WAR of The ROSES - Who really won? (5 Minute History)

The conflict between the Lancaster and York factions can be traced back to the reign of King Edward III, who had multiple sons and did not clearly designate a single heir. This led to competition between his descendants for the throne, which eventually split into the Lancaster and York factions.

The first phase of the War of the Roses began in 1455 with the First Battle of St. Albans. The Lancaster forces were led by the Duke of Somerset, while the York forces were led by Richard, Duke of York. The Yorkists emerged victorious and took control of the government, but this was short-lived as the Lancastrians regained control in 1456.

The second phase of the War of the Roses began in 1460 with the Battle of Northampton, in which the Yorkists emerged victorious again. Richard, Duke of York, claimed the throne for himself, but he was killed in battle in 1460, leading his son Edward to take up the cause.

The final phase of the War of the Roses took place in 1485, when Henry Tudor, a distant relative of the Lancaster family, invaded England and defeated King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Henry Tudor was crowned King Henry VII and established the Tudor dynasty, which brought the War of the Roses to a close.

The War of the Roses had a lasting impact on England and the English monarchy. It weakened the power of the monarchy, which had to rely on the support of powerful nobles, and it helped to establish the Tudor dynasty, which brought stability to the country after decades of conflict.