International Encyclopedia of Revolution and Protest

Extract

Following the Hundred Years' War between England and France in 1453, civil war engulfed England as two factions of the royal family – the House of York and the House of Lancaster – competed for the throne from 1455 to 1485. The war, caused by succession irregularities following the deposition of Richard II (r. 1377–99), has become known as the Wars of the Roses because, according to legend, the York's symbol was a white rose while the Lancaster's symbol was a red rose. The Duke of York and his supporters challenged the Lancastrian monarch, Henry VI (r. 1422–61). In 1461 the Duke's son, Edward IV (r. 1461–83), managed to maintain his hold on the throne and increase the finances and power of the monarchy with the assistance of capable ministers. Edward IV's brother, Richard III (r. 1483–5), usurped the throne from Edward IV's son, Edward V, but was defeated by the exiled Henry Tudor in 1485. Henry Tudor ruled as Henry VII (r. 1485–1509) and founded the Tudor dynasty, which controlled England until 1603. He worked to restore royal prestige, crush the power of the nobility, and establish law and order at the local level. He curbed the authority of the English nobility through the Court of Star Chamber, which sometimes involved procedures contrary to English common law, such as preventing the accused from seeing evidence against them, secret trials, torture, and the omission of juries. ... log in or subscribe to read full text