A Summary of the Wars of the Roses, and their relevance to King’s Lynn

A series of dynastic civil wars fought for the English throne (1455-1487)

Why were they called The Wars of the Roses?

The civil wars were later named as the Wars of the Roses (in C19th) because of the supposed badges of the opposing sides (white rose, York: red rose, Lancaster).

The Two Family Branches

From 1216 until 1399 the English throne was occupied by Kings from the Plantagenet line (Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Richard II). Richard II was the grandson on Edward III, but after his death/murder in 1399 there were several claimants to the throne.

The two strongest claims were from two cadet branches of the Plantagenet family – the House of Lancaster and the House of York.

The House of Lancaster was descended from Edward III’s son, John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster). This line produced three kings between 1399 and 1461 (Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI). Henry IV took the throne by force in 1399.
The House of York was descended from Edward III’s son, Edmund Langley, (Duke of York). This line produced three kings between 1461 and 1485 (Edward IV, Edward V, Richard III).

Wars of the Roses: The Main Causes

1) Strong Rival Claims

from different branches of the Plantagenet family descended from Edward III: See above.

2) A Weak Plantagenet Monarchy

The monarchy was weakened in prestige following the loss of land in France after the Hundred Years War. Henry VI also experienced several periods of mental illness and incapacity. This created power vacuums that were exploited by others. He was unable to settle disputes between powerful landowners. The weak Lancastrian king fuelled Yorkist claims.

3) Factionalism and Revenge

Henry VI was only nine months old when he succeeded to the throne in 1422. Before the war the Duke of York (Yorkist) and the Duke of Somerset (Lancastrian) tried to destroy each other as they vied for supremacy over the country. Two noble families in the North were also in dispute: Percys (Lancastrian) and the Nevilles (Yorkist).
There were competing factions at court over whether to pursue the war with France.
- Pro-war were Richard, Duke of York (father of the to be Edward IV and Richard III), and the Richard, Duke of Gloucester (brother of the to be Edward IV).
- Pro-reconciliation with France were John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk and Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset.
The death of key Lancastrian nobles (such as the Duke of Somerset) at the First Battle of St Albans (1455) led to vendettas between the two factions.

Wars of the Roses: Summary of Main Events

1461-1483 Power kept swapping between the two main protagonists, Henry VI (Lancaster) and Edward IV (York).

Henry VI (1422-1461). Henry VI was briefly replaced by Richard, Duke of York during periods of poor mental health.
Edward IV (1461-1470). Edward IV was the son of Richard, Duke of York. He defeated Henry VI at Towton (1461) to become king.
Henry VI (1470-1471). Henry VI received support from the Earl of Warwick to reclaim the throne.
Edward IV (1471-1483). Edward IV reclaimed the throne after defeating Henry VI at Tewkesbury (1471).

1483-1485 Richard III (York) gains power after Edward IV’s (York) sudden death. Richard III (York) is then defeated by Henry VII (Lancaster).

Edward V (1483-1483). Edward V was one of the princes in the tower, along with his younger brother, Prince Richard of Shrewsbury – the sons of Edward IV (and rightful heirs).
Richard III (1483-1485). Richard III was the uncle of Edward V and Prince Richard of Shrewsbury. He became king after Edward V and Prince Richard “disappeared”.
Henry VII (1485-1509). Henry VII defeated Richard Ill at the Battle of Bosworth (1485). Henry married Elizabeth of York, uniting the rival families.

