About the Wars
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic conflicts between the period 1455-1485. Within just 30 years, England would suffer a civil war that would see four kings crowned and 4.5% of the population slain. The battle of Towton alone lasted 10 hours and took the lives of over 28,000 men. A huge number, considering the population of England was only around 2.5 million.
The Wars spanned 3 generations and were fought between the Yorkist and Lancastrian dynasties, both branches of the royal house of Plantagenet, descended from King Edward III. Initially, the two sides felt their claim to the throne was both legitimate and in the greatest interests of the country and its people. However, the seduction of power became driven by personal aspiration, rivalry, revenge, and family fealty. Would-be kings would stop at nothing to seize the crown, even, on occasions, murdering their own kin.
Origins of the Conflict
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Henry VI was the only king to be crowned both king of England and France. Described as being timid, shy, pious, and averse to conflict, he was unlike his father Henry V, who had prevailed at the battle of Agincourt. During his reign he suffered from a series of catatonic mental breakdowns which would render him unfit to rule. Historians have postulated that Henry may have suffered from schizophrenia, inherited from his grandfather, Charles VI of France.
By the time Henry VI's minority had ended he had already lost control of large areas of France. As the situation in France deteriorated it contributed to increasing political instability at home and increasing quarrals amongst the English nobility. Henry's general weak disposition, coupled with his inability to stem the tide of English defeats in France, and failure to quell the rise of disorder at home provided the conditions for an insurrection that developed into civil war.
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The video below, available on Youtube, chronicles the complete history of 'The Wars of the Roses'.