KS3 History - Wars of the Roses

Study revision notes for KS3 History - Wars of the Roses

Late Medieval Conflict and the Wars of the Roses: KS3 History Study Pack

1. Introduction

The Wars of the Roses were a series of conflicts in fifteenth-century England. They were fought between rival groups of nobles who supported different claimants to the throne. The two main royal houses were Lancaster and York. Both came from the wider Plantagenet royal family, so the conflict was partly about who had the strongest claim to rule.

The name "Wars of the Roses" was used later. Lancaster became linked with a red rose and York with a white rose, but people at the time were not simply fighting because of flowers. They fought because of power, land, royal authority, inheritance, ambition, fear, revenge and loyalty.

This period matters because it helps us understand:

how kingship worked in medieval England
why weak leadership could lead to civil war
how powerful nobles could challenge the king
why family connections and legitimacy mattered
how Henry Tudor became Henry VII in 1485
why evidence about Richard III and the Princes in the Tower is still debated

The Wars of the Roses did not happen because of one simple cause. They grew out of several problems:

England lost most of its lands in France after the Hundred Years' War.
Henry VI was seen by many as a weak king.
Great nobles built up private power through retainers and local influence.
Rival factions competed for control of the king and government.
Different branches of the royal family claimed they had the right to rule.

By the end of the period, the Tudor dynasty had begun. Henry VII tried to bring stability, but he also used propaganda to make his victory and his right to rule seem stronger.

2. Key Definitions

Civil war
A war between groups within the same country. The Wars of the Roses were civil wars because English nobles and their supporters fought each other for power.

Dynasty
A line of rulers from the same family. Lancaster, York and Tudor were dynastic groups linked to claims to the English throne.

Faction
A group of people who work together for political power. In this period, factions often formed around powerful nobles or royal relatives.

Claimant
A person who says they have a right to a title or position. A claimant to the throne argues that they should be king or queen.

Usurp
To take power from someone, often by force or without full legal agreement. If a person takes the throne from another ruler, enemies may accuse them of usurpation.

Heir
The person expected to inherit a title, throne or property.

Propaganda
Information, images or stories designed to persuade people to think in a particular way. Tudor propaganda often presented Henry VII as a saviour and Richard III as a villain.

Legitimacy
The accepted right to rule. A king needed military power, but also needed people to believe that his rule was lawful and proper.

Retainer
A person who served a noble in return for wages, protection, land, favour or reward. Retainers could become part of a noble's private army.

Turning point
An event that causes an important change in a situation. For example, Bosworth was a turning point because it ended Richard III's reign and began the Tudor dynasty.

Noble
A member of the powerful upper class, such as a duke, earl or baron.

Private army
Armed followers controlled by a noble rather than directly by the king.

Parliament
An assembly that could approve laws and taxes. In this period, Parliament was also used to support claims to the throne or declare people traitors.

Treason
Betrayal of the monarch or country. In the Wars of the Roses, defeated enemies could be accused of treason.

Battle
A major armed fight between organised forces.

Interpretation
A view or explanation of the past. Historians may create different interpretations because they use different evidence or ask different questions.

3. Timeline / Chronology

Before the Wars of the Roses

Date	Event	Why it mattered
1337	Traditional start date of the Hundred Years' War between England and France	English kings claimed lands and rights in France. War shaped politics and royal reputation.
1415	Henry V won the Battle of Agincourt	Henry V became famous as a successful warrior king.
1422	Henry V died; his baby son became Henry VI	England had a child king, so nobles governed in his name.
1453	England lost most remaining lands in France, except Calais	Defeat damaged royal prestige and created anger about leadership.
1453	Henry VI suffered a period of mental illness	Government became unstable and nobles competed for control.

Wars of the Roses

Date	Event	Why it mattered
1455	First Battle of St Albans	Often seen as the first battle of the Wars of the Roses. Richard Duke of York defeated Lancastrian rivals.
1460	Act of Accord	Henry VI stayed king, but Richard Duke of York was named heir instead of Henry's son. This angered Margaret of Anjou.
1460	Battle of Wakefield	Richard Duke of York was killed, but Yorkist claims continued through his son Edward.
1461	Battle of Towton	Edward of York won a major victory and became Edward IV.
1470	Henry VI was briefly restored	Edward IV was forced into exile, showing how unstable politics remained.
1471	Battles of Barnet and Tewkesbury	Edward IV returned to power. Henry VI's son Edward was killed, and Henry VI died soon after.
1483	Edward IV died	His young son Edward V was expected to become king, but Richard Duke of Gloucester took power as Richard III.
1483	Princes in the Tower disappeared	Edward V and his brother Richard were last known in the Tower of London. Their fate remains debated.
1485	Battle of Bosworth	Henry Tudor defeated Richard III and became Henry VII.
1486	Henry VII married Elizabeth of York	This helped unite Lancastrian and Yorkist claims and strengthened Tudor legitimacy.
1487	Battle of Stoke Field	A final Yorkist challenge was defeated. Some historians see this as the last battle of the Wars of the Roses.

Simple Timeline Diagram

1337        1415        1422        1453        1455        1461        1483        1485
 |-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
 Hundred     Agincourt   Henry VI    Losses in   St Albans   Edward IV   Richard III Bosworth:
 Years' War              becomes     France;     begins      becomes     becomes     Henry VII
 begins                  king        Henry ill   conflict    king        king        wins

4. Core Knowledge Sections

4.1 The Hundred Years' War Context

The Hundred Years' War was a long conflict between England and France. It was not one continuous war every day for a hundred years, but a series of campaigns, truces and renewed fighting.