Wars of the Roses: The Main Conflicts (Key Battles in Bold)

Late Medieval Soldiers in Conflict, History

1455	1^st Battle of St Albans (22/05/1455) Yorkist victory	Richard, Duke of York and his allies, the Earl of Salisbury (Richard Neville) and Richard Earl of Warwick (Salisbury’s son), defeated a royal army commanded by Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset.	Somerset killed. Henry VI captured. Way cleared for parliament to appoint York Lord Protector.
1460	Battle of Northampton (10/07/1460) Yorkist victory	Henry VI was defeated by Edward, Earl of March, and the Earl of Warwick.	Henry VI captured.
1460	Battle of Wakefield (30/12/1460) Lancastrian victory	Nobles loyal to Henry VI defeat a force loyal to Richard, Duke of York.	Dukes of York and Salisbury were killed.
1461	Battle of Mortimer’s Cross (02/02/1461) Yorkist victory	Owen and Japer Tudor and nobles loyal to Henry VI were defeated by Edward, Earl of March (the dead Duke of York’s son).	Owen Tudor was beheaded. Henry VI captured.
1461	2^nd Battle of St Albans (17/02/1461) Lancastrian victory	Warwick’s force is defeated but the victors failed to take advantage.	Prince Edward knighted. Yorkist lose custody of the King. Queen Margaret fails to enter London. Edward of March free to enter London and is proclaimed King Edward IV on 02/03/1461.
1461	Battle of Towton (29/03/1461) Yorkist victory The largest and bloodiest battle on English soil.	Edward IV (and the Earl of Warwick) deposed the Lancastrian force and secured the English throne.	Henry VI fled with his wife and son to Scotland.
1464	Battle of Hexham (15/05/1464) Yorkist victory	Several Lancastrian nobles were captured and executed. The Lancastrian war chest of £2,000 was also captured.	This marked the end of Lancastrian resistance in the north during the early part of Edward’s reign. Henry VI was kept away from the battle and escaped to the north. He was captured on 13/07/1465.
1469	Battle of Edgecote (24/07/1469) Lancastrian victory	Warwick defects (see below) and defeats King Edward.	Edward IV was taken into custody and held in Middleham Castle. Edward was released in September and resumed the throne. He flees to Burgundy from the port of Lynn on 02/10/1470.
1471	Battle of Barnet (14/04/1471) Yorkist victory	Edward returns from exile. Warwick is killed while fighting for the Lancastrians.
1471	Battle of Tewkesbury (04/05/1471) Yorkist victory	A complete defeat for the House of Lancaster.	Many Lancastrian nobles killed. Prince Edward (son of Henry VI) killed. Henry VI dies after the battle, in the Tower (probably murdered).
1485	Battle of Bosworth (22/08/1485) Henry VII victory	Richard III defeated.	Henry VII married Elizabeth of York (the daughter of Edward IV and sister of the Princes in the Tower).

Wars of the Roses: Were Other Nations Involved?

The Yorkists received some support from the Duke of Burgundy (see Edward IV’s flight from King’s Lynn below). The Lancastrians received occasional support from the French and from the Scots.

Wars of the Roses: Other Significant Events

In 1453 the English army in France, led by Sir John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, was routed in the Battle of Castillon. This marked the end of the Hundred Years War and completed the loss of English territory in France (apart from Calais). Henry VI suffered a complete mental breakdown and it led to the recall of the Duke of York from Ireland to be Lord Protector of the country.
The Act of Accord (25/10/1460). It was agreed that Henry VI would retain the crown for life, but York and his heirs were to succeed him. This disenfranchised Henry’s son (Prince Edward), but Henry was forced to agree.
Despite the ineffectiveness of her husband (Henry VI), Margaret of Anjou played an incredible role throughout the wars in seeking to rally Lancastrian support (including while in France and Scotland), and in asserting the rights of her son to the throne.
The defection of Warwick (see below).

Wars of the Roses: Why did the Yorkist Warwick Defect to the Lancastrians?

Several nobles changed sides during the wars, but the defection of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, must have been particularly galling for Edward IV. There are three possible reasons behind this move:

In 1464 Warwick had been negotiating peace with France and trying to arrange a marriage for Edward. He had been sent to arrange a potential match with King Louis XI’s sister-in-law, Bona of Savoy, but in September Edward announced to his court that he had already married Elizabeth Woodville. Not only did courtiers see Elizabeth as a match unworthy of the king’s status, but the marriage also undid Warwick’s efforts for a better long-term relationship with France.
Edward felt an understandable obligation to provide for the Woodville family members and Warwick would have felt jealous of the lands and titles that were given to them.
Edward blocked a key marriage that initially impacted Warwick. Edward’s younger brother and heir, Clarence, wanted to marry Warwick’s eldest daughter, Isabel. Edward forbade this and both Clarence and Warwick resented the decision. Clarence and Isabel were eventually married in France by Warwick’s brother George, Archbishop of York. In July 1469 Warwick marches north to join the rebels against the king.

