HOUSE OF LANCASTER
1399-1461
WARS OF THE ROSES
• Struggles for the English Crown lasting during
the time between the reigns of Richard II (last
Angevin; deposed by cousin and Parliament)
and Henry VII (of the Lancaster family; first
Tudor)
• Between 2 rival families—Lancasters (red
rose) and Yorks (white rose)
• Claims of Lancaster and York united with the
marriage of Henry VII to Elizabeth of York; end
of dynastic warfare.
HENRY IV (House of Lancaster)
r. 1399 - 1413
• First Lancaster king
• “Reign of Rebellion”
– Richard II’s half brothers
– Dukes
– Archbishops
• Felt remorse for how he
had treated Richard.
HENRY V
r. 1413 - 1422
• Son of Henry IV
• Renewed Hundred Years War
– Attention diverted from internal discord
– Supported by Parliament
• Battle at Agincourt (1415)—precursor to
Treaty of Troyes, which gave the French
princess in marriage to Henry and a
superior claim to the French throne.
• Could have been crowned King of France
had he lived longer.
HENRY VI
r. 1422 – 1461(Deposed)
r. 1470 – 1471 (Restored- then murdered)
• King at 9 months! (uncles and cousins reigned for first 20 years)
• Hundred Years’ War continued…France had Joan of Arc, English
lost
• Last of the Lancasters
• Armed (firearms) conflict in War of the Roses becomes more
acute.
• Gov’t was too weak to control the nobles
– Disastrous results for Henry
Lancaster Rose
HOUSE OF YORK
1461-1485
EDWARD IV (House of York)
r. 1461-1470 and 1471-1483
• Was originally chosen as king by a council of peers, but then finally
defeated Henry VI
• Lived off of the spoils taken from the supporters of the Lancasters.
Yorkshire Rose
EDWARD V
April – June 1483
• Crowned at twelve, immediately sent to the tower by his uncle Richard, Duke
of Glouster (brother of Edward IV who believed Edward V and his younger
brother were illegitimate.)
• Edward and his younger brother were locked in the Tower of London (for their
safety?), and were not seen again after several months.
• Their disappearance is still a mystery, but is typically blamed on either Richard
(uncle) or Henry Tudor.
RICHARD III
r. 1483 - 1485
• Last of the Yorks
• Ruthless with opponents
• Remembered most for his most likely
role in the disappearance of his
nephews.
• Killed at Bosworth