English kings claimed rights in France. Some English kings held lands in France and wanted to defend or expand them. Victories such as Agincourt in 1415 made Henry V look powerful and successful.

However, Henry V died in 1422. His son, Henry VI, was still a baby. This meant that nobles and royal councillors had to govern for him. Over time, English fortunes in France worsened.

By 1453, England had lost nearly all its French lands except Calais. This mattered because:

defeat damaged the reputation of Henry VI's government
soldiers and nobles blamed each other for failure
the cost of war increased anger about taxation and royal spending
some nobles lost lands, income and status connected to France
people compared Henry VI unfavourably with his father Henry V

The loss of France did not directly cause the Wars of the Roses by itself. It added pressure to a political system already full of rivalry and mistrust.

4.2 Henry VI and Weak Kingship

Henry VI became king as a baby. He grew into an adult who was personally pious and gentle, but many nobles thought he lacked the strength needed for medieval kingship.

Medieval kings were expected to:

lead armies or appoint strong commanders
reward loyal nobles fairly
punish disorder
manage disputes between powerful families
defend the kingdom's honour
produce a clear heir
control access to royal power

Henry VI struggled with several of these expectations. He was not a strong military leader. He allowed favourites to gain influence, which angered other nobles. He also suffered a serious period of mental illness in 1453, during which he could not rule effectively.

When a king was strong, nobles often accepted his decisions even if they disliked them. When a king was weak, nobles had more opportunity to build factions and challenge rivals.

Henry's weakness created a dangerous question: if the king could not rule effectively, who should control government?

4.3 Factional Politics

Factional politics means political conflict between groups competing for influence. In fifteenth-century England, factions often formed around powerful nobles.

Important nobles wanted:

offices in government
control of royal decisions
land and income
marriage alliances
justice in local disputes
protection from enemies
influence over the king

If one faction controlled the king, rival nobles feared they would be excluded, punished or ruined. This made politics more personal and dangerous.

A key rivalry developed between:

supporters of Henry VI and Queen Margaret of Anjou, often linked to Lancaster
supporters of Richard Duke of York and later his son Edward, linked to York

At first, Richard Duke of York did not simply declare himself king. He argued that he wanted to remove corrupt advisers and improve government. Over time, the conflict became more clearly about who had the right to the throne.

4.4 Lancaster and York

Lancaster and York were branches of the Plantagenet royal family. Both traced their ancestry back to King Edward III, who ruled from 1327 to 1377.

The Lancastrian line came through John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. Henry IV had taken the throne in 1399 from Richard II. Henry V and Henry VI were Lancastrian kings.

The Yorkist claim came through another branch of Edward III's family. Richard Duke of York argued that his family line gave him a strong claim to the throne. His supporters believed he had a better hereditary claim than Henry VI.

Claims to the throne were not just about family trees. They also depended on:

military success
noble support
recognition by Parliament
public acceptance
control of London and government
ability to defeat rivals

This is why legitimacy was so important. A ruler needed people to believe that his power was rightful, not just forced.

4.5 Noble Power, Retainers and Private Armies

Late medieval nobles were very powerful. A major noble might control large estates, castles, local courts and networks of supporters.

Nobles used retainers. A retainer promised service to a lord. In return, the lord might offer protection, wages, land, legal help or social advancement.

Retaining was not always illegal or violent. Kings and nobles needed followers to govern and fight. However, when nobles used retainers to threaten enemies or raise private armies, this weakened royal authority.

Private armies were dangerous because:

they could be used against rival nobles
they could intimidate courts and local communities
they could make political disputes violent
they gave nobles power independent of the king
they made it harder for the king to keep peace

This does not mean ordinary people had no role. Soldiers, townspeople, servants, tenants and local officials were all affected. However, the main leadership of the Wars of the Roses came from royal and noble families.

4.6 From Political Rivalry to Civil War

Civil wars usually have several causes. The Wars of the Roses were caused by a combination of long-term, medium-term and short-term factors.

Long-term causes:

rival royal claims from Lancaster and York
the memory of Henry IV taking the throne in 1399
noble power and local rivalries
the importance of inheritance and bloodline

Medium-term causes:

military failure in France
Henry VI's weak rule
factional competition at court
financial problems and disorder

Short-term causes:

Henry VI's illness in 1453
Richard Duke of York's attempt to control government
Margaret of Anjou's defence of her son's inheritance
growing mistrust between noble factions
armed clashes such as St Albans

Cause-Consequence Chain

Losses in France
       |
       v
Criticism of Henry VI's government
       |
       v
Noble factions compete for influence
       |
       v
Richard Duke of York challenges royal advisers
       |
       v
Armed conflict at St Albans in 1455
       |
       v
Civil war becomes harder to stop

4.7 St Albans, 1455

The First Battle of St Albans is often seen as the start of the Wars of the Roses. Richard Duke of York and his allies fought forces loyal to Henry VI's leading advisers.

The battle was small compared with later battles, but it mattered because important nobles were killed and the king was captured by the Yorkists. It showed that political disputes could become armed conflict.

St Albans was significant because:

it made violence part of national politics
it weakened trust between factions
it gave York temporary control of Henry VI
it began a cycle of revenge
it showed that the king could not keep peace among nobles

4.8 Towton, 1461

Towton was one of the largest and bloodiest battles fought on English soil. Edward, son of Richard Duke of York, led the Yorkists against Lancastrian forces.

Edward won. Soon after, he became King Edward IV. His victory was a major turning point because it replaced Henry VI with a Yorkist king.

