The Wars of the Roses: 1377-1471

The Mediaeval and Modern History of England are divided from one another by the Wars of the Roses. Out of the troubles of that time a New England arose. The period has been described by the historian Stubbs in a memorable passage: “Weak as is the fourteenth century, the fifteenth is weaker still, more futile, bloodier, and more immoral. “But out of the weakness came strength. The Wars of the Roses were a rough schooling to England, but they ushered in the glories of the Tudor reigns. It was a period when in Europe national states were slowly being evolved. The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic wars fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York (whose heraldic symbols were the red and the white rose, respectively) for the throne of England. They were fought in several sporadic episodes between 1455 and 1485. This work includes the several Battles that occured along the years of the dispute of the throne of England.