War Of The Roses
Near the end of the Hundred Years War, dissent in England led to civil strife, and
many of the royal family of Plantagenet were killed in their attempts to seize the
throne. Back in 1337, Edward III declared war on France, after Philip VI s refusal
to return territories to England. This struggle would devastate both nations for 116
years until 1453, ultimately leaving England with even less territory in France than
they had started with. In 1422, near the end of the war, the effective king Henry V
died of dysentery, leaving behind an infant son Henry VI. Young Henry, who was
insane, was unable to control his nation. The House of Yorkchallenged Henry VI,
and a civil war began that would last 32 years. The War of the Roses was a major
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However, a division was created when in 1377, Edward III s fourth son, John of
Gaunt, became the first duke of Lancaster, and his fifth son, Edmund of Langley,
became the first duke of York. This separation would prove the be lasting. In 1453,
the last English territories in southwestern France were lost to the Dauphin
Charles, which marked the end of the devastating Hundred Years War. England had
lost all of their holdings on mainland Europe, except Calais. This disastrous result
proved that Henry VI was a weak king, and his political enemies, including barons
and Richard of York, rose up against him. Initial conflicts occurred in 1455, and
after five years of fighting and temporary truces, the Battle of Wakefield in 1460
resulted in a Yorkist victory, although Richard of York was killed. Edward, his son
was crowned Edward IV, yet he died 23 years later in 1483. His brother Richard III
claimed the throne, although Edward V, his nephew, was supposedly the rightful
heir. Some Yorkists who opposed Richard III sought help from Henry Tudor, the
last Lancastrian descendent. Henry staged a failed rebellion with Edward
Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, but at Bosworth Field, (8/22/1485), he
defeated Richard III at a final battle, ending the 32 year old struggle. Henry was
crowned Henry VII, THEN married Elizabeth of York, thus uniting the two houses.
Before the war, England was controlled by the sovereign and a network of nobility.
However, the War of the Roses added to the already high death rate of aristocracy,
thus weakening the feudal state. Seven important royal relatives were deposed or
killed in battle, including Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, Richard Neville of
Salisbury, Richard Neville of Warwick, Edward IV, Edward V, and Richard III. With
less competition for kingship, the Tudors would be able to establish an empire in
relative peace. With many new ideas of the Renaissance being