Towton mattered because:

it showed Edward IV's military strength
it removed Henry VI from power for a time
it gave Yorkists control of the crown
it increased bitterness between noble families
it proved that the throne could be won by force

4.9 Edward IV and Continued Instability

Edward IV was a strong and energetic king, but his reign was not completely stable. He faced opposition from Lancastrians and from some former allies.

One major problem was the Earl of Warwick, once a supporter of Edward. Warwick became known later as the "Kingmaker" because of his role in helping kings gain power. When Warwick turned against Edward, politics became unstable again.

In 1470, Henry VI was briefly restored to the throne. Edward IV returned in 1471 and defeated his enemies at Barnet and Tewkesbury. Henry VI's son was killed at Tewkesbury, and Henry VI died soon afterwards in the Tower of London.

Edward IV then ruled more securely until his death in 1483.

4.10 Richard III and the Princes in the Tower

When Edward IV died in 1483, his son Edward V was only a child. Edward's uncle, Richard Duke of Gloucester, became Protector. A Protector was supposed to govern until the young king was old enough.

Instead, Edward V and his younger brother Richard were declared illegitimate. Richard Duke of Gloucester became King Richard III.

The two boys were kept in the Tower of London. They were seen less and less, and then disappeared from public view. Their fate is one of the most famous mysteries in English history.

Possible explanations include:

Richard III ordered their deaths to secure his throne.
Someone else killed them to gain power or favour.
They died from illness or another unknown cause.
One or both survived for a time, though evidence for this is weak.

Historians disagree because the evidence is limited, biased and often written after the events. The mystery should not be treated as a random guess. It is an evidence debate.

4.11 Bosworth, 1485

Henry Tudor was a Lancastrian claimant. His claim to the throne was not especially strong by bloodline, but he gained support from people who opposed Richard III.

At the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, Henry Tudor's forces fought Richard III. A key factor was the role of the Stanley family, who waited before choosing which side to support. When they supported Henry at the decisive moment, Richard was defeated and killed.

Henry Tudor became Henry VII. Bosworth was a turning point because:

Richard III was killed
Yorkist rule ended
the Tudor dynasty began
Henry VII claimed victory by battle and then by law
Henry married Elizabeth of York to strengthen his legitimacy

Henry VII dated his reign from the day before Bosworth. This meant that those who had fought for Richard could be accused of treason, even though Richard had been king at the time. This shows how law, power and propaganda could work together.

4.12 Tudor Propaganda and Richard III

Henry VII needed to make his rule look legitimate. One way to do this was to present Richard III as a bad king who had rightly been defeated.

Later Tudor writers, including William Shakespeare during the reign of Elizabeth I, helped create a powerful image of Richard III as evil, unnatural and murderous. Shakespeare's play is important literature, but it is not straightforward evidence for what Richard was really like.

When studying Richard III, historians must ask:

Who created this source?
When was it written or made?
Was it produced under Tudor rule?
What was its purpose?
What evidence did the writer have?
Could the writer benefit from criticising Richard?
Does other evidence support or challenge it?

Tudor propaganda is useful because it shows how the Tudors wanted people to remember Richard. It is limited because it may exaggerate or distort his actions.

5. People, Places and Events

Henry VI

Henry VI was the Lancastrian king of England. He became king as a baby in 1422. He was known for his religious devotion, but many nobles saw him as politically weak.

Key points:

lost most English lands in France during his reign
suffered mental illness in 1453
struggled to control noble factions
was replaced by Edward IV
was briefly restored in 1470
died in the Tower of London in 1471

Margaret of Anjou

Margaret of Anjou was Henry VI's queen. She became a leading defender of Lancastrian interests, especially the inheritance of her son, Edward of Westminster.

Key points:

energetic and determined political figure
opposed Richard Duke of York's claim to be Henry VI's heir
helped organise resistance to Yorkist power
often criticised by Yorkist and later writers
shows how queens could play important political roles

Richard Duke of York

Richard Duke of York was a powerful noble with a claim to the throne. At first, he presented himself as a reformer who wanted to remove bad advisers. Later, his claim became more direct.

Key points:

challenged the influence of Henry VI's advisers
served as Protector during Henry's illness
named heir by the Act of Accord in 1460
killed at Wakefield in 1460
father of Edward IV and Richard III

Edward IV

Edward IV was Richard Duke of York's son. He became the first Yorkist king after victory at Towton in 1461.

Key points:

strong military leader
defeated Lancastrian forces at Towton
lost power briefly in 1470
regained the throne in 1471
father of the Princes in the Tower
died suddenly in 1483

Richard III

Richard III was Edward IV's brother. He became king in 1483 after Edward IV's sons were declared illegitimate.

Key points:

had served loyally in the north during Edward IV's reign
became Protector after Edward IV's death
took the throne from Edward V
linked to the mystery of the Princes in the Tower
defeated and killed at Bosworth in 1485
became the subject of strong Tudor propaganda

Henry Tudor / Henry VII

Henry Tudor was a Lancastrian claimant who defeated Richard III at Bosworth. He became Henry VII and founded the Tudor dynasty.

Key points:

spent years in exile
gained support from opponents of Richard III
won at Bosworth in 1485
married Elizabeth of York in 1486
used law, marriage and propaganda to strengthen his rule
became the first Tudor monarch

Places

St Albans
Site of the 1455 battle often seen as the beginning of the Wars of the Roses.

Towton
Site of the 1461 battle that helped Edward IV become king.

Tower of London
A royal fortress and prison. Edward V and his brother Richard were kept there before disappearing.

Bosworth Field
Site of the 1485 battle where Henry Tudor defeated Richard III.

