Wars of the Roses: The 15th-Century Series of Wars over the Throne of England

By Kelly Mass

The Conflicts of the Roses, also known as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars that took place in the mid-to-late fifteenth century in England. These wars were fought between supporters of two rival cadet lines of the royal House of Plantagenet: the Lancasters and the Yorks. The battles resulted in the elimination of the male lineages of both dynasties, leaving the Lancastrian claim to the Tudor bloodline. Eventually, the Tudor and York Houses merged to form a unified royal dynasty, putting an end to the rival claims.

The conflicts were sparked by various factors, including the aftermath of the Hundred Years' War, which brought socio-economic problems and weakened the prestige of the English monarchy. Additionally, structural issues with bastard feudalism and the powerful duchies created by Edward III contributed to the tensions.

The mental infirmity and weak rule of Henry VI reignited interest in Richard of York's claim to the throne, but historians are divided on which factor played the primary role in causing the conflicts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Efalon Acies
• Release date: Jan 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9791222497167

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Where Did the Name War of the Roses Come from?

The Conflicts of the Roses, also known as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars that took place in the mid-to-late fifteenth century in England. These wars were fought between supporters of two rival cadet lines of the royal House of Plantagenet: the Lancasters and the Yorks. The battles resulted in the elimination of the male lineages of both dynasties, leaving the Lancastrian claim to the Tudor bloodline. Eventually, the Tudor and York Houses merged to form a unified royal dynasty, putting an end to the rival claims.

The conflicts were sparked by various factors, including the aftermath of the Hundred Years' War, which brought socio-economic problems and weakened the prestige of the English monarchy. Additionally, structural issues with bastard feudalism and the powerful duchies created by Edward III contributed to the tensions. The mental infirmity and weak rule of Henry VI reignited interest in Richard of York's claim to the throne, but historians are divided on which factor played the primary role in causing the conflicts.

The conflicts began in 1455 when Richard of York defeated King Henry VI in battle and was proclaimed Lord Protector by Parliament, leading to an uneasy truce. Four years later, fighting resumed as the Yorkists, led by Warwick the Kingmaker, regained Henry, but Richard was assassinated in 1460. His son, Edward, then claimed the throne, leading to a series of battles. Edward was eventually crowned in 1461 after the Lancastrian army was defeated.

Warwick switched sides in 1469, supporting the Lancastrian claim, sparking renewed fighting. Edward was briefly ousted, but he reclaimed the throne, and England experienced relative peace until Edward's death in 1483. Edward's son, Edward V, briefly ruled before being ousted by his uncle, Richard III. Richard's reign was marked by scandal, including the disappearance of Edward IV's two sons, leading to a significant uprising and defections to the Lancastrian cause. Henry Tudor, claiming to be a relative of the Lancastrian line, led an army against Richard, defeating him at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 and ascending to the throne as Henry VII. His marriage to Elizabeth of York brought the conflicting claims together.

The conflicts came to a conclusion after the defeat of the Earl of Lincoln's army at the