The Wars of the RosesThe Early Lancastrian Dynasty

From Henry IV to Henry VI

Rival Claimants: The Mortimers

Henry VI’s TroublesMinority; Madness;

Faction

The Rise of the YorkistsRichard, Duke of York

Edward IV’s Reign(s)

1483Edward IV’s EndRichard III’s Usurpation

1485Henry TudorBosworth

Edward III’s Descendants

The Lancastrian Dynasty (Red)From Henry IV to Henry VI

Henry IV’s UsurpationClaim through John of Gaunt (d. 1399)

3rd Son of Edward III (d. 1377)

Rival Claimants – MortimersEdward & Roger Mortimer, E. of March

Via Lionel, Duke of Clarence

2nd Son of Edward III

Henry V (r. 1413-22)Relative Unity in French WarNoble Admiration of Warlike KingEarly Death, Dysentery

Henry IV, Usurper; National Portrait Gallery

Henry VI’s TroublesMinority (r. from 1422, 9 Months Old)

Rivalry Among Uncles & NoblesDks Bedford, GloucesterJohn Beaufort, E. of

SomersetYounger Brother of

Henry IVWilliam de la Pole, E. of

Suffolk

MadnessPious, but Unstable; Bouts of Insanity

FactionRise & Greed of Suffolk during the 1440sPilfering from the StateAbuse of Royal PropertiesRichard, D. of York; Military Experience

Henry VI, National Portrait Gallery

The Rise of the Yorkists (White)Richard, Duke of York (b. 1411)

Claim via 2 Sons of Ed. III (Lionel)Son of Ann Mortimer (Rival of H4)Huge Wealth; Marriage w/ Nevilles

Richard Neville, E. of Warwick

Richard’s ActivityHenry VI & Queen Fearing RichardVs. Edmund Beaufort, D. SomersetH VI’s Insanity, R’s Regency 1453-5

St. Albans, May 1455Richard, w/ Neville SupportHenry VI, w/ Somerset & Percy Support

Yorkist Control of H6; Queen Plotting1459: Strong Reaction vs. Yorkists

Margaret of Anjou, Queen Consort of Henry VI

Yorkist Ascendancy Con’tYorkist Revenge

Warwick & Richard’s Son, EdwardCapture Henry VI at N’hampton, ’60

Richard’s Death at Wakefield, Dec. ‘60Son, Edward’s Victories in ’61Towton, March ’61 (Largest Battle)

Edward IV (r. 1461-)Aid of Warwick (“Kingmaker”)Opposition of QueenMarriage Alliance with Woodville, ’64Neville – Woodville Rivalry

Rising against Edward, ‘69-70Henry VI Reinstated, ’70, Defeated, ’71

Edward IV in Control, 1471-83; Few Challenges

Battle of Barnet, April ‘71; Ed. IV Victorious, Kingmaker Dead

1483Edward IV’s Death, April ’83

Brother, Richard, D. GloucesterLoyal Servant of

the King

Heir: Edward V, 13 Years OldProtector: Richard or Woodvilles?

Uncle Richard Seizes PowerEd. V and Brother (Richard, D. York)

Imprisoned (Killed?) in TowerRichard III Crowned, July ’83

Alienation of Yorkist SupportersRebellion of Much of the South Richard III, Nat. Portrait

Gallery

1485Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond

Lancastrian Link to John of GauntFrench, Breton, British SupportSails from France, Route through Wales

Bosworth, August 22, 1485Middle of EnglandHenry had c. 5,000 MenRichard had c. 8,000 MenWilliam Stanley Switches Sides

3,000 MenSymbolic of the Wars

Richard III Dead; Henry Tudor CrownedYoung Henry Tudor, NPG