the war of the barons 1459-1461 Flashcards
summarise the battle of Northampton 10th July 1460
Key Figures:
Yorkists: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick; Edward, Earl of March (future Edward IV).
Lancastrians: King Henry VI; Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham.
Location: Northampton, England.
Events:
Yorkists attacked Lancastrian defensive position.
Treachery: Lord Grey of Ruthin defected to the Yorkists, weakening the Lancastrian defence.
Yorkists overwhelmed the Lancastrians in under 30 minutes.
Outcome:
Yorkist victory.
King Henry VI captured.
Several Lancastrian leaders (including Buckingham) killed.
Shifted power towards the Yorkists, leading to the Act of Accord later in 1460.
summarise the battle of Wakefield 30th December 1460
Key Figures:
Yorkists: Richard, Duke of York; Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury.
Lancastrians: Queen Margaret; Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset; Andrew Trollope.
Location: Sandal Castle, near Wakefield, Yorkshire.
Events:
Yorkists (c. 5,000 men) left Sandal Castle, possibly tricked by feigned retreats or foraging issues.
Lancastrians (c. 15,000 men) ambushed them, surrounding and crushing York’s forces.
Outcome:
Decisive Lancastrian victory.
Richard, Duke of York, killed; his head displayed with a paper crown in York.
Yorkist leaders Salisbury and Edmund, Earl of Rutland, also executed.
Strengthened Lancastrian cause but intensified Yorkist determination, leading to the Battle of Towton (1461).
summarise the battle of Mortimer’s cross 2nd February 1461
Key Figures:
Yorkists: Edward, Earl of March (future Edward IV).
Lancastrians: Owen Tudor; Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke.
Location: Near Wigmore, Herefordshire.
Events:
A meteorological phenomenon called a parhelion (three suns in the sky) appeared; Edward used it as a sign of divine favour (later symbolised as the “Sun in Splendour”).
Edward’s forces blocked Jasper Tudor’s army from joining the main Lancastrian force.
Fierce fighting; Yorkists won due to better leadership and tactics.
Outcome:
Yorkist victory.
Owen Tudor captured and executed.
Strengthened Edward’s position, leading to his claim to the throne.
Helped pave the way for the decisive Yorkist victory at Towton (March 1461).
summarise the second battle of st Albans 17th February 1461
Key Figures:
Lancastrians: Queen Margaret; Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset.
Yorkists: Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.
Location: St Albans, Hertfordshire.
Events:
Lancastrians outflanked Warwick’s defensive position.
Yorkist forces, poorly positioned and outnumbered, were overwhelmed.
King Henry VI, in Yorkist custody, was abandoned and recaptured by the Lancastrians.
Outcome:
Decisive Lancastrian victory.
Warwick fled; heavy Yorkist losses.
King Henry VI reunited with Queen Margaret, but their forces failed to march on London.
Set the stage for the Yorkist comeback and the Battle of Towton (March 1461).
summarise the battle of Ferrybridge 28th March 1461
Key Figures:
Yorkists: Edward, Earl of March (future Edward IV); Lord Fauconberg.
Lancastrians: Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset; Lord Clifford.
Location: Ferrybridge, Yorkshire (crossing of the River Aire).
Events:
Yorkists attempted to secure the bridge for their advance north.
Lancastrians, led by Lord Clifford, destroyed parts of the bridge and launched surprise attacks.
Fierce fighting ensued; Yorkists temporarily forced back.
Fauconberg led a counterattack, using a ford to outflank the Lancastrians.
Outcome:
Yorkist victory.
Lord Clifford killed in the retreat.
Secured Yorkist path to Towton, leading to the largest battle of the Wars of the Roses (29th March 1461).
summarise the battle of Towton 29th march 1461
Key Figures:
Yorkists: Edward, Earl of March (now King Edward IV); Lord Fauconberg.
Lancastrians: King Henry VI (absent); Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset.
Location: Towton, Yorkshire.
Events:
Fought in a snowstorm; strong winds favoured Yorkist archers.
Fierce hand-to-hand combat lasted hours; Yorkists nearly collapsed.
Duke of Norfolk’s late reinforcements tipped the balance for Edward IV.
Routed Lancastrians were slaughtered as they fled across the River Cock.
Outcome:
Decisive Yorkist victory.
King Henry VI and Queen Margaret fled to Scotland.
Edward IV secured the throne, ending Lancastrian rule (temporarily).
Estimated 28,000 dead—the deadliest battle on English soil.
