The Wars of the Roses

Summary (from the publisher): Lancaster and York. For much of the fifteenth century, these two families were locked in battle for control of the English throne. Kings were murdered and deposed. Armies marched on London. Old noble names were ruined while rising dynasties seized power and lands. The war between the royal houses of Lancaster and York, the most complex in English history, profoundly altered the course of the monarchy. Alison Weir, one of the foremost authorities on British history, brings brilliantly to life both the war itself and the larger-than-life figures who fought it on the great stage of England. The Wars of the Roses is history at its very best—swift and compelling, rich in character, pageantry, and drama, and vivid in its re-creation of an astonishing period of history.

 

Review: This work of non-fiction covers the story of the first War of the Roses that took place between 1455 and 1471 between the royal houses of Lancaster and York. In covering the history of this civil war in England, Weir provides background on the source of the conflict, while striving to show the people and personalities involved in the conflict. Weir's history begins with King Edward III, who ruled from 1327 until his death in 1377. His successful reign was followed by that of his grandson, King Richard II, whose "reign was one of the most disastrous in English history. It laid the foundations for a power struggle that would last well into the next century and lead ultimately to the Wars of the Roses" (29). Richard II was eventually overthrown by his cousin, who became King Henry IV, thereby introducing the concept of might over right to rule. It was this Henry's grandson, King Henry VI, and the rival who overthrew him, King Edward IV, who form the basis of the conflict of this book. Edward IV "was not a usurper, as Henry IV had been, but the rightful heir to the crown of the Plantagenets legitimately restored to the throne sixty-two years after it had been usurped by the House of Lancaster" (275).

 

As is obvious from the intricate description of the ruling family, this history covers a detailed, interconnected web of a royal family tree. In addition, the story would be incomplete without description of the wealthy and titled families that surrounded the court and contributed to the complicated history and motivations behind the fight for the throne. However, Weir does an excellent job of relaying the complex history in a relatively concise and easy to follow manner, while also providing enough biographical detail so the reader is able to distinguish King Henry VI, who was pious, just, and well educated but ultimately simple-minded and easily swayed, compared to King Edward IV, who is described as tall, handsome, and kingly in every respect.

 

While not a read for the faint of heart and really best suited for those interested in a deep dive into English royal history, this book provided helpful context for the rulers that proceeded the more well known ruling sagas, such as King Henry VIII. Indeed, King Edward IV and his wife Elizabeth Wydville were the grandparents of King Henry VIII. This work of non-fiction is clearly the product of extensive research and lays bare the tale that is the ruling elite of England in the fifteenth century, in-fighting that ultimately led to the existing royal family today.

 

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