Wars of the Roses Timeline (2025)

Definition

The Wars of the Roses (1455-1487) was a dynastic conflict between the English nobility and monarchy which led to four decades of intermittent battles, executions, and murder plots. The English elite was split into two camps, each centred around a branch of the descendants of Edward III of England (r. 1327-1377): the Yorks and Lancasters, who won.

More about: Wars of the Roses

Timeline

• 1411 - 1460

  Life of Richard, Duke of York.

• 1422 - 1461

  First reign of Henry VI of England.

• 1436

  Tax records show that Richard, Duke of York is the richest man in England.

• 1450

  There is a rebellion in England led by Jack Cade.

• Feb 1452 - Mar 1452

  Richard, Duke of York launches a failed by marching his army to Dartford.

• 13 Oct 1453

  Birth of Edward, the only son of Henry VI of England.

• Mar 1454

  Richard, Duke of York is made Protector of the Realm.

• 1455 - 1487

  Wars of the Roses in England.

• 1455

  Richard, Duke of York imprisons his rival the Earl of Somerset in the Tower of London.

• 22 May 1455

  Richard, Duke of York wins the Battle of St. Albans and the Earl of Somerset is killed.

• Nov 1455

  Richard, Duke of York is made the Protector of the Realm for a second time.

• 25 Mar 1458

  ‘Loveday’, Henry VI of England's attempt to reconcile the Yorkists and Lancastrians.

• 1459

  The 'Parliament of Devils' identifies Richard, Duke of York as a traitor. The duke flees to Ireland.

• 12 Oct 1459

  An army led by Queen Margaret defeats Richard, Duke of York at the Battle of Ludford Bridge.

• 10 Jul 1460

  A Yorkist army led by Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick and Edward, Earl of March defeats Queen Margaret’s army at Northampton. Henry VI of England is captured.

• 24 Oct 1460

  The Act of Accord identifies Richard, Duke of York as the official heir of Henry VI of England.

• 30 Dec 1460

  Richard, Duke of York is killed at the Battle of Wakefield.

• 1461 - 1470

  First reign of Edward IV of England.

• 1461 - 1468

  Harlech Castle in Wales is besieged by a Yorkist army during the Wars of the Roses.

• 17 Feb 1461

  A Yorkist army, led by the Earl of Warwick, is defeated at St. Albans. Henry VI of England is released from captivity.

• 29 Mar 1461

  Edward of York wins the bloody Battle of Towton. Henry VI of England is deposed.

• 1464

  A Lancastrian army is defeated at Hexam by Edward IV of England.

• Jul 1465

  The fugitive ex-king Henry VI of England is captured in Lancashire and imprisoned in the Tower of London.

• 14 Aug 1468

  Harlech Castle in Wales finally surrenders to the Yorkists during the Wars of the Roses. The resistance of the Lancastrian garrison is commemorated in the popular song 'Men of Harlech'.

• 26 Jul 1469

  The Earl of Warwick and Queen Margaret defeat King Edward IV’s army at Northampton in the Battle of Edgecote Moor.

• 1470 - 1471

  Second reign of Henry VI of England.

• 1470

  Birth of Prince Edward (eldest son of Edward IV of England), the future Edward V of England.

• 11 Apr 1470

  Henry VI of England is reinstated as king (the ‘Readeption’).

• Oct 1470

  Second (English) coronation of Henry VI of England, this time in Saint Paul's Cathedral.

• 1471 - 1483

  Second reign of Edward IV of England.

• 14 Apr 1471

  Edward IV of England wins the Battle of Barnet where the Earl of Warwick is killed.

• 4 May 1471

  Henry VI of England’s only son Edward is killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury. Henry VI is imprisoned in the Tower of London by Edward IV of England.

• 21 May 1471

  Henry VI of England is murdered in the Tower of London.

• 1472

  Edward IV of England makes his younger brother Richard the Duke of Gloucester.

• 1473

  Birth of Edward of Middleham, son of Richard, Duke of Gloucester, future Richard III of England.

• 1476

  Queen Margaret, wife of the late Henry VI of England, is released from confinement and returns to France.

• 18 Feb 1478

  George, Duke of Clarence, the brother of Edward IV of England, is murdered in the Tower of London.n

• 1483

  Richard III of England imprisons and then likely murders the two young sons of the late Edward IV, the 'Princes in the Tower'.

• Apr 1483 - Jun 1483

  Reign of Edward V of England.

• 9 Apr 1483

  Edward IV of England dies of a stroke at Westminster.

• 6 Jul 1483

  Coronation of Richard III of England in Westminster Abbey.

• Nov 1483

  A plot to overthrow Richard III of England is foiled. The Duke of Buckingham is executed.

• 9 Apr 1484

  Death of Prince Edward, Richard III of England's son and heir.

• Mar 1485

  Death of Queen Anne Neville, wife of Richard III of England.

• 8 Aug 1485

  Henry Tudor, future Henry VII of England, lands with an army of French mercenaries at Milford Haven in South Wales.

• 22 Aug 1485

  Henry Tudor, future Henry VII of England, wins the Battle of Bosworth Field where Richard III of England is killed.

• 30 Oct 1485

  Coronation of Henry VII of England in Westminster Abbey.

• 18 Jan 1486

  Henry VII of England marries Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV of England.n