Wars of the Roses, 1455-1485

Battles of the civil war took place between 1455 and 1485, though conflict truly began in 1399 when Henry of Bolingbroke founded the House of Lancaster usurping the throne from cousin Richard II of the House of York. Henry of Bolingbroke's and the Lancaster lines' right to the throne was based off of their descent from Edward III (a Plantaganet king)'s fourth son, John of Gaunt. Richard II had been but ten at the time, Edward III's grandson whose father, the initial heir known as the Black Prince, had died. Henry of Bolingbroke's heir, Henry V, died whilst his son and heir Henry VI was but an infant, and his right to the throne was challenged by Richard, Duke of York, a descendant of Edward III's third and fifth sons.

The two houses quarreled and clashed often, but the first armed battles began in 1455. The war became more violent in 1459 and there were times when Yorkists were forced to flee the country before Richard of York became England's Protector and Henry VI was captured by one of York's supporters, the Earl of Warwick; at Wakerfield York and second son Edmund were slain by the Lancaster forces, who also recaptured Henry VI. It was under the deceased Richard of York's eldest son, who was proclaimed Edward IV by Warwick, who captured the capital, that the Lancaster forces were crushed at the 1461 Battle of London.

In 1464, Edward married for love against the wishes of Warwick, who had put him on the throne out of the belief that he would be his 'puppet'. Elizabeth Woodville had been related through her mother to one of Henry VI's uncles; Warwick despised Woodville and her clan, and Edward for allowing them such influence on him. He attacked and captured Edward and attempted unsuccessfully to rule through him, and in the face of rebellion, alas released him.

Warwick rebelled again in 1570 and defeated, fled to France where he gained support from Lancastrians from an invasion if he fought to restore Henry VI. Betrayed by Warwick's brother, Edward IV was forced to flee to Burgundy. France, supporting the Lancastrians, engaged in war against Burgundy, which was forced to gather an army to help restore Edward IV. Whilst reclaiming his dukedom Edward gained much support, took prisoner the restored Henry VI and won back his throne. While he left strong male heirs upon his 1483 death, his passing brought on immense complications, chaos, war, and ultimately led to the ascent of the House of Tudor.

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