War Of The Roses Research Paper

The War of the Roses occurred from 1455 to 1487, lasting approximately 32 years. The was started off between Richard III, King of England and the Lancastrian King, Henry VI. They both wanted the throne of England, although they both inherited the English throne, Yorkist had a stronger legitimate claim. In the end, Henry VI won and captured the crown (literally took the crown off Richard’s body) and was now the King of England. Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth, which was not the last battle of the war but the second to last. The last battle was Stoke which took place on 16 June 1487, 10 months after the death of Richard III. A very small group of Yorkist tried to take back the crown but were quickly defeated by Henry VI

But why?

Richard III had two nephews, Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York, who mysteriously disappeared after he was crowned king. Richard only cared about his family, by family, meaning wife and kid. “King Richard III was crowned together with his wife Anne, on 6 July at Westminster Abbey”, and soon after the boys disappeared (card 15). No one could ever figure out what happened to the princes. Whoever killed them destroyed the evidence very well. Richard sent the boys away (for reasons unknown) after he became King of England. They were last seen “in the tower where Richard supposedly had them under protection” (card 9). Richard was crowned king because the boys were labeled illegitimate. With them out of the way, he was able to become king, and as king, he commenced the war. Although the Yorkist had a stronger claim to the English throne, people still went after it. The war began on “ May 22, 1455, with First Battle of St. Albans when Richard, Duke of York and his

Being around the war that early changes someone’s perspective. Richard was eighteen when he was given “command of the vanguard at the Battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury” (card 26). He was only a teenager when the war was at his doorstep (literally). Although they won, it's still affected him in the long run. Even his family was taken time and time again from him. Death was very common in his family. “Almost after Richard’s brother’s death, his son dies. Months later his wife dies on March 1485” (card 14). Five months later Richard dies in the Battle of Bosworth. He had nobody to love, let alone trust anymore. After the death of his son and wife, he wasn’t in the right mindset to fight and lead an army, probably still grieving. Richard was “killed fighting manfully in the thickest press of his enemies” (card 5). He had no one to support him during this time. His family was taken from him, way to soon and that might have had repercussions on his ability to rule. Historians have supposedly gathered evidence to prove that he killed his own family to marry for more land and money. Richard loved his family more than people could imagine, and he would never put them in jeopardy. He would never kill his wife because she was a “co-heiress to [her] father’s earldom of Salisbury and to all [her] mother’s vast estates” (card 27). Also, he