One of the consequences of Warwick’s defection was that he was compelled to reach an accommodation with his former enemy, Margaret of Anjou. It was difficult for both sides to meet and agree to work together.

Wars of the Roses: Lynn and the Hanseatic League

Edward IV, Charles of Burundy, Hanseatic League, King’s Lynn History — Edward IV

In 1470 rebels started approaching Edward IV from the north. He didn’t have sufficient troops and realised that he would be executed if captured again, so, on 2 October, he fled to the court of Burgundy from the port of Lynn. During his crossing he was pursued by a small fleet from the Hanseatic League. Edward’s ship went aground off the island of Texel, but local inhabitants were able to rescue him before the Hansards could reach him.

Charles of Burgundy gave Edward £2000, and on 2 March 1471 Edward sailed back to England from Flanders. His fleet comprised 36 ships. Ironically 15 of those ships were hired from the Hanseatic League on the promise of favourable concessions to the League if Edward succeeded in regaining power.

After the Battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury in 1471 Edward regained power. He honoured the promise to the League and after the Treaty of Utrecht in 1474, amongst other things, the Hanseatic League were able to open a steelyard inside the town walls of Lynn.

Wars of the Roses: Cast of Characters

The House of Lancaster:

Henry IV (King, 1399-1413): First Lancastrian king, who took the throne by force in 1399.
Henry V (King, 1413-1422): Son of Henry IV.
Henry VI (King, 1422-1461, 1470-1471): Son of Henry V. He was a weak monarch who suffered from periods of mental illness, creating power vacuums and fuelling Yorkist claims. He was defeated at Towton, briefly reclaimed the throne, and was ultimately defeated at Tewkesbury, dying shortly after in the Tower.
Margaret of Anjou (Queen Consort): Wife of Henry VI. Played a crucial role in rallying Lancastrian support and asserting her son’s right to the throne throughout the wars, often from abroad.
Prince Edward (Prince of Wales): Son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou. His succession rights were challenged by the Act of Accord. He was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury.
John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster): Son of Edward III. The House of Lancaster descended from him.
Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset: A key Lancastrian noble and pro-reconciliation with France faction leader. Killed at the First Battle of St Albans in 1455, his death led to vendettas.
Sir John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury: English army leader who suffered a routing defeat at the Battle of Castillon in 1453, marking the end of the Hundred Years War.
Owen Tudor: A noble loyal to Henry VI, defeated and beheaded at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross.
Jasper Tudor: Owen Tudor’s son, also loyal to Henry VI, defeated at Mortimer’s Cross.
Henry VII (King, 1485-1509): The Lancastrian claimant who defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, ending the Wars of the Roses. He married Elizabeth of York to unite the two rival families and founded the Tudor dynasty.

The House of York:

Edward IV (King, 1461-1470, 1471-1483): Son of Richard, Duke of York. He defeated Henry VI at Towton to become king, was briefly deposed, but reclaimed the throne after the Battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury. His marriage to Elizabeth Woodville alienated the Earl of Warwick.
Edward V (King, 1483): Son of Edward IV and rightful heir. One of the “Princes in the Tower” who disappeared, leading to his uncle Richard III’s ascension.
Prince Richard of Shrewsbury: Younger son of Edward IV and brother of Edward V. Also one of the “Princes in the Tower” who disappeared.
Richard III (King, 1483-1485): Uncle of Edward V and Prince Richard of Shrewsbury. Became king after his nephews’ disappearance. He was defeated and killed by Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth.
Edmund Langley (Duke of York): Son of Edward III. The House of York descended from him.
Richard, Duke of York: Father of Edward IV and Richard III. A strong Yorkist claimant and pro-war with France faction leader. Briefly replaced Henry VI as Lord Protector. Killed at the Battle of Wakefield.
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (“The Kingmaker”): A powerful Yorkist ally, son of the Earl of Salisbury. Initially supported Edward IV, playing a key role in his victory at Towton. He later defected to the Lancastrians due to perceived slights and political disagreements with Edward IV, eventually being killed fighting for the Lancastrians at the Battle of Barnet.
Richard, Earl of Salisbury: Father of the Earl of Warwick. A key Yorkist ally, killed at the Battle of Wakefield.
George, Archbishop of York: Brother of the Earl of Warwick, who married Warwick’s daughter Isabel to Edward IV’s brother Clarence against the king’s wishes.
Elizabeth of York (Queen Consort): Daughter of Edward IV and sister of the Princes in the Tower. Her marriage to Henry VII united the Houses of Lancaster and York.

Other Notable Figures/Groups:

John de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk: A Lancastrian noble, part of the pro-reconciliation with France faction.
Duke of Burgundy (Charles the Bold): Provided support and refuge to Edward IV during his exile from England in 1470.
Hanseatic League: A powerful trading confederation. They pursued Edward IV’s ship during his flight in 1470 and later provided 15 ships for his return to England in 1471 in exchange for favourable concessions, which were honoured after Edward’s victory.

Timeline of the Wars of the Roses

Pre-1399 (Plantagenet Reign)

1216-1399: The English throne is occupied by Kings from the Plantagenet line (Henry III, Edward I, Edward II, Edward III, Richard II).
1399: Death/murder of Richard II, leading to multiple claimants to the throne and the emergence of the Houses of Lancaster and York from two cadet branches of the Plantagenet family.
1399: Henry IV (Lancastrian) takes the throne by force.

Early to Mid-15th Century (Lancastrian Reign & Seeds of Conflict)

1422: Henry VI (Lancastrian) succeeds to the throne at nine months old, leading to a weak monarchy and power vacuums.
1453: The English army, led by Sir John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, is routed at the Battle of Castillon, marking the end of the Hundred Years War and the loss of most English territory in France. This event causes Henry VI to suffer a complete mental breakdown, leading to the recall of Richard, Duke of York, to be Lord Protector.

1455: The Outbreak of War

22 May 1455: First Battle of St Albans Yorkist victory.
Richard, Duke of York, and his allies (Earl of Salisbury and Earl of Warwick) defeat a royal army led by Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset.
Somerset is killed, and Henry VI is captured.
This clears the way for York to be appointed Lord Protector.
The death of key Lancastrian nobles at this battle sparks vendettas between the factions.

1460-1461: Escalation and Shifting Power

10 July 1460: Battle of Northampton Yorkist victory.
Henry VI is defeated and captured by Edward, Earl of March, and the Earl of Warwick.
25 October 1460: The Act of Accord Agreement that Henry VI would retain the crown for life, but Richard, Duke of York, and his heirs would succeed him, disinheriting Henry’s son, Prince Edward.
30 December 1460: Battle of Wakefield Lancastrian victory.
Nobles loyal to Henry VI defeat forces loyal to Richard, Duke of York.
Richard, Duke of York, and the Earl of Salisbury are killed.
02 February 1461: Battle of Mortimer’s Cross Yorkist victory.
Owen and Jasper Tudor, and other nobles loyal to Henry VI, are defeated by Edward, Earl of March (Richard, Duke of York’s son).
Owen Tudor is beheaded.
17 February 1461: Second Battle of St Albans Lancastrian victory.
Warwick’s force is defeated, and the Yorkists lose custody of the King.
Queen Margaret fails to enter London, leaving Edward of March free to enter.
02 March 1461: Edward of March is proclaimed King Edward IV.
29 March 1461: Battle of Towton Yorkist victory (largest and bloodiest battle on English soil).
Edward IV (with the Earl of Warwick) defeats the Lancastrian force, securing the English throne.
Henry VI flees to Scotland with his wife and son.

