Wars of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses were a group of civil wars fought in England from 1455 to 1485. The main cause was a dispute over who had the stronger claim to the English throne. Two powerful families, the House of Lancaster and the House of York, each said that their line should rule. Their family symbols gave the conflict its name: a red rose for Lancaster and a white rose for York.

The conflict began during the reign of Henry VI of England. Henry VI was a Lancastrian king who sometimes suffered from illness, which made it difficult for him to lead the government. Some nobles believed that Richard, Duke of York, had a better claim to rule because his family line also came from earlier kings. Several battles followed as each side tried to control the king and the government.

The first major battle took place at St Albans in 1455, where Yorkist forces defeated the king's supporters. During the next years, power shifted back and forth. In 1461, the Yorkist leader Edward, son of Richard, Duke of York, became King Edward IV after winning more battles. His reign was interrupted for a short time in 1470, when Henry VI was placed back on the throne in a period called the Readeption. However, Edward IV soon took back power after the battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury in 1471.

After Edward IV died in 1483, his brother Richard became King Richard III. His rule was challenged by Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian claimant who lived in exile. In 1485, Henry Tudor invaded England and faced Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Richard III was killed in the battle, and Henry Tudor became King Henry VII. This event is often seen as the end of the Wars of the Roses.

Henry VII strengthened his position by marrying Elizabeth of York, the daughter of Edward IV. This union brought together the two rival houses. It also began the Tudor dynasty, which ruled England for more than a century. After 1485, no large-scale war continued between the two families.

The Wars of the Roses left England with great changes in leadership and shifted power among major noble families. The end of the conflict also marked the rise of a new royal line under Henry VII.