Wars of the Roses

1455 – 1487

Overview

The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars between the Houses of York (white rose) and Lancaster (red rose) for the English throne. Fought across England in a series of pitched battles and sieges, they represent the final significant use of predominantly medieval weapons in English warfare — fought just as gunpowder weapons were beginning to transform warfare elsewhere in Europe.

Infantry Weapons

Bill

The English bill — derived from the agricultural billhook — was the standard English infantry weapon of this era. A heavy curved blade on a 6–7 foot shaft, it combined hooking (to drag opponents off horses or pull shields aside), cutting, and thrusting capabilities. Billmen formed the bulk of both Lancastrian and Yorkist infantry.

Longbow

The English longbow remained important but was declining in significance compared to its peak at Crécy and Agincourt. Archers provided ranged support but could be countered by plate armor at longer ranges.

Pole Weapons

A variety of pole weapons were used:

• Poleaxe — A combination of axe, hammer, and spike on a 5–6 foot haft; the preferred weapon of men-at-arms fighting on foot; specifically designed to defeat plate armor through bludgeoning and penetrating the gaps
• Halberd — Axe-spear-hook combination
• Spear — Simple infantry thrusting weapon

Cavalry and Knights

Plate Armor

Full plate armor reached its English peak during the Wars of the Roses. Men-at-arms typically wore:

• Full plate harness covering the entire body
• Visored sallet or armet helmet
• Gauntlets, sabatons (foot armor), and full leg armor

Knights frequently dismounted to fight on foot — the crowded press of battle made mounted combat less effective, and dismounted men-at-arms in full plate were extremely difficult to kill.

Mounted Arms

• Lance — Used in the opening charge before dismounting
• Sword (arming sword or longsword) — Primary weapon when dismounted
• Mace and war hammer — For defeating plate armor

Artillery

Both sides used artillery in sieges and occasionally in field battles. The Wars of the Roses saw increasing use of hand cannons and small artillery pieces — not yet decisive in field battles but significant in reducing fortifications.

The Battle of Barnet (1471) involved artillery fire in fog, with Lancastrian guns overshooting Yorkist lines — an early example of artillery confusion in field conditions.

Key Battles

| Battle | Year | Notes | |--------|------|-------| | St Albans (1st) | 1455 | First battle; street fighting; Yorkist victory | | Towton | 1461 | Largest and bloodiest; blizzard conditions; wind affected arrows | | Barnet | 1471 | Fog and friendly fire; Lancastrian artillery overshot | | Bosworth Field | 1485 | Henry Tudor's victory; end of Plantagenet line | | Stoke Field | 1487 | Last battle; conventionally ends the wars |

Towton (1461) deserves particular note — fought in a blizzard on 29 March 1461, with an estimated 28,000 dead, it remains the bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil. The wind reportedly aided Yorkist archers whose arrows carried further while Lancastrian arrows fell short.

This article is a stub. Contributions covering specific battles, weapons, and commanders are welcome.