Calais
The last major English possession in France after 1453. It remained strategically important.

6. Sources and Evidence

How to Use Sources

When studying the Wars of the Roses, evidence can be difficult. Many sources were written by people with strong loyalties. Some were written years later. Some were produced under Tudor rule, when criticising Richard III could be politically useful.

Use these questions:

Content: What does the source say or show?
Inference: What can we work out from it?
Provenance: Who made it, when and where?
Purpose: Why was it made?
Audience: Who was meant to read, hear or see it?
Context: What was happening at the time?
Limitations: What can the source not tell us?

Source A: A Plausible Chronicle Extract about St Albans

In the town of St Albans, lords who had long quarrelled came with armed men. The king was present, yet peace could not be kept. Some great men were slain, and the Duke of York held the king afterwards.

This is an invented but historically plausible chronicle-style extract.

Questions:

What does Source A suggest about the power of the king in 1455?
Which words suggest that the conflict had been building for some time?
How useful is this source for studying why St Albans mattered?
What are two limitations of this source?

Source B: Visual Source Description of Tudor Propaganda

Imagine a Tudor painting made after Henry VII became king. Henry is shown standing upright in rich clothing, holding a symbol of royal power. A red rose and white rose are joined together near him. Richard III is shown smaller, darker and defeated at the edge of the image. The picture suggests that Henry has brought peace after disorder.

Questions:

What message does the image give about Henry VII?
How does the image present Richard III?
Why might the joined roses be important?
How useful would this image be for studying Tudor propaganda?
Why would it be limited as evidence for Richard III's real character?

Source C: Evidence Mystery Activity: The Princes in the Tower

Read the evidence cards. They are simplified summaries based on the kinds of evidence historians discuss.

Evidence card	What it suggests	Possible limitation
The princes were last known to be in the Tower in 1483.	They were under Richard III's control after he became Protector and then king.	Being in the Tower does not prove what happened to them.
The boys were seen less often and then disappeared from public view.	Something unusual may have happened.	Absence from public view is not the same as proof of death.
Some later writers blamed Richard III.	Richard had a motive because the princes had a claim to the throne.	Later writers may have been influenced by Tudor views.
Richard III never clearly produced the boys alive after rumours spread.	This may make him look suspicious.	We do not know exactly what information was available or what political choices he faced.
Henry VII also benefited from the princes being gone.	Other people had possible motives too.	Benefit alone does not prove responsibility.
No fully reliable eyewitness account of murder survives.	The case cannot be solved with certainty.	Lack of evidence does not prove nothing happened.

Task:

Rank the evidence cards from most useful to least useful.
Write one paragraph explaining whether Richard III is the most likely suspect.
Write one paragraph explaining why historians cannot be completely certain.
Add one question you would ask if you could find one new source.

Source D: Battle Turning-Point Table

Battle	Date	Main result	Why it was a turning point
St Albans	1455	Yorkists defeated key Lancastrian nobles and controlled the king	It turned political rivalry into open armed conflict.
Towton	1461	Edward IV defeated Lancastrian forces	It helped replace Henry VI with a Yorkist king.
Barnet	1471	Edward IV defeated Warwick	It helped Edward regain control.
Tewkesbury	1471	Lancastrian heir Edward was killed	It severely weakened the Lancastrian royal line.
Bosworth	1485	Henry Tudor defeated and killed Richard III	It began the Tudor dynasty.

Questions:

Which battle most clearly changed who ruled England?
Which battle made future Lancastrian hopes weaker?
Why might Bosworth be considered the most significant turning point?
Choose one battle and explain why it changed the direction of the conflict.

7. Interpretations

Why Interpretations Differ

Historians do not simply copy the past. They study evidence and build arguments. Interpretations can differ because:

evidence is missing or unclear
writers have different viewpoints
some sources are biased
later propaganda shaped memory
historians ask different questions
new discoveries can change debates

Richard III is a good example. Some accounts present him as a murderer and usurper. Others argue that he was an able ruler whose reputation was damaged by Tudor propaganda.

Interpretation 1: Richard III as a Usurper and Threat

This interpretation argues that Richard III took the throne from his nephew Edward V and may have removed the princes to secure his power. It points to his motive, his control of the Tower and the fact that the princes disappeared during his rule.

Strengths:

Richard had a clear political motive.
He controlled access to the princes.
The disappearance helped remove rivals.
Many later accounts blamed him.

Limitations:

later accounts may be biased by Tudor politics
no surviving eyewitness murder account proves his guilt
other people also benefited from the princes' disappearance
medieval politics could produce rumours quickly

Interpretation 2: Richard III as a Capable Ruler Damaged by Tudor Propaganda

This interpretation argues that Richard III's reputation was blackened by his enemies. It points out that he had served Edward IV loyally, governed effectively in the north, passed some useful laws and was later attacked by Tudor writers who wanted to justify Henry VII's victory.

Strengths:

it reminds us that Tudor sources had a reason to criticise Richard
it uses evidence from before 1483, not only hostile later accounts
it separates Shakespeare's drama from historical proof
it asks careful questions about bias

Limitations:

it can underplay Richard's decision to take the throne
it does not fully explain the disappearance of the princes
being a capable administrator does not prove innocence
some evidence against Richard still needs to be considered

Comparing the Interpretations

Both interpretations can be partly supported. A careful historian should avoid two weak extremes:

accepting Tudor propaganda as completely true
dismissing every criticism of Richard as propaganda

The strongest answer uses evidence on both sides. It explains why Richard was politically suspicious, while also recognising that the surviving evidence is not enough for complete certainty.