1464-1470: Edward IV’s Reign and Warwick’s Defection

15 May 1464: Battle of Hexham Yorkist victory.
Many Lancastrian nobles are captured and executed, marking the end of significant Lancastrian resistance in the north.
Henry VI escapes but is captured on 13 July 1465.
1464: Edward IV secretly marries Elizabeth Woodville, undermining Warwick’s diplomatic efforts for a French alliance and a royal marriage for Edward. This, along with Edward’s favouritism towards the Woodville family and blocking of a marriage between his brother Clarence and Warwick’s daughter Isabel, contributes to Warwick’s resentment and eventual defection.
July 1469: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, marches north to join rebels against King Edward IV.
24 July 1469: Battle of Edgecote Lancastrian victory (with Warwick’s defection).
King Edward IV is taken into custody and held in Middleham Castle.
Edward is released in September and resumes the throne.
02 October 1470: Edward IV, facing renewed rebellion, flees England from the port of King’s Lynn to Burgundy. He receives financial support from Charles of Burgundy.

1470-1471: Henry VI’s Brief Restoration and Yorkist Comeback

1470-1471: Henry VI is briefly restored to the throne with support from the Earl of Warwick.
02 March 1471: Edward IV sails back to England from Flanders with a fleet, including ships hired from the Hanseatic League.
14 April 1471: Battle of Barnet Yorkist victory.
Edward IV defeats the Lancastrian forces, and Warwick is killed fighting for the Lancastrians.
04 May 1471: Battle of Tewkesbury Yorkist victory (complete defeat for the House of Lancaster).
Many Lancastrian nobles are killed.
Prince Edward (son of Henry VI) is killed.
Henry VI dies shortly after the battle in the Tower (likely murdered).

1474: Post-War Diplomacy

1474: Treaty of Utrecht Edward IV honours his promise to the Hanseatic League for their support, allowing them to open a steelyard inside the town walls of Lynn.

1483-1485: Yorkist Succession Crisis and End of the Wars

1483: Edward IV dies suddenly. His sons, Edward V and Prince Richard of Shrewsbury (the “Princes in the Tower” and rightful heirs), disappear.
1483-1485: Richard III, uncle of Edward V and Prince Richard, becomes king.
22 August 1485: Battle of Bosworth Henry VII (Lancastrian) defeats Richard III.
Richard III is killed, marking the end of the Wars of the Roses.
Post-Bosworth: Henry VII marries Elizabeth of York (daughter of Edward IV and sister of the Princes in the Tower), uniting the rival families and establishing the Tudor dynasty.

