Wars of the Roses

The House of Lancaster and the York
 Because the Lancaster Family was
seen as usurpers to the throne of
England and because of the weak
leadership of the Lancaster King Henry
VI,
began a
thirty year war of attack, betrayal, and
intrigue, which would only end with a
union of the families by marriage.

The Lancasters

The

A “Simple” Man
 Gentle, kind, and generous
 Often dressed as a townsman
or farmer

Margaret of Anjou
 Wife
 Fierce, belligerent, unforgiving,
and uncompromising
 OPPOSITES!

Ineffective King!

Bouts of Insanity
 Margaret would rule for him
 Richard, Duke of York as well

Henry VI Recovers
 Richard dismissed
 Why might Richard begin to
be frustrated?

The Wars of the Roses
 Not necessarily a civil
war…why?
 VIDEO – The Wars of the Roses

Details
 30 Years Long, 10 major battles
 But…from 1455 to 1485, only
13 weeks of fighting (about
one week for every 2 ½ years)

Henry VI
 Goes crazy…again

 Made Regent, then heir
 Richard doesn’t push the issue to
be made king…why?

Prince Edward is born

claims throne – why now?
 Killed by Margaret

Richard Neville, Earl of
Warwick
 “The Kingmaker”
 Helps
, son of the Duke
of York

 Barely 19 - First Yorkist King
 Henry VI imprisoned
 England flourishes!

Disagreement
marries Elizabeth
Woodville (commoner)
 Richard Neville restores Henry
VI

kills Neville
 Regains the throne
 Peace and prosperity restored
once more

Edward, Henry VI’s son
 Only heir
 Killed in battle

Henry VI
 Imprisoned in the Tower
 Murdered during
prayers

 Tireless worker
 Excellent memory
 Dies of pneumonia

 Edward IV’s son
 About 13 years old
 Close brothers

Richard

’s uncle
 Appointed as Protector and
Regent

Coronation in London
 Edward and Richard (his
brother) arrive
 Stayed in Royal Apartments in
the Tower

Parliament
 Declares illegitimacy

deposed

Mystery
 Princes never seen again
 Killed in the Bloody Tower?
▪ Richard, their uncle?

Richard III
 The princes’ uncle

Unsure of Reputation
 No one really writes about
him until he is dead…
 Then everyone chimes in!

Today
 Most evil in nature
 Concocted to give legitimacy
to next house of rulers?

Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond
 The Lancastrian heir

The Battle of Bosworth Field
 Richard – Within swords length of
Henry Tudor
 Last English king to die on the
battlefield
 VIDEO – Digging Up Richard

Henry Tudor Becomes Henry VII

Heralds
 Messengers and arranged
coronations and funerals

Coat of Arms
 Too many!
 Needed controlled
 College of Arms
▪ Still controls issuance today
▪ www.makeyourcoatofarms.com/app.asp