Wars of the roses1

First phase of the Wars of the Roses

By Sonny Elphick
  • May 22, 1455

    The first battle of St Albans

    The first battle of St Albans
    • The First Battle of St Albans traditionally marks the beginning of the Wars of the Roses.
    • The Lancastrians had 2000 soldiers and the Yorkist had 7000.
    • Richard managed to route the Lancastrian forces and this is the main reason they won.
    • Richard, Duke of York and his ally, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, defeated the Lancastrians under Edmund, Duke of Somerset, who was killed.
    • With King Henry VI captured, the parliament appointed Richard, Duke of York, Lord Protector.
  • Sep 23, 1459

    The battle of Blore Heath

    The battle of Blore Heath
    • The Battle of Blore Heath was one of the first major battles in the English Wars of the Roses.
    • It was fought on 23 September 1459, at Blore Heath in Staffordshire, England.
    • The lancastrian forces had 10,000 men while the York's had 5,000.
    • York was told that the Lancastrian forces were awaiting him so he outwitted the enemy forces and set up for battle, just out of site from the enemy archers.
    • Salisbury also set up cannons to his flank to prevent routing.
  • Oct 12, 1459

    The battle of Ludford bridge

    The battle of Ludford bridge
    • The Battle of Ludford Bridge was a largely bloodless battle fought in the early years of the Wars of the Roses.
    • It resulted in a setback for the Yorkists. Although this seemed to be a triumph for the rival Lancastrians at the time, they had thrown away their advantage within six months.
  • Jul 10, 1460

    The battle of Northampton

    The battle of Northampton
    • The Battle of Northampton was fought near the River Nene, Northamptonshire.
    • It was a major battle of the Wars of the Roses. The opposing forces were an army led by nobles loyal to the King Henry VI of the House of Lancaster, his Queen Margaret of Anjou and their seven year-old son Edward, Prince of Wales on one side
    • And the army of Edward, Earl of March and Warwick the Kingmaker on the other.
  • Dec 30, 1460

    The battle of wakefield

    The battle of wakefield
    • The Battle of Wakefield took place in Wakefield, West Yorkshire in Northern England, on 30 December 1460.
    • It was a major battle of the Wars of the Roses. The opposing forces were an army led by nobles loyal to the captive King Henry VI of the House of Lancaster, his Queen Margaret of Anjou and their seven year-old son Edward, Prince of Wales on one side And the army of Richard, Duke of York, the rival claimant to the throne, on the other. The Duke of York was killed and his army destroyed.
  • Feb 2, 1461

    The battle of mortimer's cross

    The battle of mortimer's cross
    • The Battle of Mortimer's Cross was fought near Wigmore, Herefordshire (by the River Lugg), not far from the Welsh border.
    • It was a major battle of the Wars of the Roses. The opposing forces were an army led by nobles loyal to the King Henry VI of the House of Lancaster, his Queen Margaret of Anjou and their seven year-old son Edward, Prince of Wales on one side
    • And the army of Edward, Earl of March (son of ROY) on the other.
  • Feb 17, 1461

    The second battle of St Albans

    The second battle of St Albans
    The Second Battle of St Albans was a battle of the English Wars of the Roses. The army of the Yorkist faction under the Earl of Warwick attempted to bar the road to London north of the town. The rival Lancastrian army used a wide outflanking manoeuvre to take Warwick by surprise, cut him off from London, and drive his army from the field. The victors also released the feeble King Henry VI, who had been Warwick's prisoner, from his captivity. However, they did not take advantage of their victory.
  • Mar 29, 1461

    The battle of Towton

    The battle of Towton
    The Battle of Towton was fought near the village of Towton in Yorkshire. It brought about a change of monarchs in England, with the victor, the Yorkist Edward, 4th Duke of York (who became King Edward IV (1461–1483)) having displaced the Lancastrian King Henry VI (1422–1461) as king, thus drove the head of the Lancastrians and his key supporters out of the country.

  • Conclusion

    Conclusion
    overall, after reading through all of the battles of the wars of the roses, it is clear to see why the York's had won in the end. this was because of:
    - The strategy in their battles, especially at the battle of Sy Albans when they routed the Lancastrian forces and at the battle of blore heath when they prepared for battle when the Lancastrians didnt know they werre.
    -. A strong Leader. Richard, Duke of York was a strong minded and physicially strong leader.