The Wars of the Roses (1455-85) is the name given to a series of armed clashes between the houses of Lancaster and York , rival claimants to the English crown. The name was first used long after the wars took place; it refers to the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster--badges supposedly used by the contenders. The Lancastrian king Henry VI, an ineffectual ruler subject to periods of insanity, was challenged by Richard, duke of York, who claimed the throne through descent from Edward III. After the Battle of Saint Albans (1455), York became protector of the kingdom, but Henry's wife, Margaret of Anjou, and the Beaufort family, along with others of her followers, recovered control. The war resumed in 1459, and in June 1460, York, allied with Richard Neville, earl of Warwick, invaded England and defeated (July 10, 1460) a royal army at Northampton. York claimed the throne, but instead he was designated Henry's successor. Margaret, whose son was effectively disinherited, sent her army against the Yorkists at Wakefield, where York was killed (1460). The next year, York's son fought the decisive Battle of Towton and was crowned Edward IV. Henry, Margaret, and their son fled to Scotland.
War broke out again in 1469 when Warwick,
estranged from Edward and allied with the king's brother
George, duke of Clarence, invaded from Calais, defeated the
king's forces at Edgecote, and briefly held Edward prisoner.
After Edward regained control, Warwick invaded again, joining
forces with Henry VI, who was restored to the throne. Edward
fled to the Netherlands, but he returned (1471) and defeated
Warwick and the Lancastrians at Barnet and Tewkesbury. Henry
was imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he died.
The third phase of the wars began in 1483 when Richard III usurped the throne from his nephew, Edward IV's son Edward V. The Lancastrian claimant, Henry Tudor, aided by the French and by disaffected Yorkist nobles, invaded England and defeated Richard at Bosworth (1485). The new king was crowned Henry VII (pictured right).
