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Wars of the Roses

The start of the war

uring the late 1440's the country was being ruled poorly by King Henry VI. His wife Queen Margaret and her followers had a great influence over the weak king and in northern France many English held towns were falling to the French King Charles VII. Henry began to be openly criticised and these critisisms were being led by Richard, Duke of York. Richard himself had a good claim to the English throne being descended from Lionel of Antwerp Duke of Clarence the second son of Edward III through the female line. The Duke had the support of two strong figures of the time and both members of the Neville family. One was the Duke's brother-in-law, Richard Neville the Earl of Salisbury, and the other was the Earl's son Richard Neville Earl of Warwick.

The first Battle of St. Albans (1455)

he first battle of the Wars of the Roses took place at St. Alban's on May 22nd 1455 when the Yorkists tried to confront the King. The King had by his side the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham, Lords Pembroke, Northumberland and Devon and around 2,000 Lancastrian men. They tried to hold the town against the Yorkists led by the Earls of Salisbury and Warwick but Warwick was able to enter the town through an unguarded spot and attack the flanks of the Lancastrian barricades. Although this battle was small it left the Duke of Somerset dead along with Lord Northumberland and Clifford. As a result of this victory power swung to the Yorkists although support from the Barons was not total. Richard, Duke of York, became Protector of the Realm and the powerful position of Captain of Calais was given to the Earl of Warwick.

Battles of the War of the Roses

Battles of the War of the Roses

Episode Events
Episode Events

1447

The position of lieutenant of France was contested by Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset and Richard, Duke of York. Richard wanted to be re-appointed to the position but the Duke of Somerset was appointed instead. Edmund and Richard would become bitter rivals in the future battles of the Wars of the Roses. ¹
Richard, Duke of York, had previously been the Lieutenant of France and Normandy but this had expired and the title had gone to his rival Edmund Beaufort (later Duke of Somerset). Instead, Richard was appointed the title of Lieutenant of Ireland. ¹

1449

Richard Neville married Anne Beauchamp who was the heiress to the Warwick Earldom. The last male Beauchamp had died without an heir and so Richard took the title of earl of Warwick. This gave him control of large amounts of land in the Midlands and South Wales.

1450

Jack Cade was the leader of a rebellion that began in Kent and elsewhere in the south east of England. The rebels' grievances were directed at King Henry's councillors who were using their influence on the king for their own gains.
William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk was accused by Parliament of being the cause of the country's problems. Suffolk was arrested and imprisoned. The king allowed the Duke to be banished rather than executed but as he left the country he was attacked and killed.
The rebels under the command of Jack Cade defeated a section of King Henry's army at Sevenoaks and entered London. The rebels ransacked the city and after crossing London Bridge to the south were prevented crossing back to the north by angry Londoners. The rebels were defeated and fled.
After the defeat of the rebels in London Jack Cade fled but was pursued. He was caught and killed while resisting arrest.
The Duke of Somerset surrendered the town of Caen to the French after a short siege and he returned to England. ¹
The Duke of Somerset entered London and positioned himself as part of the king's council. ¹
The lands in Normandy held by the English began to fall to the French one-by-one until Cherbourg finally fell on August 12th. ¹

1451

The Duke of York writes to supporters in Norfolk asking for their support in an uprising against the King. ¹

1452

The Duke of York gathered an army and marched on London intent on persuading King Henry to remove Somerset from power. The king took an army north to Northampton to prevent Yorkist supporters in the east joining York in the west. The king also sent word to the city of London to not allow York to enter. Learning that he was refused entry to the city, the Duke of York continued south and crossed the the River Thames at Kingston. York moved his army to Dartford while King Henry came back south to London. ¹
Queen Margaret had raised an army and with the King they confronted the Duke of York at Dartford. Outnumbered, York disbanded his army and surrendered. He was taken to London and later at St. Paul's Cathedral was forced to swear an oath saying he would not oppose King Henry. ¹

1453

From August 1453 until the end of 1454, the mental health of King Henry VI was such that he was unable to conduct the day-to-day government of the country. The illness was some kind of mental condition possibly inherited from his grandfather Charles VI of France who also suffered from bouts of madness. What followed was a struggle for power and control of the English throne. Amongst the main rivals were Richard, Duke of York and Edmund Deaufort, the Duke of Somerset.
Edward of Westminster, also known as Edward of Lancaster, King Henry's and Margaret of Anjou's only son, was born at Westminster.
With support of the other barons Richard, Duke of York won over the unpopular Edmund Beaufort, the duke of Somerset. He had only kept his position of power with the support of the King and without that support all was lost. Somerset was arrested and sent to the Tower of London.

1454

With the King unable to govern, Queen Margaret with the support of the powerful Neville Earls gave Richard, Duke of York the position of 'Protector of England'.
With Richard, Duke of York running the country, several changes were made, one of which was to make the elder Richard Neville the Chancellor of England. Richard also made himself the Captain of Calais removing his rival the Earl of Somerset from the post.
King Henry returned to health and Richard, Duke of York was removed from the position of Protector.

1455

With Henry back in power the Duke of Somerset was released from captivity.
King Henry's return to sanity swung the balance of power back to favour the Duke of Somerset and he was quickly restored to his former position of Captain of Calais. The Yorkists at this time felt it wise to leave London in fear of reprisals.
A council was called and Edward, Earl of March and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick were summoned to attend. Concerned that the reason they had been called was to be punished, the Yorkists decided to demand a meeting of their own with the King at St. Albans.
King Henry VI had by his side at St. Albans the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham, Lords Pembroke, Northumberland and Devon and around 2,000 Lancastrian men. They tried to hold the town against the Yorkists led by Salisbury and Warwick but Warwick was able to enter the town through an unguarded spot and attack the flanks of the Lancastrian barricades. Although this battle was small it left the Duke of Somerset dead along with Lord Northumberland and Clifford. As a result of this victory power again swung to the Yorkists although support from the Barons was not total. Richard, Duke of York, again became Protector of the Realm and the powerful position of Captain of Calais was given to the Earl of Warwick.
A Parliament was held after the Battle of St. Albans to confirm the changes of appointment. Richard, Duke of York became protector for the second time. ¹
King Henry VI suffered another bout of mental illness. This time to last until February of the following year. ¹

1456

King Henry VI again came around from a bout of mental illness and Richard, Duke of York, was relieved from the position of Protector of the Realm. ¹

1458

In an attempt to bring both Yorkists and Lancastrians together in peace, King Henry VI led a march of both parties to a ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral.

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