Part 1: Historical Background on the War of the Roses

The Rulers


King Henry V was born in September of 1387 and died August 21, 1422.  He ruled from 1413-1422.  He was the son of King Henry IV and Mary de Bohun, he was married to Catherine de Valois, and his son was King Henry VI.  He was a member of the House of Lancaster, and he spent much of his reign trying to regain land that was claimed by his ancestors in France.  He fought in the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years War, which left him in control of Northern France.  He died at the age of 35 leaving his infant son, Henry VI, the throne.


King Henry VI was born in 1421 and died May 21, 1471.  He ruled from 1422-1461.  He was the son of King Henry V and Catherine de Valois, he was married to Margaret of Anjou, and and his son was Edward, Prince of Wales.  He became king when he was just an infant.  In 1453, he suffered from a mental illness and Richard, duke of York took up the throne.  Then, Henry recovered and wanted his throne back causing the War of the Roses.  He lost the throne in 1461 to Richard's son, Edward IV.


King Edward IV was born February 11, 1442 and died April 9, 1483.  He ruled from 1461-1470.  He was the son of Richard duke of York and Cicely Neville, he was married to Elizabeth Woodville, and he had ten children; his sons were Edward V, Richard duke of York, and George duke of Bedford.  When he was unable to defeat a Lancastrian army, he fled to Holland in 1470.


King Henry VI was born in 1421 and died May 21, 1471.  He ruled from 1470-1471.  He was the son of King Henry V and Catherine de Valois, he was married to Margaret of Anjou, and and his son was Edward, Prince of Wales.  He became ruler again for a brief moment of time from 1470-1471, but then he was captured by Edward IV and put in the tower of London where he was murdered.


King Edward IV was born February 11, 1442 and died April 9, 1483.  He ruled from 1471-1483.  He was the son of Richard duke of York and Cicely Neville, he was married to Elizabeth Woodville, and he had ten children; his sons were Edward V, Richard duke of York, and George duke of Bedford.  When he was unable to defeat a Lancastrian army, he fled to Holland in 1470.  He returned from Holland in 1471 and defeated the Lancastrian forces at the battle of Tewkesbury as well as having Henry VI executed.  His sons, Edward V and Richard were murdered in the tower of London the same year of his death.


King Edward V was born in 1470 and died in 1483.  He ruled in 1483.  He was the son of Edward IV and Elizabeth Wydville; he was not married and had no children because he was so young when he died.  Edward V's uncle and protector, Richard duke of Glouchester, captured him and cancelled his coronation.  Edward V was put in the tower of London where his brother Richard later joined him.  Edward V was declared an illegitimate king by Parliament because they said his father's marriage to his mother was illegal.  He was killed in the tower of London along with Richard.


King Richard III was born October 2, 1452 and died August 22, 1485.  He ruled from 1483-1485.  He was the son of Richard duke of York and Cecily Neville.  He was married to Anne Beauchamp Neville and his son was Edward Prince of Wales.  Richard III was the younger brother of Edward IV.  He was made the duke of Glouchester when he was nine years old.  He took control of Edward IV's heirs, Edward V and Richard, after he died.  The brothers were killed in 1483 in the tower of London and Richard III was killed by Henry VII at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.


King Henry VII was born January 28, 1457 and died April 21, 1509.  He ruled from 1485-1509.  He was the son of Edmund Tudor Earl of Richmond and Margaret Beaufort, he was married to Elizabeth of York, and his son was Henry VIII.  He was the first ruler from the Tudor line and he became head of the House of Lancaster through his mother's ancestry.  He defeated the Yorkists at the battle of Bosworth.  He married Elizabeth of York to try to unite the rival houses.  He defeated more Yorkists at Stoke and Blackheath.  He later died at the age of 52.