The Wars of the Roses: A Comprehensive Study Guide

What were the Wars of the Roses and how did they get their name? The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars fought for the English throne between 1455 and 1487. The name, given in the 19th century, refers to the supposed badges of the opposing sides: a white rose for the House of York and a red rose for the House of Lancaster.
Name the two main family branches involved in the Wars of the Roses and their respective royal lines. The two main family branches were the House of Lancaster and the House of York, both cadet branches of the Plantagenet family. The Lancastrian line produced Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI, while the Yorkist line produced Edward IV, Edward V, and Richard III.
Explain one key cause of the Wars of the Roses related to the monarchy’s leadership. One key cause was a weak Plantagenet monarchy, particularly under Henry VI, who experienced periods of mental illness and incapacity. This created power vacuums that powerful landowners exploited and also prevented him from settling disputes, further fuelling Yorkist claims.
Describe the role of factionalism and revenge in contributing to the Wars of the Roses. Factionalism and revenge played a significant role, as evidenced by the rivalry between the Duke of York and the Duke of Somerset vying for supremacy. The death of key Lancastrian nobles, such as the Duke of Somerset at the First Battle of St Albans, led to vendettas and continued conflict between the opposing factions.
Which two individuals frequently swapped power during the 1461-1483 period of the wars? Power frequently swapped between Henry VI (Lancaster) and Edward IV (York) during the 1461-1483 period. Edward IV initially defeated Henry VI to become king, but Henry VI briefly reclaimed the throne before Edward IV permanently took it back.
Who was Richard III and how did he come to power, according to the summary? Richard III was the uncle of Edward V and Prince Richard of Shrewsbury, who were the rightful heirs after Edward IV’s sudden death. He became king after Edward V and his younger brother “disappeared,” implying a suspicious seizure of power.
What was the significance of the Battle of Bosworth in 1485? The Battle of Bosworth in 1485 was significant because Henry VII (Lancaster) defeated Richard III, effectively ending the Wars of the Roses. Henry VII then married Elizabeth of York, uniting the rival families and establishing the Tudor dynasty.
How did the Hundred Years War contribute to the instability that led to the Wars of the Roses? The loss of English land in France after the Hundred Years War, specifically the rout at the Battle of Castillon in 1453, significantly weakened the monarchy’s prestige. This event also triggered Henry VI’s mental breakdown, further destabilising the political landscape.
What was the Act of Accord and what was its immediate consequence for Henry VI’s son? The Act of Accord (1460) was an agreement that Henry VI would retain the crown for life, but Richard, Duke of York, and his heirs would succeed him. This directly disenfranchised Henry VI’s son, Prince Edward, from his rightful inheritance.
Why was Warwick’s defection to the Lancastrians particularly “galling” for Edward IV? Warwick’s defection was galling for Edward IV because Warwick had been a key Yorkist ally, instrumental in Edward’s rise to power. His defection stemmed from Edward’s secret marriage to Elizabeth Woodville, which undermined Warwick’s diplomatic efforts, and Edward’s perceived favouritism towards the Woodvilles, as well as blocking a key marriage for Warwick’s daughter.

Essay Format Questions

Analyse the primary causes of the Wars of the Roses, evaluating which factors contributed most significantly to the prolonged conflict between the Houses of Lancaster and York.
Discuss the roles of key individuals, such as Henry VI, Edward IV, Richard III, and Margaret of Anjou, in shaping the course and outcomes of the Wars of the Roses.
Examine the concept of “power swapping” between 1461 and 1483. What were the specific events and alliances that led to these shifts in royal authority?
Evaluate the impact of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick’s defection on the balance of power during the Wars of the Roses. How did his change of allegiance affect the strategies and fortunes of both the Yorkist and Lancastrian factions?
To what extent did external factors, such as the Hundred Years War and foreign support, influence the duration and outcomes of the Wars of the Roses?

