victory at Agincourt, Henry V onlysurvived until 1422 whenhe was succeeded by his 9-month-old son Henry VI.

For most of his minority, Henrywas surrounded by unpopularadvisors such as the Duke of Gloucester, Cardinal Beaufort, and the Duke ofSuffolk.

Moving to Conflict

During Henry VI's (left) reign, the French gained the upper hand in the Hundred Years' War and began driving English forces from France.

A weak and ineffectiveruler, Henry was heavily advised bytheDuke of Somerset who desired peace.This position was countered by Richard, Duke of York who wished to continue fighting.

A descendant ofEdward III's second and fourth sons, he possessed a strongclaim to the throne.By 1450, Henry VIbegan experiencing bouts of insanity and three years later was judged unfit to rule.This resulted in a Council of Regency being formed with York at its head as Lord Protector.

Imprisoning Somerset, he worked to expand his power butwas forced to step down two years later when Henry VIrecovered.

Fighting Begins

Forcing York (left)from court,Queen Margaret sought to reduce his power and became theeffective head of the Lancastrian cause.Angered, heassembleda small army and marched on London withthe statedgoal of removing Henry's advisors.

Clashing with royal forces at St. Albans, he andRichard Neville, Earl of Warwick won avictory on May 22, 1455.Capturinga mentally detached Henry VI, they arrived in London and York resumed his post as Lord Protector.

Relieved by a recovering Henry the followingyear, York saw his appointments overturned by Margaret's influence and he was ordered to Ireland.In 1458, the Archbishopof Canterbury attempted to reconcile the two sides and though settlements were reached, they were soon discarded.

War & Peace

A year later, tensions again heightened following improper actions by Warwick (left)during his time as Captain of Calais.Refusing to answer a royal summons to London, he instead met with York and the Earl of Salisbury at Ludlow Castle where the three men elected to take military action.

That September, Salisbury won a victory over the Lancastrians at Blore Heath, but the main Yorkist army was beaten a month later at Ludford Bridge.While York fled to Ireland, his son, Edward, Earl of March, and Salisbury escaped to Calais with Warwick.

Returning in 1460, Warwick defeated and captured Henry VIat the Battle of Northampton.With the king in custody, York arrived in London and announced his claim to the throne.

The Lancastrians Recover

Though Parliament rejected York's claim, a compromise was reached in October 1460 through the Act of Accord which stated that the duke would be Henry IV's successor.

Unwilling to see her son, Edward of Westminster,disinherited, Queen Margaret (left) fled to Scotland and raised an army.In December, Lancastrian forces won a decisive victory at Wakefield which resulted in the deaths of York and Salisbury.

Now leading the Yorkists, Edward,Earl of Marchsucceeded in winning avictory at Mortimer's Cross in February 1461, but the cause took another blow later in the month when Warwick was beaten at St. Albans and Henry VI liberated.

Advancing on London, Margaret's armylooted the surrounding region and was refused entry into the city.

Yorkist Victory & Edward IV

While Margaret retreated north, Edward united with Warwick and entered London.Seeking the crown for himself, he cited the Acts of Accord and was accepted as Edward IV by Parliament.

Marching north, Edward collected a large army and crushed theLancastrians at the Battle of Towton on March 29.Defeated, Henry and Margaret fled north.

Having effectively secured the crown, Edward IV spent the nextfew years consolidatingpower.In 1465, his forces captured Henry VI and the deposed king was imprisoned in theTower of London.

During this period, Warwick's power also grew dramatically and he served as the king's chief advisor.Believing that analliance with France was needed, he negotiated for Edward to marry a French bride.

Warwick's Rebellion

Warwick's efforts were undercut when Edward IV secretly married Elizabeth Woodville (left)in 1464.Embarrassed by this,he became increasingly angered as the Woodvilles became court favorites.

Conspiring with the king's brother, the Duke of Clarence, Warwick covertly incited a series of rebellions across England.Announcing their support for the rebels, the two conspirators raised an army anddefeated Edward IVat Edgecote in July 1469.

Capturing Edward IV, Warwick took him toLondon where the two men reconciled.The following year, the king had both Warwick and Clarence declared traitors when he learned they were responsiblefor the uprisings.Left with no choice, both fled to France where they joined Margaret in exile.

Warwick & Margaret Invade

In France, Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (left)began encouraging Warwick and Margaret to form an alliance.After some hesitation, the two former enemies united under the Lancastrian banner.

In late 1470, Warwick landed at Dartmouth and quickly secured the southern part of the country.Increasingly unpopular, Edward was caught campaigning in the north.As the country rapidly turned against him, he was forced to flee to Burgundy.

Though he restored Henry VI,Warwick soon overextended himself by allying with France againstCharles.Angered, Charles provided support to Edward IVallowing him to land in Yorkshire with asmall force in March 1471.

Edward Restored & Richard III

Rallying the Yorkists, Edward IV conducted abrilliant campaign which saw himdefeat and kill Warwick at Barnet (left) and rout and kill Edward of Westminster at Tewkesbury.

With the Lancastrian heir dead, Henry VI was murdered at the Tower of London in May 1471.When EdwardIV died suddenly in 1483, his brother, Richard ofGloucester, became Lord Protector for the 12-year-old Edward V.

Placing the young king in the Tower of Londonwith his younger brother, the Duke of York, Richard went before Parliament and claimed that Edward IV's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was invalid making thetwoboys illegitimate. Agreeing, Parliament passed Titulus Regius which made him Richard III.The two boys vanished during this period.

A New Claimant & Peace

Richard III's rule was quickly opposed by many nobles, and in October the Duke of Buckingham led an armed revolt to place the Lancastrian heir Henry Tudor (left)on the throne.

Put down by Richard III, its failure saw many of Buckingham's supportersjoin Tudor in exile.Rallying his forces, Tudor landed in Wales onAugust 7, 1485.

Quickly building an army, he defeated and killed Richard III at Bosworth Fieldtwo weeks later.Crowned Henry VII later that day, he worked to heal the rifts that had led to the three decades of what had been the Wars of the Roses.

In January 1486,he married the leading Yorkist heir, Elizabeth of York, andunited the two houses.Though fighting largely ended, Henry VII was forced to put downrebellions in the 1480s and 1490s.