ROSES, Wars of the, the name given to the protracted struggle between the houses of Lancaster and York for possession of the Eng lish throne, in the second half of the 15th cen tury. The appellation was derived from the badges adopted by the contending parties, a white rose by York and a red rose by Lancaster. The outbreak of the war was brought about by the growing discontent of the people with the evil fortunes of the war against France and the oppressive taxes necessitated by the heavy mil itary expenditures. The imbecile Henry VI (q.v.) had shown himself quite incapable of the tasks of government and this served to enhance the power of Richard, Duke of York, the repre sentative of the claims of the house which had been driven from the throne in 1399 in the per son of Richard II, Henry IV assuming the crown by parliamentary sanction, and being succeeded by Henry V. The Duke of York's strongest opponent was Margaret, wife of Henry VI, a woman of great strength of char acter and much ability. The first battle of the war was fought in 1455 at Saint Albans and re sulted in a victory for the Yorkists, whose head became, for the second time, protector of the realm. War broke out again in 1459 and began auspiciously for the Lancastrians. The Duke of York and the Earl of Warwick and Salisbury were compelled to flee the country. In June 1460 they returned, however, and defeated the Lancastrian forces at Northampton and took Henry VI prisoner. A compromise was effected by which Henry VI was to retain the crown until his death, when it was to pass to the Duke of York. Queen Margaret, however, would not consent to this wrong to her son, and continued the struggle. At Wakefield, 30 Dec. 1460. the Yorkists were defeated and the Duke of York was killed, and soon after the Lancastrians gained a second victory at Saint Albans (17 Feb. 1461). Edward, Earl of Marcia, the Duke
of York's eldest son, joining forces with Ware wick, succeeded in getting possession of Lone don, which was a fervent ,supporter of the Yorkist cause, and was elected king, settingout immediately to meet the enemy, on •whom he inflicted a bloody defeat at Towton (29 March 1461). Henry VI fled to Scotland and the remnants of Lancastrian resistance were crushed out at Hedgley Moor and Hotline in 1464. A quarrel between Edward IV and the Earl of Warwick led the latter to embrace the Lancastrian cause. Returning from France with a large force in 1470, he compelled. Edward to seek refuge in Holland. Henry VI was leased from captivity and replaced.' upon the throne. Edward. IV, however, returned to land in the early part of 1471, and on 14 April decisively defeated Warwick • at Barnet, the (ling-maker) himself falling in the fight. On 4 May a Lancastrian under Queen garet was overthrown at Tewkesbury and the young Prince Edward met his death there, most by assassination after the: battle. VI died in the Tower a few days later, IrTadward IV was securely established on the throne. The last battle in the long conflict was /ought in 1485 when }fatty of Richmond; repro aesitative of the Lancastrian-claims,: overthrew Richard LIE (q.v.) 'at. Bciswiarth Field and as cended the throne as Henry VII. By his mar riage. to Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward IV, he united in: himself the claims of the rival houses. (See ENGLAND, Civil History). Consult Gairdnee, 'Lancaster and York' (1&6); Onan, 'History of England from Richard II to the Death of Henry IV) (1906).