Wars of the Roses: Glossary of Key Terms

Act of Accord (1460): An agreement that allowed Henry VI to retain the crown for life, but stipulated that Richard, Duke of York, and his heirs would succeed him, effectively disinheriting Henry’s son.
Battle of Bosworth (1485): The decisive battle where Henry VII (Lancastrian) defeated Richard III (Yorkist), leading to the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty.
Battle of Castillon (1453): The final battle of the Hundred Years War, a decisive French victory that led to the complete loss of English territory in France (except Calais) and contributed to English domestic instability.
Battle of Tewkesbury (1471): A significant Yorkist victory that effectively ended Lancastrian resistance, leading to the death of Prince Edward (Henry VI’s son) and shortly thereafter, Henry VI himself.
Battle of Towton (1461): The largest and bloodiest battle fought on English soil during the Wars of the Roses, resulting in a decisive Yorkist victory for Edward IV and the securement of his claim to the throne.
Cadet Branches: Younger or collateral branches of a noble or royal family, distinct from the main line of succession. Both Lancaster and York were cadet branches of the Plantagenet family.
Duke of Burgundy: A powerful European noble who provided support, including financial aid and ships, to the Yorkists, particularly Edward IV, during his exile.
Duke of Somerset: A prominent Lancastrian noble, Edmund Beaufort, whose death at the First Battle of St Albans (1455) fuelled vendettas between the factions.
Duke of York: Richard Plantagenet, a leading Yorkist claimant to the throne and father of Edward IV and Richard III.
Edward IV (1461-1470, 1471-1483): The first Yorkist king, son of Richard, Duke of York, who defeated Henry VI at Towton and reclaimed the throne after a brief Lancastrian resurgence.
Edward V (1483): Son of Edward IV and one of the “Princes in the Tower,” who disappeared, likely murdered, clearing the way for Richard III to become king.
Elizabeth of York: Daughter of Edward IV, whose marriage to Henry VII after the Battle of Bosworth united the rival houses of York and Lancaster, symbolising the end of the wars.
Factionalism: The division within a larger group, in this case, the English court and nobility, into smaller groups with competing interests and loyalties.
Hanseatic League: A powerful medieval commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and market towns in Northern Europe. They had significant dealings with King’s Lynn and provided ships to Edward IV.
Henry VI (1422-1461, 1470-1471): The Lancastrian king whose periods of mental illness and incapacity contributed significantly to the instability that sparked the Wars of the Roses.
Henry VII (1485-1509): The founder of the Tudor dynasty, who defeated Richard III at Bosworth and married Elizabeth of York to consolidate his claim and end the wars.
Hundred Years War (1337-1453): A series of conflicts between England and France, the conclusion of which left England without most of its French territories and contributed to domestic political instability.
John of Gaunt: Son of Edward III and ancestor of the House of Lancaster.
King’s Lynn: A port town in Norfolk, England, significant in the Wars of the Roses as the place from which Edward IV fled to Burgundy in 1470.
Lancastrians: Supporters of the House of Lancaster, a cadet branch of the Plantagenet family, identified by their red rose badge.
Margaret of Anjou: The strong-willed wife of Henry VI, who played an active and determined role in rallying Lancastrian support and asserting her son’s right to the throne.
Plantagenet Line: The English royal dynasty that ruled from 1216 until 1399, from which both the Houses of Lancaster and York were descended.
Princes in the Tower: Edward V and his younger brother, Prince Richard of Shrewsbury, sons of Edward IV, who disappeared while imprisoned in the Tower of London, presumed murdered by Richard III.
Richard III (1483-1485): The last Yorkist king, uncle of the “Princes in the Tower,” who seized the throne but was defeated and killed by Henry VII at the Battle of Bosworth.
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick (“The Kingmaker”): A powerful and influential Yorkist noble who initially supported Edward IV but later defected to the Lancastrians, playing a crucial role in the shifting fortunes of the war.
Vendettas: Prolonged feuds or bitter quarrels, often involving a desire for revenge, which characterised the factional disputes during the Wars of the Roses.
Wars of the Roses (1455-1487): A series of dynastic civil wars in England, fought primarily between the Houses of Lancaster and York for control of the English throne.
Yorkists: Supporters of the House of York, a cadet branch of the Plantagenet family, identified by their white rose badge.

Sources

Ashdown-Hill, J. (2015) The Wars of the Roses, Amberley
BBC Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zyfr8p3#zqqtfdm
Jones, D. (2014) The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenents and the Rise of the Tudors, Penguin
Map of the Battles: https://www.warsoftheroses.com/mapsandsources/map-of-the-battles-of-the-wars-of-the-roses/
Pollard, A.J. (2016) Edward IV, Penguin
Santiuste, D. (2010) Edward IV and Wars of the Roses, Pen & Sword
Spencer, D. (2020) The Castle in the Wars of the Roses, Pen & Sword
Turvey, R. (2021) Lancastrians, Yorkists and the Wars of the Roses, 1399 -1509, Hodder Education
Weir, A. (2009) Lancaster and York: The Wars of the Roses, Vintage

The Wars of the Roses: A Summary and Study Guide

On this page:

A Summary of the Wars of the Roses, and their relevance to King’s Lynn

Why were they called The Wars of the Roses?

The Two Family Branches