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The-Hundred-Years-War and war of roses

The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453)

  • Series of conflicts fought between England and France.

  • Characterized by alternating periods of intense fighting and relative peace.

Angevin Empire

  • England became part of a large continental empire under King Henry II (1154-1189).

  • Henry's Angevin Empire extended from Hadrian's Wall (Scotland) to the Pyrenees (between modern France and Spain).

Start of the Hundred Years' War

French Confiscation

  • In 1337, the French king confiscated English territories in France.

Edward III's Claim

  • King Edward III declared himself the rightful king of France.

Invasion of France

  • In 1346, King Edward III invaded France, marking the start of the Hundred Years' War.

  • Battle of Crecy was a significant early encounter.

Key Battles and Outcomes

Battle of Crecy

  • Major English victory; strategies used would be employed throughout the war.

Battle of Agincourt

  • Significant turning point; English victory against a larger French army.

End of the Hundred Years' War

  1. Joan of Arc led King Charles VII's forces to victory.

  2. Burgundian Alliance: Burgundians switched support to King Charles VII.

  3. English Defeat: By 1453, the English were expelled from France, marking the end of the war.

The Wars of the Roses: A Tale of Two Houses (1455-1485)

  • Series of battles in England between two rival factions: the House of York (white rose) and the House of Lancaster (red rose).

  • Approximately 105,000 deaths over 30 years in a population of 2-2.5 million.

The Seeds of Conflict

  1. Edward III's Reign (1327-1377): Succession debates after his death.

  2. Henry VI's Weak Rule: Poor law enforcement and high taxes during his rule starting in 1422.

  3. Rise of Richard of York: Temporary rule in 1453 due to Henry VI's mental illness.

Key Battles and Power Shifts

First Battle: Saint Albans (1455)

  • Richard and Yorkists secured victory against the Lancastrians.

Towton: Bloodiest Battle (1461)

  • Edward IV, son of Richard, became king after the Yorkists' victory.

Brief Lancastrian Restoration (1470)

  • Henry VI regained the throne temporarily; executed in 1471 after Yorkist return.

Bosworth Field: Final Battle (1485)

  • Henry Tudor defeated Richard III, ending the conflict.

The Battle of Bosworth

  • Significant in English history; victory aided by Welsh forces.

  • Henry claimed the throne and became King Henry VII.

  • Marriage to Elizabeth from the Yorkist family united the houses, forming the Tudor Rose.

The Tudor Dynasty Begins

  • Henry VII Coronation: October 30, 1485.

  • Marriage to Elizabeth of York in 1486 united the houses.

  • Initiated the Tudor era reign.

Wars of the Roses Key Points

  • Conflict rooted in succession disputes within the Plantagenet family descended from King Edward III.

  • House of Lancaster, descendants of John of Gaunt, vs. House of York, descendants of Edmund of Langley.

  • Conflict initiated by disputes between Henry VI and Richard, Duke of York over rightful kingship.

Henry VIII (1509-1547)

  • Became king following Henry VII's death; renowned for having six wives.

Acts of Union and Religion

Acts of Union

  • Passed in 1536 and 1543 to integrate England and Wales linguistically, culturally, and administratively.

Religious Shift

  • Henry VIII separated from the Catholic Church to establish the Church of England, leading to Protestantism.

Religious Instability

  • Country experienced fluctuating religious influences, leading to rebellion.

Mary I and Elizabeth I

Mary I (1553-1558)

  • Restored Catholicism; persecuted Protestants, two notable executions for heresy.

Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

  • A devoted Protestant; re-established Protestantism in England.

  • Known for commanding the translation of the Bible into Welsh in her reign.