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  1. Home
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  3. Wars of the Roses
  4. Phase One
Episode Details
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Wars of the Roses

Introduction Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4

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.

Casualties of phase one

Thomas Clifford

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Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron de Clifford was killed during the first battle of St. Albans on 22 May 1455. He was a Lancastrian supporter.

Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset

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Edmund Beaufort was a Lancastrian supporter. Beaufort's early military career was a great success, but failing to prevent the loss of Anjou, Maine and Normandy to the French his career ended badly. Back in England Beaufort's popularity was low and it was only the support of the King that kept him safe. When King Henry had to relinquish power because of his mental health Edmund Beaufort was locked in the Tower of London. When the King regained power Beaufort was released from the Tower. He supported the King until being killed at the Battle of St. Albans on 22 May, 1455.

Battles of the War of the Roses

Battles of the War of the Roses

Episode Events

1447

...
Edmund Beaufort appointed lieutenant of France
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]
Qtr 4
Richard, Duke of York, Lieutenant of Ireland
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 becomes Earl of Warwick
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

May
Revolt in Kent
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.
May
Death of William de la Pole
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.
Jun
London ransacked by the rebels
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.
Jul
Jack Cade killed
After the defeat of the rebels in London Jack Cade fled but was pursued. He was caught and killed while resisting arrest.
Jul
Surrender of Caen
The Duke of Somerset surrendered the town of Caen to the French after a short siege and he returned to England. [2]
Aug 1
Somerset arrives in London
The Duke of Somerset entered London and positioned himself as part of the king's council. [3]
Aug 12
Fall of Cherbourg to the French
The lands in Normandy held by the English began to fall to the French one-by-one until Cherbourg finally fell on August 12th. [2]

1451

Qtr 4
York starts an uprising
The Duke of York writes to supporters in Norfolk asking for their support in an uprising against the King. [4]

1452

Feb
The Duke of York marches on London
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. [5]
Mar
The Duke of York surrenders
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. [5]

1453

Aug
The King's health suffers
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.
Oct 13
Prince Edward of Lancaster is born
Edward of Westminster, also known as Edward of Lancaster, King Henry's and Margaret of Anjou's only son, was born at Westminster.
Nov
Somerset sent to the Tower
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

Mar 27
Richard, Duke of York made Protector
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'.
Apr 2
Earl of Salisbury becomes Chancellor
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.
Dec
King Henry's health returns
King Henry returned to health and Richard, Duke of York was removed from the position of Protector.

1455

Feb
Somerset released from the Tower
With Henry back in power the Duke of Somerset was released from captivity.
Mar
Somerset back in command
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.
May 21
The Yorkists are summoned
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.
May 22
First Battle of 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.
Jul
Parliament held
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. [6]
Oct
Henry VI becomes ill once more
King Henry VI suffered another bout of mental illness. This time to last until February of the following year. [6]

1456

Feb 25
Duke of York resigns as Protector
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. [6]

1458

Mar 24
Loveday march
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.
See Also

Event Participants and Locations

  • Beaufort, Edmund (2nd Duke of Somerset)
  • Richard (Duke of York)
  • Henry (VI, King of England 1422-1461, 1470-1471)
  • Neville, Richard (Earl of Warwick, 'The Kingmaker')
  • Pole, William de la (Duke of Suffolk)
  • Cade, Jack
  • Margaret (of Anjou)
  • Edward (of Lancaster, Prince of Wales)
  • Edward (IV, Earl of March and King of England 1461-1470, 1471-1483)
  • Neville, Richard (Earl of Salisbury)
  • Stafford, Humphrey (Duke of Buckingham)
  • Beaufort, Henry (3rd Duke of Somerset)
  • Warwick Castle
  • Chateau de Caen
  • Tower of London
  • St. Albans (May 22 1455)
  • Parliament
  • London
  • Calais

Selection of references used:

  • 1: J R Lander, The Wars of the Roses, ISBN:0-75090-018-0
  • 2: Hubert Cole, The Wars of the Roses, 1973, ISBN:0-246-10618-2, Own copy
  • 3: R.L.Storey, The End of the House of Lancaster, 1966, Barrie and Rockliff (Barrie Books Ltd) (1966)
  • 4: Anthony Goodman, The Wars of the Roses, ISBN:0-88029-484-1
  • 5: Paul Murray Kendall, Richard The Third, ISBN:ISBN-0-04-942048-8
  • 6: C. W. Oman, Warwick
     
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    Event Participants and Locations

    • Beaufort, Edmund (2nd Duke of Somerset)
    • Richard (Duke of York)
    • Henry (VI, King of England 1422-1461, 1470-1471)
    • Neville, Richard (Earl of Warwick, 'The Kingmaker')
    • Pole, William de la (Duke of Suffolk)
    • Cade, Jack
    • Margaret (of Anjou)
    • Edward (of Lancaster, Prince of Wales)
    • Edward (IV, Earl of March and King of England 1461-1470, 1471-1483)
    • Neville, Richard (Earl of Salisbury)
    • Stafford, Humphrey (Duke of Buckingham)
    • Beaufort, Henry (3rd Duke of Somerset)
    • Warwick Castle
    • Chateau de Caen
    • Tower of London
    • St. Albans (May 22 1455)
    • Parliament
    • London
    • Calais

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