Wars of the Roses

The Conflicts of the Roses, also known as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars that took place in the mid-to-late fifteenth century in England. These wars were fought between supporters of two rival cadet lines of the royal House of Plantagenet: the Lancasters and the Yorks. The battles resulted in the elimination of the male lineages of both dynasties, leaving the Lancastrian claim to the Tudor bloodline. Eventually, the Tudor and York Houses merged to form a unified royal dynasty, putting an end to the rival claims.

The conflicts were sparked by various factors, including the aftermath of the Hundred Years' War, which brought socio-economic problems and weakened the prestige of the English monarchy. Additionally, structural issues with bastard feudalism and the powerful duchies created by Edward III contributed to the tensions.

The mental infirmity and weak rule of Henry VI reignited interest in Richard of York's claim to the throne, but historians are divided on which factor played the primary role in causing the conflicts.