8. Tables

Causes of the Wars of the Roses

Cause	Type	Explanation	Importance
Rival royal claims	Long-term	Lancaster and York both had links to Edward III.	Very important because it made dynastic conflict possible.
Henry VI's weak rule	Medium-term	Henry struggled to control nobles and government.	Very important because weak kingship allowed factions to grow.
Loss of France	Medium-term	Defeat damaged confidence in royal government.	Important because it increased criticism and anger.
Noble private armies	Long-term	Great nobles could use retainers in armed conflict.	Important because it made disputes more violent.
Henry VI's illness	Short-term	The king could not rule effectively in 1453.	Very important because it raised the question of who should govern.
Margaret versus York	Short-term	Margaret defended her son's inheritance against York's claim.	Important because it hardened the conflict.

Key People Comparison

Person	Side or link	Main aim	Historical significance
Henry VI	Lancaster	Keep his throne and dynasty	His weakness helped cause political instability.
Margaret of Anjou	Lancaster	Protect her husband and son's rights	She became a major political leader.
Richard Duke of York	York	Reform government, then claim succession	His challenge began the Yorkist royal claim.
Edward IV	York	Win and keep the crown	He became the first Yorkist king.
Richard III	York	Secure his rule after Edward IV's death	His reign is linked to usurpation, mystery and propaganda.
Henry Tudor	Lancaster/Tudor	Win the throne	His victory began the Tudor dynasty.

Command Words Table

Command word	What to do
Describe	Give accurate details about what happened or what something was like.
Explain	Give reasons and show how they connect to the outcome.
Compare	Identify similarities and differences.
How far	Make a judgement, usually by considering both sides.
How useful	Use content and provenance to judge strengths and limitations of a source.
Why	Give causes or reasons.
What changed	Explain differences before and after an event.
How significant	Judge importance using criteria such as impact, duration and consequences.

9. Text/ASCII Diagrams or Timelines

Simplified Family and Conflict Diagram

This diagram is simplified. It shows broad links, not every family member.

                         Edward III
                             |
        ------------------------------------------------
        |                                              |
  John of Gaunt                                Edmund/Lionel lines
  Duke of Lancaster                            linked to Yorkist claim
        |                                              |
  Lancastrian kings                             Richard Duke of York
  Henry IV -> Henry V -> Henry VI                     |
                                                     |
                                      Edward IV ----- Richard III
                                          |
                             Edward V and Richard
                             (Princes in the Tower)

Henry Tudor: Lancastrian-linked claimant
married Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV

Conflict Flow Diagram

Weak kingship under Henry VI
          |
          v
Nobles compete for influence
          |
          v
York challenges Lancastrian advisers
          |
          v
Battles and revenge deepen divisions
          |
          v
Edward IV becomes Yorkist king
          |
          v
Richard III takes throne after Edward IV dies
          |
          v
Henry Tudor defeats Richard at Bosworth
          |
          v
Tudor dynasty begins

Significance Scale

Use this to judge the importance of an event.

Low significance                                  High significance
|------------------|------------------|------------------|------------------|
Small impact       Some impact        Major impact       Changes the period
Short-lived        Limited people     Many people        Long-term effects

Where would you place:
- St Albans?
- Towton?
- Bosworth?
- The disappearance of the Princes?

Cause Ranking Ladder

Most important cause:
1.

2.

3.

4.

Least important cause:
5.

Suggested causes to rank:

Henry VI's weak rule
rival claims of Lancaster and York
noble private armies
loss of France
Margaret of Anjou's defence of her son's inheritance

10. Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Thinking the Wars Were Literally About Roses

The red and white roses became famous symbols, but the wars were not fought because people cared about flowers. They were fought over kingship, power, legitimacy, land, loyalty and survival.

Mistake 2: Confusing Henry VI, Henry VII and Henry VIII

Remember:

Henry VI: weak Lancastrian king during the Wars of the Roses
Henry VII: Henry Tudor, winner at Bosworth and first Tudor king
Henry VIII: Henry VII's son, later Tudor king, famous for the Reformation and six marriages

Mistake 3: Treating Shakespeare as Simple Evidence

Shakespeare's Richard III was written in the Tudor period, long after Richard's death. It is useful for studying later Tudor views of Richard, but it is not neutral evidence about Richard's real personality or actions.

Mistake 4: Explaining Civil War with One Cause

Civil wars usually have many causes. A strong answer explains how causes connected. For example, Henry VI's weakness mattered more because nobles already had private power and rival royal claims already existed.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Margaret of Anjou

Margaret was not just "the king's wife". She was a major political actor who defended Lancastrian power and her son's inheritance.

Mistake 6: Assuming a Mystery Means "Anything Could Have Happened"

The Princes in the Tower mystery is not just a guessing game. Historians use evidence, motive, opportunity and context to judge what is most likely.

Mistake 7: Thinking Every Noble Chose a Side for Ideals

Some nobles had strong loyalties, but others acted from local rivalries, family interest, fear, ambition or survival.

Mistake 8: Forgetting Chronology

A common error is placing Bosworth before the Princes in the Tower or thinking Henry VII fought Henry VI. Bosworth happened in 1485, after Henry VI had been dead for years.

Mistake 9: One-Sided Source Answers

Do not say a source is simply "useful" or "useless". Explain what it is useful for and what its limits are.

Mistake 10: Describing Instead of Explaining

Weak answer: "Henry VI was weak and there was a battle."
Stronger answer: "Henry VI's weak rule allowed nobles to compete for control of government, which made armed conflict more likely."

11. Exam Tips

For Cause Questions

Use more than one cause. Link them together.

