Tag: Lancastrians

15th Century History, Local History, Medieval, Military history, The Commons in the Wars of the Roses

A Lancastrian City? Coventry and the Wars of the Roses, 1451-1471

This piece is in memory of Professor Peter W. Fleming, who died in April 2025. His publishing career spanned 40 years, from an article on the religious faith of the gentry of Kent in 1984 to a defining monograph on the history of late-medieval Bristol in 2024.  His career would have been yet more notable but for the ill-health that blighted his last years.  A … Continue reading A Lancastrian City? Coventry and the Wars of the Roses, 1451-1471

Simon PaylingLeave a comment
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Henry VII, History of Parliament Trust, Legal history, Medieval, Religious history, Richard III

A last roll of the dice? Richard III’s pardon to John Morton, 16 August 1485

On 16 August 1485, King Richard III issued a pardon to an old adversary, John Morton, bishop of Ely. Dr Hannes Kleineke, editor of our Commons 1461-1504 project, explores the issue that Morton posed to Richard and why he felt the need to offer Morton such an elaborate pardon. On 9 August 1485 Henry Tudor, titular earl of Richmond, landed on the Welsh coast near Milford Haven … Continue reading A last roll of the dice? Richard III’s pardon to John Morton, 16 August 1485

Hannes KleinekeLeave a comment
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Henry VI, Local History, Medieval, Military history

‘No deed of shame so foul’: the treachery of Edmund, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and the battle of Northampton, 10 July 1460

On 10 July 1460 the Battle of Northampton was fought. This was a major battle in the Wars of the Roses and saw the Yorkist army reverse their previous misfortune. Simon Payling from our Commons 1461-1504 project discusses this dramatic battle. The ‘Wars of the Roses’ were notable for their striking reversals of fortune, but perhaps none was so extreme as that which occurred between the rout of … Continue reading ‘No deed of shame so foul’: the treachery of Edmund, Lord Grey of Ruthin, and the battle of Northampton, 10 July 1460

Simon PaylingLeave a comment
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Local History, Medieval, Military history

How not to fight a battle: William Herbert, earl of Pembroke, and the battle of Edgcote 24 July 1469

Senior research fellow for our House of Commons 1461-1504 project Dr Simon Payling continues his look at significant battles during the Wars of the Roses. Today he considers the failed leadership of William Herbert at the battle of Edgcote ahead of the anniversary of the battle on Saturday… Some of the battles of the Wars of the Roses were predictable affairs, in that, at the … Continue reading How not to fight a battle: William Herbert, earl of Pembroke, and the battle of Edgcote 24 July 1469

Simon PaylingLeave a comment
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Edward IV, Medieval, Military history

‘How much ancient divisions survive’: unnatural alliances and the battle of Barnet, 14 April 1471

On 14 April 1471 a crucial battle of the Wars of the Roses was fought. Just outside the town of Barnet, Edward IV’s Yorkist force faced off against the Lancastrians, led by his former ally the earl of Warwick. In today’s blog Dr Simon Payling from our Commons 1461-1504 project examines the events of the battle and the impact of alliances… The period between June … Continue reading ‘How much ancient divisions survive’: unnatural alliances and the battle of Barnet, 14 April 1471

Simon Payling1 Comment
Medieval, 15th Century History, Edward IV, The Commons in the Wars of the Roses

The battle of Towton and the Parliament of 1461

On 29 March 1461 the battle of Towton took place. A notoriously violent encounter, the battle is the topic of a previous History of Parliament blog. But today Dr Charles Moreton, from our Commons 1461-1504, project explores Towton’s longer impact on the planned Parliament of 1461… Today marks the 560th anniversary of by far the largest battle of the Wars of the Roses. It was … Continue reading The battle of Towton and the Parliament of 1461

History of Parliament2 Comments
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Medieval, Military history

Richard, duke of York’s last Christmas: the Battle of Wakefield, 30 Dec. 1460

Today on the blog senior research fellow for our 1461-1504 project Dr Simon Payling regales us with Richard, duke of York’s final Christmas and the Battle of Wakefield on 30 December 1460… 1460 saw some dramatic fluctuations in the fortunes of the house of York.  At its beginning the Yorkist lords were in exile and their estates confiscated; in the summer their victory at the … Continue reading Richard, duke of York’s last Christmas: the Battle of Wakefield, 30 Dec. 1460

Simon Payling4 Comments
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Factions, Henry VI, Legal history, Medieval, Military history

The brief triumph of Richard, duke of York: the Parliamentary Accord of 31 October 1460

Our latest blog comes from Dr Simon Payling, senior research fellow in our Commons 1461-1504 project. In October 1460 Richard, duke of York attempted to claim the English throne from his cousin Henry VI. He was technically unsuccessful, but Parliament agreed to an unusual arrangement… On 10 October 1460 there occurred the most dramatic event in the history of the fifteenth-century Parliament. Henry VI’s cousin, … Continue reading The brief triumph of Richard, duke of York: the Parliamentary Accord of 31 October 1460

Simon Payling9 Comments
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Edward IV, Henry VI, Medieval, Military history

Was the battle of Towton as bloody as all that?

Today is the anniversary of the battle of Towton, a violent battle in 1461 which resulted in Edward IV claiming the throne from Henry VI. The battle is often thought to be the bloodiest ever fought on British soil, but is this really the case? Dr Simon Payling, Senior Research Fellow in our Commons 1461-1504 section explores… The battle of Towton on 29 March 1461 … Continue reading Was the battle of Towton as bloody as all that?

Simon Payling5 Comments
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Edward IV, Medieval, Military history, Religious history

Making the most of a parhelion: the earl of March and the battle of Mortimer’s Cross

In our latest blog Dr Simon Payling, Senior Research Fellow for the Commons 1461-1504 project, looks back to this date in 1461, when a natural phenomenon appeared to the future King Edward IV on the eve of battle… The battle of Mortimer’s Cross has two claims to uniqueness among medieval British battles: it was preceded by the appearance of the meteorological phenomenon of a parhelion and … Continue reading Making the most of a parhelion: the earl of March and the battle of Mortimer’s Cross

Simon Payling2 Comments