Key Battles 1455-59 (mine)

Question 1

who were the participants in the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 1

• Lancastrians: Humphrey Stafford (Duke of Buckingham), leader of Lancastrian army; Earl of Northumberland (Henry Percy); Lord Clifford (Thomas Clifford); Duke of Somerset (Edmund Beaufort); Earl of Wiltshire (James Butler)
• Yorkists: Richard Duke of York, leader of Yorkist army; Earl of Warwick (Richard Neville)

Question 2

how many troops were in the Lancastrian army in the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 2

2000

Question 3

how many people strong was the Yorkist army in the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 3

3000

Question 4

who died at the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 4

• Duke of Somerset: Edmund Beaufort
• Earl of Northumberland: Henry Percy
• Lord Clifford: Thomas Clifford

Question 5

what was the significance of the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 5

• relatively minor in military terms
• complete victory for York and Warwick politically as HVI had been captured so York restored himself to complete power. HVI escorted HVI to London the next day, appointed Protector of England by parliament a few months later
• Somerset, Henry Percy (Earl of Northumberland), Lord Clifford all died which started blood feuds which became a major part of the war
• among the wounded were Duke of Buckingham, Thomas Courtenay (Earl of Devon), Henry Beaufort (Earl of Dorset, Somerset’s son)
• York’s supporters rewarded; e.g. Warwick became Captain of Calais
• precedent established that military action against royal forces could go unpunished
• Margaret became increasingly afraid of York

Question 6

how did the First Battle of St Albans start?

Answer 6

• Lancastrian army arrived first; defended it by placing troops along Tonman Ditch and at bars in Sopwell Lane and Shropshire Lane
• Yorkist army arrived: camped in Keyfield to the east
• lengthy negotiations: heralds moved back and forth between rival commanders; after a few hours, it was believed in the Yorkist camp that HVI knew nothing of the letters of negotiation
• After several hours, giving up on a peaceful solution, York decided to attack; his army may have been unwilling to attack HVI, the Royal Standard wasn’t visible as it had been propped against a wall by the royal standard bearer, the Earl of Wiltshire

Question 7

why were the bulk of HVI’s forces surprised at the suddenness of York’s attack at the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 7

most were expecting a peaceful resolution like at Dartford

Question 8

how was the First Battle of St Albans won?

Answer 8

• 2 Yorkist frontal assaults down narrow streets against barricades (commanded by Lord Clifford) near St Peter’s Church, made no headway - heavy Yorkist casualties
• Warwick led a reserve force through an unguarded part of defences, through back lanes and gardens, appearing in the market square where the main body of HVI’s troops were resting.
• Warwick charged, routing the Lancastrians and killing Somerset. His archers shot at the men surrounding the king, killing several and injuring HVI and Buckingham.
• Lancastrians manning barricades realised Yorkists outflanked them and abandoned their positions

Question 9

who were the participants in the Battle of Blore Heath?

Answer 9

• Yorkists: Earl of Salisbury (Richard Neville)
• Lancastrians: Lord Audley (James Touchet), Lord Dudley

Question 10

what was the significance of the Battle of Blore Heath?

Answer 10

• Yorkist victory
• Audley was killed which upset Margaret

Question 11

how did Lancastrians tried to prevent Salisbury from moving South to join York, before the Battle of Blore Heath?

Answer 11

• raised several armies and spread them across the Midlands
  
  • East: Henry VI based around Nottingham
  • West Midlands: Duke of Somerset
  • Chester: Queen Margaret and Prince Edward
  • Cheshire: James Touchet (Lord Audley)

Question 12

how were the Stanleys involved in the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 12

• Both Yorkists and Lancastrians uncertain of attitudes of Stanleys (major landowners in Cheshire)
• Royal army expected support; did not get it
• Lord Thomas Stanley claimed to be loyal but never joined Margaret’s army
• Sir William Stanley joined Salisbury

Question 13

how did the Battle of Blore Heath begin?

Answer 13

• Salisbury moved South and when he reached Newcastle under Lyme (north-west Staffordshire) Margaret was just to South of Eccleshall - she Missed the chance to intercept him by waiting for Lord Stanley to arrive
• Salisbury was able to move West, past her, heading for Market Drayton in Shropshire
• Salisbury was intercepted by Lord Audley at Blore Heath, just east of Market Drayton

Question 14

how did the Battle of Blore Heath play out?

Answer 14

• Salisbury appears to have quickly entrenched Lord Audley
• Lord Audley led 2 cavalry charges against Yorkist lines but Both failed and in the 2nd, Audley was killed
• Command passed to John Dudley, Lord Dudley
• Series of infantry attacks on Yorkist lines also failed and Lancastrian cavalry gave way, followed by infantry
• In the pursuit, Dudley was captured

Question 15

who were the participants in the Rout of Ludford Bridge?

Answer 15

• Henry VI
• Richard of York
• Edmund of Rutland
• Salisbury
• Warwick
• Edward of March
• Andrew Trollope

Question 16

who died at the Battle of Blore Heath?

Answer 16

Lord Audley (James Touchet)

Question 17

who died at the Rout of Ludford Bridge?

Answer 17

no-one

Question 18

what was the significance of the Rout of Ludford Bridge?

Answer 18

• King was present
• York and Edmund fled north and then to Ireland
• Salisbury, Warwick, and March fled south ending up in Devon, where they found a ship
• Lancastrian victory

Question 19

how was the Rout of Ludford Bridge set up?

Answer 19

• Combined Yorkist army moved south-east from Ludlow to Worcester
• Royal army approached so Yorkists retreated south to Tewksbury then fell back north-west to Ludlow
• Ludlow town is on north bank of River Teme, sitting in a bend which covers it from south and west; River Corve runs along northern side, joining Teme just to North; Main bridge across Teme at Southern side of town and led to Ludford
• Yorkists built a defensive position at Ludford bridge, where their army was posted with York’s men on south bank of Teme, with bridge behind
• Yorkists Had field artillery mounted on carts forming the front line, with outnumbered troops behind

Question 20

what happened when the Royal army approached Ludford bridge from south, in the Rout of Ludford Bridge?

Answer 20

Yorkist guns fired at Royal army

Question 21

how did York attempt to deal with HVI’s presence at the Rout of Ludford Bridge?

Answer 21

York was aware king’s presence was potentially demoralising for his men, and a pardon was very tempting; he Tried to convince his men the king was dead, but failed

Question 22

how did the Rout of Ludford Bridge end?

Answer 22

• Trollope and the experienced Calais men changed sides, accepting the pardon and Claiming they didn’t expect to have to fight the king in person
• this was Unconvincing, but it is unknown what Warwick told the garrison before leaving Calais
• Yorkist leaders announced they would retire to Ludlow Castle for the night but Then decided to flee, abandoning the men