Example structure:

One cause was...
This mattered because...
It connected to...
Therefore...

For Turning-Point Questions

Ask:

What changed after this event?
Who gained power?
Who lost power?
Did the change last?
Did it affect the whole kingdom or only one group?

For Source Usefulness Questions

Use both content and provenance.

Good sentence starters:

"The source is useful because it shows..."
"Its provenance makes it useful for..."
"However, it is limited because..."
"It cannot fully prove..."

For Interpretation Questions

Compare the views directly.

Use phrases such as:

"Interpretation A presents Richard as..."
"Interpretation B differs because..."
"This may be because..."
"The evidence supports this partly because..."

For Significance Questions

Judge importance using criteria:

impact at the time
number of people affected
length of consequences
connection to later events
symbolic importance

For Written Paragraphs

Try PEEL:

Point: Make a clear claim.
Evidence: Add accurate detail.
Explain: Show why it mattered.
Link: Connect back to the question.

Example:

"Henry VI's weak rule was a major cause of the Wars of the Roses. He failed to control powerful nobles and suffered a period of mental illness in 1453. This created uncertainty about who should govern England. As a result, rival factions had more opportunity to compete for power, making civil war more likely."

12. Practice Questions

A. Quick Recall Questions

What is a civil war?
Which two royal houses were central to the Wars of the Roses?
Which king ruled England at the beginning of the Wars of the Roses?
What happened to most English lands in France by 1453?
What was a retainer?
Who was Margaret of Anjou?
What was the First Battle of St Albans?
Which battle helped Edward IV become king in 1461?
Who were the Princes in the Tower?
Who became king after the Battle of Bosworth?
What is propaganda?
Why is Shakespeare's Richard III not straightforward evidence?
What does legitimacy mean?
What is a claimant?
Why did Henry VII marry Elizabeth of York?

B. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the best answer.

The Wars of the Roses were mainly fought over: A. religion between Catholics and Protestants
B. rival claims to the English throne
C. control of Scotland
D. trade with Spain
The two main houses were: A. Tudor and Stuart
B. Lancaster and York
C. Normandy and Wessex
D. Plantagenet and Hanover
Henry VI became king: A. as a baby
B. after Bosworth
C. by defeating Richard III
D. after the Reformation
The Hundred Years' War was fought mainly between: A. England and France
B. England and Spain
C. York and Lancaster
D. Scotland and Wales
By 1453, England had lost most of its lands in: A. Ireland
B. France
C. Wales
D. Italy
A faction is: A. a type of castle
B. a group competing for power
C. a medieval tax
D. a royal law court
Richard Duke of York was: A. a Yorkist claimant
B. Henry VII's son
C. a French king
D. the first Tudor monarch
The First Battle of St Albans happened in: A. 1066
B. 1215
C. 1455
D. 1603
Towton was important because: A. it began the Hundred Years' War
B. it helped Edward IV become king
C. it ended the Tudor dynasty
D. it restored Richard II
Edward IV belonged to the House of: A. York
B. Lancaster
C. Stuart
D. Windsor
Margaret of Anjou supported: A. the Lancastrian cause
B. Richard III's claim
C. Henry VIII's Reformation
D. William the Conqueror
A retainer was: A. a noble's follower or servant
B. a type of crown
C. a French castle
D. a church official
Private armies were dangerous because they: A. made nobles too dependent on the king
B. could turn disputes into violence
C. ended all factional politics
D. were used only overseas
Edward V was: A. one of Edward IV's sons
B. Henry VI's father
C. the first Norman king
D. Henry Tudor's brother
The Princes in the Tower disappeared during the rise of: A. Richard III
B. Henry VIII
C. Henry II
D. Edward I
Richard III became king in: A. 1415
B. 1453
C. 1483
D. 1509
The Battle of Bosworth happened in: A. 1381
B. 1455
C. 1485
D. 1536
Bosworth was won by: A. Henry Tudor
B. Henry VI
C. Edward V
D. Richard Duke of York
Richard III was: A. killed at Bosworth
B. crowned after Henry VII
C. the son of Henry VIII
D. never king
Henry Tudor became: A. Henry IV
B. Henry V
C. Henry VII
D. Henry VIII
Henry VII married: A. Margaret of Anjou
B. Elizabeth of York
C. Joan of Arc
D. Mary Tudor
The Tudor rose symbol suggested: A. union of Lancaster and York
B. victory over France in 1453
C. the end of Parliament
D. Scottish independence
Propaganda is designed to: A. persuade people
B. record events neutrally every time
C. ban all images
D. collect taxes
Shakespeare's Richard III is limited as evidence because: A. it was written under Tudor rule long after Richard's death
B. it was written by Richard himself
C. it is a government tax record
D. it describes the Norman Conquest
Legitimacy means: A. accepted right to rule
B. a type of sword
C. a battlefield injury
D. a medieval coin
A turning point is: A. an event that causes important change
B. a royal marriage only
C. a list of kings
D. a local tax
The Act of Accord: A. named Richard Duke of York as Henry VI's heir
B. made Henry VIII king
C. ended the Hundred Years' War in 1337
D. created the Church of England
The Battle of Wakefield was where: A. Richard Duke of York was killed
B. Henry Tudor defeated Richard III
C. Edward IV died naturally
D. the princes were found
A strong source answer should discuss: A. content and provenance
B. only whether the handwriting is neat
C. only the date, with no explanation
D. whether the source is famous
The Wars of the Roses ended with total certainty in 1485: A. True
B. False
The Battle of Stoke Field in 1487 is sometimes seen as: A. a final Yorkist challenge
B. the start of Roman Britain
C. the first crusade
D. the death of Henry V
Henry VI's illness mattered because: A. it created uncertainty over government
B. it made him king of France
C. it ended noble power permanently
D. it caused the Black Death

C. Source Questions

Source 1: Private Power

A great lord in the north keeps many men in his badge and livery. They ride with him to court days and stand near when disputes are heard. Local people say it is hard to speak against such a lord.

