RSC at UM

Introduction | About the RSC | The History Cycle | The Plays: Synopses | Whose times, Whose History? | Resources

A Nation Divided

The Wars of the Roses is the name given to a period of civil unrest in England in the mid to late fifteenth century. It was so named because of the badges used by the warring factions: a red rose for the House of Lancaster, and a white rose for the House of York.

The two Houses were fighting primarily over who had the right to inherit the throne. Both Houses were direct descendants of King Edward III, but the line to the Yorkist faction passed through the female line. In essence, the Wars of the Roses were about whether the monarchy could pass through women (who were not yet allowed to inherit the throne itself, even if their father was King).

There were also other reasons for the Wars. The vast majority of the commoners were very poor and unhappy. Many were also unhappy about who King Henry VI kept as confidants, believing those nobles to have harmful intentions. There were also many bloodthirsty and ambitious nobles in England who would do anything to capture the throne.

As you can see from the map, the majority of England (and its holdings in France) were sided with the Lancanstrians (the red areas). There are various pockets of Yorkist factions, especially in what is now Wales and around the the land belonging to the Duke of York (the modern city of York).

An Uneasy Peace

The Wars of the Roses lasted nearly thirty years. Richard III (a member of the House of York) became King in 1483. He was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 by the leader of the Lancastrians, Henry Tudor. After Richard III's death, Henry Tudor married Richard's neice (daughter of Edward IV, who was King before Richard III), and the two Houses were united. Henry Tudor became Henry VII, who created a new rose, known as the Tudor rose, reflecting the united Houses.