Thread by @MedievalScholar

The Wars of the Roses

England is sent into turmoil, war between two of it's largest houses has erupted and bloodshed is inevitable.
What caused this conflict, and what were some of the most pivotal moments?

Let's begin 🧵 https://t.co/B6QobdWsGvtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The Wars of the Roses refer to the dynastic civil wars between the houses of York and Lancaster. From the years 1455 to 1485 this conflict would ravage England, and precede the Tudor government.

Through the sons of Edward III, both houses made claims for the English throne.

Edward III had 5 sons who survived to adulthood, and as a result they were given duchies in the country. This ultimately led to the term of "Bastard Feudalism" coined in 1885 by Charles Plummer.

Tensions grew with the rule of Henry VI, a notoriously incompetent ruler who's mental infirmity and weakness, combined with the structural issues of Bastard Feudalism ignited the desire to claim the throne in Richard, Duke of York.

The Duke of York was a powerful magnate, and was made protector of the realm in 1453 when Henry VI fell into insanity.
In 1455 when King Henry returned to normalcy he reestablished the powers of his wife, Margaret of Anjou's house, the Duke of York would take up arms in defense.

On May 22nd, 1455 the first battle of the Wars of the Roses would occur at the city of St. Albans, where approximately 3,000 to 7,000 Yorkist forces clashed with about 2,000 Lancastrian forces.

Yorkist forces would move forward and tense clashes began in the narrow streets, as a result more Lancaster men rushed to defend the city.

This broke as Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick would flank through the gardens of the market square, shattering the Lancastrian line.

Only about less than 200 men died this day, but it was a decisive Yorkist victory. Managing to even capture King Henry himself.

Richard would return the King to London and be made protector once again by parliament.

In the 1460 the Act of Accord was agreed upon, where it stated in terms that Henry VI would be King and rule for life, but upon his death he would be succeeded by Richard, Duke of York.

In 1461, at the Battle of Wakefield:
Richard and his Yorkist forces rode out of Sandal Castle to meet the Lancastrians, an ill-fated move. Richard would be surrounded on all sides and the Yorkists would be crushed, Richard was likely dismounted, and killed.

Richard's son Edward would take control of the house of York, while Richard of Warwick was defeated at the second battle of St. Albans and Margaret of Anjou's forces would recapture Henry VI.

Edward and the Earl of Warwick would unite their forces after this defeat.

Henry VI and Margaret would move north after losing the support of many after Lancastrian forces had committed atrocities in the area.

Edward would go to London and become King Edward IV as a result.

Following being crowned, Edward would march north to face his enemy.

What would follow is the infamous Battle of Towton on March 29th 1461. During a snowstorm, Lancastrian archers proved ineffective due to the winds.

The Lancastrians were forced to move forward and engage the Yorkists, charging into their ranks.

A brutal melee ensued, the Yorkists were outnumbered and would begin to be pushed back, at that moment, reinforcements from the Duke of Norfolk arrived and flanked the Lancastrians, crushing them and forcing a retreat. This would be the bloodiest battle on English soil.

In the coming years, Edward would secretly marry and Richard of Warwick would be enraged after trying to marry Edward to the daughter of the King of France. The Earl of Warwick.

The Earl of Warwick would plot against the king, leading to rebellions across the country.

After combating these rebellions, specifically near Nottingham, Edward would try to return to London where he was captured. Being popular among the general population and the nobility, he would be released soon after.

On April 14th 1471, Edward would meet the Earl of Warwick in the Battle of Barnet.
Numbering 7,000 to 15,000 for the Yorkists and 10,000 to 30,000 for the Lancastrians both sides would mobilize their forces in the night, ready to make their stands at dawn.

Edward would be in the middle, William of Hastings would hold his left and Richard of Gloucester who was 18, holding his right.

Morning would come, engulfing the field in mist. Hastings would be pushed back and Richard of Gloucester would match it and push the Lancaster right.

The Yorkists would win the day, the rebellious Earl of Warwick was slain in battle and the Duke of Exeter had surrendered. House Lancaster lost approximately 10,000 soldiers but modern sources believe about 1,000 soldiers died for Lancaster and 500 for York.

The houses would clash again at the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4th 1471, a Lancastrian unit would be pinched by Yorkists and crushed, the Lancastrians would attempt to retreat and were cut down including the 17 year old Prince Edward.

On the 21st of May, Henry VI would be executed in the Tower of London. In the coming months many Lancaster leaders would surrender, and in the coming years in 1483, Edward IV would be terminally ill and die. His son Edward V would be king.

Richard of Gloucester would have Edward and his brother placed in the Tower of London, eventually being declared illegitimate and Richard would become King Richard III of England.

Queen Elizabeth would plot with Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor. Uprisings would occur in the west of the country and be crushed by Richard as Henry Tudor was not able to support them.

Henry would gain support of the French king Charles VIII and raise an army. This would come to a head at the Battle of Bosworth on August 22nd 1485.
The Tudors had more than 5,000 soldiers while the Yorks had an army close to 10,000.

The battle would begin, after clashes the Earl of Northumberland would supposedly betray Richard and force his hand.
Richard charged into Henry's forces and eventually was surrounded, killed by a blow to his head.

Henry Tudor would become King, and begin the Tudor dynasty.

These events in history would also contribute to inspiring George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.