This is an invented but historically plausible source.

What does the source suggest about noble power?
What can you infer about justice in areas controlled by powerful nobles?
Why might the king see this as a problem?
How useful is the source for studying retainers?

Source 2: Tudor Propaganda Image Description

A picture shows Henry VII in the centre, with a crown above his head and a peaceful garden behind him. A broken sword lies near a defeated Richard III. A red rose and a white rose grow from the same stem.

What message does the image give about Henry VII?
What message does it give about Richard III?
How does the rose symbol support Henry's claim?
How useful is this source for learning about Tudor ideas of kingship?
Why is it limited for learning what really happened at Bosworth?

Source 3: Two Interpretations of Richard III

Interpretation A: Richard III was a dangerous usurper. He took power from his young nephew and the princes disappeared while he controlled them.

Interpretation B: Richard III was a capable ruler whose reputation was damaged by Tudor propaganda after his defeat.

How do the two interpretations differ?
Give one piece of evidence that could support Interpretation A.
Give one piece of evidence that could support Interpretation B.
Why might Tudor writers have wanted people to believe Interpretation A?
Which interpretation do you find more convincing? Explain your answer.

D. Short Answer Questions

Describe one reason why the loss of lands in France weakened Henry VI's government.
Explain why Henry VI's illness caused political problems.
Describe one way nobles used retainers.
Explain why the Battle of St Albans was significant.
What changed after the Battle of Towton?
Explain why Margaret of Anjou opposed Richard Duke of York.
Describe what happened to the Princes in the Tower.
Explain one reason why Henry Tudor won at Bosworth.
Describe one way Henry VII strengthened his legitimacy.
Explain why Tudor propaganda is useful but limited.

E. Longer Written Questions

Explain two causes of the Wars of the Roses.
How significant was the Battle of Towton?
Why did Henry Tudor win at Bosworth?
How far was Henry VI responsible for the Wars of the Roses?
Compare the importance of noble power and royal weakness in causing civil war.
How useful is Tudor propaganda for studying Richard III?
Why do historians disagree about the Princes in the Tower?
"Bosworth was the most important turning point in the Wars of the Roses." How far do you agree?

F. Family Tree Questions

Use the simplified family diagram in Section 9.

Which earlier king were both Lancaster and York linked to?
Which house did Henry VI belong to?
Which house did Edward IV belong to?
How were Edward V and Richard III connected?
Why did Henry VII's marriage to Elizabeth of York help his claim?

G. Cause Ranking Task

Rank these causes from most important to least important:

Henry VI's weak rule
rival claims between Lancaster and York
noble private armies
loss of France
Henry VI's illness

Write a paragraph explaining your top choice. Then write a second paragraph explaining how it connected to another cause.

13. Answer Key

Quick Recall Answers

A war between groups within the same country.
Lancaster and York.
Henry VI.
England lost most of them, except Calais.
A follower serving a lord for reward, protection or wages.
Henry VI's queen and a major Lancastrian leader.
A 1455 battle often seen as the start of the Wars of the Roses.
Towton.
Edward V and his younger brother Richard, sons of Edward IV.
Henry Tudor, as Henry VII.
Information or images designed to persuade people.
It was written in the Tudor period and shaped by later views.
Accepted right to rule.
Someone who says they have a right to a title or throne.
To unite Lancastrian and Yorkist claims and strengthen his rule.

Multiple Choice Answers

Source Question Guidance

Source 1:

It suggests nobles could control many armed or loyal followers.
People might be afraid to speak honestly against a powerful lord.
It challenged royal justice and peace.
It is useful for showing intimidation and local power, but it is limited because it is only one example and does not name a specific event.

Source 2:

Henry is presented as peaceful, rightful and powerful.
Richard is presented as defeated and linked to disorder.
The joined rose suggests Lancaster and York are united under the Tudors.
It is useful for studying how Tudors wanted to present kingship.
It is limited because it was designed to persuade and may not accurately show Bosworth.

Source 3:

A sees Richard as a usurper; B sees him as a capable ruler damaged by propaganda.
The princes disappeared while Richard controlled access to them.
Tudor writers had reasons to blacken Richard's reputation; he had governed in the north before becoming king.
It helped justify Henry VII's victory and rule.
Good answers should support a judgement with evidence and limitations.

Short Answer Guidance

Losses in France damaged confidence in Henry VI and created anger about leadership.
His illness meant he could not rule, so nobles argued over who should control government.
Nobles used retainers as armed supporters, local enforcers or political followers.
St Albans turned political rivalry into armed conflict and led to Yorkist control of the king.
Edward IV became king and Yorkist power replaced Henry VI for a time.
York threatened the inheritance of her son, Edward of Westminster.
They were kept in the Tower, disappeared from public view and their fate remains uncertain.
Henry won partly because Richard lost support and the Stanleys backed Henry at the crucial moment.
He married Elizabeth of York, used Parliament and promoted the Tudor rose.
It shows Tudor messages about Richard, but may be biased and exaggerated.

Family Tree Answers

Edward III.
Lancaster.
York.
Richard III was their uncle.
It joined his Lancastrian-linked claim with a Yorkist connection.

