Category Archives: Wars of the Roses

Faction and Politics for Dummies at the Outbreak of the Wars of the Roses – Part 

Posted on 3 Sep 2017 by moneil2014

Part 2: Richard, Duke of York v Edmund, Duke of Beaufort This is the second of a series of posts intended to explain the events leading up to the outbreak of hostilities in 1455, known as the Wars of the … Continue reading →

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Faction and Politics for Dummies at the Outbreak of the Wars of the Rose

Posted on 2 Sep 2017 by moneil2014

Part 1: Richard, Duke of York, becomes Protector of the Realm In 1454, Richard Duke of York, the leading peer of the realm – was given the poisoned chalice: he was appointed Protector of the Realm in view of the … Continue reading →

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All you thought you knew about the Wars of the Roses, but didn’t… Episode One: Henry VI: the mad king?

Posted on 30 Aug 2017 by moneil2014

There are two commonly held beliefs about Henry VI: either he was a simpleton or he was mad – not a great choice really… and of course, neither charge is actually supported by the evidence.

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Henry Tudor Recruits Soldiers for His Showdown with King Richard III

Posted on 23 Aug 2017 by moneil2014

At the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4, 1471, the Yorkists won a huge victory against the Lancastrians. Edward, Prince of Wales, son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou was killed during the battle and Queen Margaret was captured. … Continue reading →

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On This Day

Posted on 22 Aug 2017 by moneil2014

OTD 1485: The Battle of Bosworth, Richard III is killed and Henry Tudor was proclaimed King of England.

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What’s more bloody – Game of Thrones or the Wars of the Roses?

Posted on 12 Aug 2017 by moneil2014

Has Game of Thrones become far too bloody? Surprisingly, statistical analyses actually indicate that the fictional show is quite realistic compared to a real life medieval civil war. As queen Cersei, one of the story’s central characters, proclaims: “When you play … Continue reading →

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What was Livery and Maintenance (or Retaining)?

Posted on 9 Aug 2017 by moneil2014

Livery and Maintenance went hand-in-hand with chivalry, and created problems throughout the high middle ages. Once I realized that “retaining” was the verb for “retainer” I started to get the idea. The noble or king had his retainers, who were … Continue reading →

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The King’s Son: The Short Life of Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales

Posted on 26 Jul 2017 by moneil2014

In April 1484 King Richard III and his wife Anne Neville were enjoying a respite from their royal progress. They were lodging at Nottingham Castle when they received the devastating news that their son Edward of Middleham, Prince of Wales … Continue reading →

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Strategies of War in Westeros

Posted on 16 Jul 2017 by moneil2014

Introduction: George R.R. Martin’s Westeros seems to have an unreasonably large number of battles compared to the real Middle Ages. In A Clash of Kings there are no less than five field actions during the course of Robb Stark’s one-year … Continue reading →

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The Lost Coronation Of King Richard III

Posted on 6 Jul 2017 by moneil2014

The coronation that took place on Sunday 6th July 1483 was, only a fortnight earlier, unplanned. London was prepared for a coronation, that of King Edward V on 22nd June but that was fated not to take place. Edward had … Continue reading →

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