Page 55 - All About History - Issue 11-14

Lancaster followed, with both sides plotting to overthrow It took three years, but that the peace would
the other but failing to act decisively. Warwick end was as inevitable as the sun rising in the
Troops: 35,000 became captain of Calais – an important and morning and setting in the evening. The move
Losses: Unknown
(Total dead across both powerful position – but once again Henry VI that would shatter the precarious peace came in
armies: 28,000) recovered his mental strength and took his 1459, when York and Warwick were summoned
royal progress (a tour) into the Midlands in 1456, to a royal council in Coventry by Henry VI and
Leader: Henry VI establishing his court in Coventry. By this point, Margaret and, fearing foul play and a potential
Strengths: Strong the country effectively had two different kings, threat to their lives, refused to go, instead
claim to the throne of an unsustainable state of affairs. In this court, grouping together with their supporters at
England, being the only the third Duke of Somerset, Henry Beaufort Ludlow Castle. This was the starting pistol for the
child to King Henry V.
Weaknesses: Periods of was emerging as the favourite, with plans beginning of the bloodiest civil war England had
8. Henry flees debilitating insanity. Also struck by him and Margaret to roll back all the ever seen. The Battle of Blore Heath was first, then
Somerset as well as a few
other surviving Lancastrian quiet, shy and unsuited appointments York had made while Lord Protector the Battle of Ludford Bridge, followed by the Battle
nobles manage to escape to warfare. and to degrade Warwick’s influence on state of Northampton and Wakefield. Each new bloody
the battlefield and news of
the defeat is sent to Henry affairs. The situation was balancing on a knife’s confrontation saw thousands of men smash into
VI. He flees straight away Key supporter: edge; one sudden move, one perceived threat, and each other, each thrust with a dagger or a sword
to Scotland with his wife Duke of Somerset
Margaret of Anjou where Strengths: Experienced the whole country would rapidly descend into that hit home a blow to the heart of the House of
he is joined by Somerset.
military commander with all-out civil war. Lancaster or York. The balance of power shifted
steady judgement.
Weaknesses: Political
amateur; had a habit for
switching sides.
30 years of conflict mapped out on a bloody land
Secondary unit:
Footsoldier and killed in battle. Richard Neville force was routed, the Prince of
Strengths: Numerous St Albans 22 May 1455 and Richard’s son are executed. Wales killed in battle, Somerset
St Albans saw Richard of York lead
and gritty fighters when executed and Queen Margaret of
on the battlefield. a force of over 3,000 soldiers on Towton 29 March 1461 Anjou captured.
a direct course for London to take
Weaknesses: Not A vast Yorkist force numbering
always well trained or down Henry VI. Henry rode out to 30,000 men fought the elements Bosworth 22 August 1485
meet the Yorkist army and took up
equipped enough.
a defensive position at St Albans. and a 35,000-strong force of Richard III had succeeded Edward
Richard attacked the city with a Lancastrians at Towton. After hours IV as king. Henry Tudor had other
great fury and defeated Henry. of bloody fighting the Duke of ideas and landed in Wales on 7
York Queen Margaret and her young son Norfolk arrived with reinforcements August 1485 to take the crown.
Edward were forced into exile. at the last moment and the Yorkists Richard heard of the invasion and
won the day. moved to intercept Henry, the two
Troops: 30,000
Towton Losses: Unknown Blore Heath forces eventually meeting south
(Total dead across both 23 September 1459 Edgecote Moor 26 July 1469 of Bosworth. During the ensuing
armies: 28,000) Despite scoring a victory at St Eight years on from the bloody battle Lord Thomas Stanley and Sir
Albans, Richard’s advance to battle of Towton, in which Edward William Stanley switched sides from
Leader: Edward IV London was halted. The Wars of the IV had ruled unopposed, an army the Yorkists to the Lancastrians. As
of England Roses rekindled themselves four sent to put down an uprising was a result, Richard III was killed and
Strengths: Extremely years later when Richard, fearing his attacked by Lancastrian forces and Henry became King Henry VII.
capable and daring campaign was losing momentum, quickly defeated, with the Earls of
military leader. Good decided to centralise his forces Pembroke and Devon killed. Stoke 16 June 1487
fighter on the battlefield. around the town of Ludlow and The last battle of the War of the
Weaknesses: launch a massive assault on the Tewkesbury 4 May 1471 Roses, Stoke was a final, wild roll of
Poor foresight and Lancastrians. Queen Margaret heard The Lancastrian forces of the the dice for the remaining Yorkist
3. Lancastrian of the movement and dispatched 4th Duke of Somerset, Edmund forces. Bolstered by German and
charge inconsistent political her loyal Lord Audley to intercept. Beaufort, plotted a course for Irish mercenaries, Yorkist troops
Under assault by Yorkist judgement.
arrows, Somerset orders his Despite Audley having roughly twice Wales. King Edward IV heard of the started to march toward London,
troops to charge up the hill. Key supporter: as many soldiers, he lost the battle move and sent an army to intercept. but were met at East Stoke and
Advancing through a rain The two sides met at Tewkesbury obliterated. Its leaders were
of arrows, the Lancastrians Lord Fauconberg and his life.
lose many men, but reach Strengths: Established and, after Somerset attempted a captured and imprisoned, its men
the Yorkist lines and Wakefield 30 December 1460 failed break of the Yorkist lines and killed and the last remnants of the
engage them in melee military commander and was countered, the Lancastrian Yorkist faction destroyed.
combat, cutting down knight. Politically savvy. With a large countering army
hundreds of soldiers. Weaknesses: Disloyal assembled by the Lancastrians
and mercenary. near the city of York, Richard
took his forces north along with
Secondary unit: Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury to
Longbowmen intercept. Richard took a defensive
Strengths: Fabulous position at Sandal Castle due to
range and stopping Lancastrians sporting a force close
power with armour- to 20,000, while his own forces
piercing arrows. numbered only around 10,000.
Weaknesses: Vulnerable Despite taking Sandal however,
in melee combat and Richard decided to ride out and The War of the Roses pitted Yorkists against
ineffective in poor meet the Lancastrian forces directly. Lancastrians for over three decades
visibility conditions. He was eventually overwhelmed

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