| The Wars of the Roses - 1455 | | | | a Yorkist supporter, changed sides. |
| One of Britain’s worst civil wars was that | | | | Henry was released from prison and again made |
| known as the Wars of the Roses, begin-fling in | | | | king, but the Lancastrians were defeated at |
| 1455 and lasting until 1485. It was so called | | | | Barnet (1471) where Warwick was killed and the |
| because the two rival parties each chose a rose | | | | Battle of Tewkesbury placed York’s son |
| as a symbol: York (white) and Lancaster (red). It | | | | Edward IV (1442—83) firmly on the throne. He |
| began when Henry VI (1421—71) became | | | | was succeeded by Richard III (his own son |
| insane and Richard, Duke of York claimed the | | | | Edward V dying mysteriously in the Tower) who |
| throne. | | | | reigned for two years until he died on Bosworth |
| A number of battles followed (beginning with | | | | Field fighting the Tudor prince who was to |
| that of St Albans in 1455) with periods of truce | | | | become Henry VII (1457—1509). |
| between them. At the battle of Northampton | | | | The struggle between the Yorkists and |
| (1460) Henry was captured and at Wakefield | | | | Lancastrians came to an end with the Battle of |
| (1461) York was killed. The Lancastrians were | | | | Bosworth Field. fought on August 22. 1485. |
| defeated at Towton in the same year and their | | | | Richard lll was killed and Henry Tudor came to the |
| position seemed hopeless until the powerful Earl of | | | | throne. |
| Warwick, the ‘Kingmaker’, and hitherto | | | | |