Page 36 - All About History - Issue 70-18

Wars of the Roses

TRIAL AT TEWKESBURYGo inside Richard III’s greatest battle

The Lancastrians
01 deploy
After arriving outside Tewkesbury
following a forced march, the
Lancastrians deploy in three divisions
known as ‘battles’ in fields south of
the town. Somerset and the earl of
Devon command the right and left
flanks respectively. Lord Wenlock has
command of the centre, accompanied
by Prince Edward of Westminster.
Queen Margaret of Anjou is the
Lancastrian figurehead but she takes
refuge away from the battlefield. 01
05

Richard
02 attacks 04
Edward IV’s army arrives on
the field and he commands
the Yorkist centre. Lord
Hastings commands the right
and Richard the left. Ditches,
dykes and hedges dominate
the battlefield and Edward
hides 200 spearmen away from 02
his left flank as a precaution.
Richard begins the battle by
bombarding Somerset’s division
with volleys of arrows and
artillery fire. The noise creates
chaos and confusion among the 03
Lancastrian lines and Somerset
attempts to advance and
outflank Richard’s position.

“The Yorkist spearmen

then appear from the
03 Wenlock fails to
assist Somerset
Richard turns his division to face Somerset and woods on the left and
many of his men shelter behind a hedge before
attacking. The Lancastrian momentum breaks and attack Somerset’s rear”
a section of Edward IV’s division assist Richard.
Somerset appeals to Wenlock for reinforcements
but the Lancastrian centre remains in its position.
The Yorkist spearmen then appear from the woods
on the left and attack Somerset’s rear. His men flee
towards Tewkesbury.
04 Somerset kills Wenlock
Edward IV uses Richard’s determinedly
successful fighting against Somerset to launch a
general advance. The tall king is highly visible and
fights with great vigour. Somerset retreats to the
Lancastrian centre, denounces Wenlock as a traitor and
personally kills him. It is later written that Somerset
kills Wenlock by striking his brains out with an axe.

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