14. Model Answers

Model Answer 1: Explain Two Causes of the Wars of the Roses

One cause of the Wars of the Roses was Henry VI's weak kingship. Medieval kings were expected to control nobles, lead government and defend the kingdom's honour. Henry VI struggled to do this, especially after English defeats in France and his illness in 1453. This mattered because nobles began to compete for influence over the king instead of accepting strong royal leadership.

A second cause was the rival claims of Lancaster and York. Both houses were connected to Edward III, so arguments about inheritance and legitimacy became dangerous. Richard Duke of York could claim that he had a strong right to influence government or even inherit the throne. This connected to Henry's weakness because a strong king might have contained the rivalry, but under Henry VI it became part of a wider civil war.

Model Answer 2: How Significant Was the Battle of Towton?

The Battle of Towton was very significant because it helped Edward IV become king in 1461. This changed the conflict from a struggle over influence into a successful Yorkist takeover of the crown. Henry VI was removed from power, and the House of York gained control.

Towton was also significant because it was a large and violent battle. It deepened bitterness between supporters of Lancaster and York. This made reconciliation harder because many noble families had suffered losses.

However, Towton did not end the Wars of the Roses. Henry VI was briefly restored in 1470, and conflict continued after Edward IV's death. Therefore, Towton was a major turning point, but not a final solution.

Model Answer 3: Why Did Henry Tudor Win at Bosworth?

Henry Tudor won at Bosworth for several reasons. One reason was that Richard III did not have complete loyalty from all powerful nobles. The Stanley family waited during the battle and supported Henry at the decisive moment. This weakened Richard and gave Henry an important advantage.

Another reason was that Henry had become a focus for people who opposed Richard. Richard's seizure of the throne in 1483 and the mystery of the Princes in the Tower made some nobles distrust him. Henry's claim was not the strongest by bloodline, but he offered an alternative to Richard's rule.

Richard also took a personal risk in battle. He charged towards Henry, probably hoping to kill him and end the challenge quickly. When this failed, Richard was surrounded and killed. Henry's victory was therefore caused by military events at Bosworth, noble support and Richard's political weaknesses.

Model Answer 4: How Useful Is Tudor Propaganda for Studying Richard III?

Tudor propaganda is useful for studying how Henry VII and later Tudors wanted people to remember Richard III. If a source shows Richard as cruel, defeated or unnatural, it can reveal how Tudor rulers justified taking power. It also helps historians understand how political messages were spread through images, writing and drama.

However, Tudor propaganda is limited if we want to know what Richard was really like. It was often produced after Richard's defeat and by people who benefited from supporting Tudor rule. For example, Shakespeare's play is powerful but was written long after Richard's death in a Tudor world. It should not be treated as neutral evidence.

Overall, Tudor propaganda is very useful for studying Tudor attitudes and the construction of Richard's reputation. It is less reliable for proving Richard's actions unless it is checked against other evidence.

Model Answer 5: Why Do Historians Disagree About the Princes in the Tower?

Historians disagree about the Princes in the Tower because the evidence is limited and uncertain. The princes were last known to be in the Tower after Edward IV's death, and they disappeared from public view while Richard III was in power. This makes Richard a major suspect because he had motive and opportunity.

However, there is no fully reliable surviving eyewitness account proving exactly what happened. Some sources blaming Richard were written later or under Tudor influence, so they may be biased. Other people, including Henry Tudor, also benefited from the princes being gone.

This means historians must weigh evidence carefully. The mystery is not just a guess, but it cannot be solved with complete certainty from the surviving sources.

Model Answer 6: How Far Was Henry VI Responsible for the Wars of the Roses?

Henry VI was responsible to a large extent because his weak rule allowed political problems to grow. He struggled to control noble factions, and the loss of lands in France damaged confidence in his government. His illness in 1453 made the situation worse because it raised the question of who should govern while he could not rule.

However, Henry VI was not the only cause. The conflict also depended on noble power, private armies and rival royal claims between Lancaster and York. These problems had deeper roots in the structure of late medieval politics. Ambitious nobles also made choices that increased violence.

Overall, Henry VI's weakness was a very important cause, but it worked together with other causes. The Wars of the Roses cannot be explained by blaming one person alone.

Model Answer 7: Compare Noble Power and Royal Weakness as Causes

Noble power and royal weakness were both important causes of civil war. Noble power mattered because great lords had retainers, land, money and local influence. This meant they could turn political arguments into armed conflict. Without private armies, disputes might have stayed within court politics for longer.

Royal weakness mattered because a strong king could control noble rivalries more effectively. Henry VI failed to manage factions and became unable to rule during his illness. This allowed nobles to compete for control of government and made Richard Duke of York's challenge more serious.

The two causes connected closely. Noble power was dangerous because the king was weak, and royal weakness was more serious because nobles were powerful. If forced to choose, royal weakness may be slightly more important because it removed the central authority that should have controlled the nobles.

15. Final Revision Checklist

I know the key dates, including 1453, 1455, 1461, 1483 and 1485.
I can explain who Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou, Richard Duke of York, Edward IV, Richard III and Henry Tudor were.
I can describe the key events of St Albans, Towton, the Princes in the Tower and Bosworth.
I can explain causes of the Wars of the Roses, including weak kingship, noble power, rival claims and the loss of France.
I can explain consequences, including Yorkist rule, Richard III's defeat and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty.
I can identify change and continuity in royal power during the period.
I can use source skills: content, inference, provenance, purpose, audience, context and limitations.
I can compare interpretations of Richard III.
I can explain why the Princes in the Tower remain an evidence mystery.
I can answer exam questions using clear points, accurate evidence and explanation.

Practice this topic