The Wars of the Roses: a brief history

The white rose of York

Shakespeare immortalised the Wars of the Roses in historical plays that would resonate for centuries. Marking the emergence of the Tudor dynasty, the battles represented the beginning of a new era, a break between medieval and early modern times in which kings strove to reduce noble power and increase centralised rule. The romanticised title of this collection of bloody battles is intimately connected with Englishness, adopting the English rose as its emblem.

Over 500 years later, the tradition of an annual sporting tournament between the Universities of York and Lancaster, while warlike in intensity, diverges considerably from the 15th century’s version of the Wars of the Roses. York confronts Lancaster, the white rose attacks the red, the outcome is unpredictable, spectators are intrigued. Yet the stakes have been lowered: it is no longer a crown we are fighting for but a trophy. And the city of York has switched sides...

Compared to the turbulent 15th century, the Tudor era appears docile and stable. Of the six monarchs to hold the throne in the 1400s, one went mad, one was murdered, one died in battle. King Edward IV drowned his brother in a vat of wine, child heirs disappeared at the hands of culprits still unproven, and almost every monarch was named a usurper. As a consequence, the mighty Plantagenet dynasty became extinct and the unlikely Welsh Tudor family came to the throne thanks to a royal ancestor’s affair. Not quite as exciting as the modern version then.

The Wars of the Roses technically lasted 30 years, beginning in 1455 when Richard Duke of York challenged mad Henry VI for the throne in the Battle of St Alban’s. However, there was at most only 13 weeks of fighting and one year of campaigning within this period as England had not yet established a standing army and war was traditionally only a fair weather pastime. Unlike modern warfare, or our 3 day sporting tournament, Roses battles never lasted longer than a day.

A typical contender for the throne would lay low abroad on the Continent, perhaps get cosy with the king of France or Burgundy in exchange for cash, then make the treacherous journey across the Channel (the harsh reality of a world without the Eurostar). After gathering men from the countryside incited by promises of plunder, small armies would march at each other and fight for a day. Most of the battles were held in fields, minimising disruption to regular civilians. Once victory was in sight, the vanquished would flee and be followed across country by bloodthirsty Yorkists/Lancastrians who loved the spoil of the fight. A few nobles might be killed in the fray, a new king might take the throne, or the status quo would remain.

The ‘civil war’ or ‘dynastic struggle’ ended in 1485 at the infamous Battle of Bosworth, a prominent feature of Tudor propaganda when Henry VII defeated Yorkist Richard III. Henry relied on his victory at this battle as legitimacy for his rule, promptly marrying ex Yorkist princess Elizabeth and blaming Richard III for all the ills of the nation.

Despite adopting the white rose as our emblem in the sports tournament, the City of York supported the Lancastrians as did the City of Lancaster. Most of the battles happened in the South around London and the Welsh Marches, indeed the closest battle to the city of York was in Towton, 12 miles south of the walls. It seems the modern sports tournament has very little to do with its namesake.

York did play a role, however minor, in the turmoil. Micklegate Bar was decorated with heads of defeated Yorkist nobles such as the ‘Kingmaker’ Earl of Warwick. However, as the traditional home of ‘barbaric’ northerners, the royals left York (and Lancaster) largely to their own devices.

The University of York may have overwhelmingly defeated Lancaster last year, but it was the Lancastrians who ultimately won the original Wars of the Roses. Hopefully history won’t repeat itself.

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