Edward IV and the Wars of the RosesThis fascinating account of an unsung English monarch and military leader is “a pleasing and well-informed appraisal of the first Yorkist king” (Dr. Michael Jones, author of Bosworth 1485: Psychology of a Battle). Indisputably the most effective general of the Wars of the Roses in fifteenth-century England, King Edward IV died in his bed, undefeated in battle. Yet he has never been accorded the martial reputation of other English warrior kings such as Henry V. It has been suggested that perhaps he lacked the personal discipline expected of a truly great army commander. But, as the author shows in this perceptive and highly readable new study, Edward was a formidable military leader whose strengths and subtleties have never been fully recognized—perhaps because he fought most of his battles against his own people in a civil war. This reassessment of Edward’s military skill—and of the Wars of the Roses in which he played such a vital part—provides fascinating insight into Edward the man as well as the politician and battlefield commander. Based on contemporary sources and the latest scholarly research, Edward IV and the Wars of the Roses stands as “a valuable and thought-provoking addition to the canon, which ought to become required reading for anyone interested in the reign of the first Yorkist monarch” (The Ricardian). |
Contents
Rouen April 1442 | |
Calais November 1459 | |
London March 1461 | |
York March 1461 | |
Reading September 1464 | |
Texel The Netherlands October 1470 | |
London April 1471 | |
Epilogue | |
Notes | |
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Common terms and phrases
According archers Arrivall artillery Bamburgh Barnet battle Battle of Barnet Battle of Tewkesbury Battle of Towton battlefield brother Burgundian Burgundy Calais campaign Castle Charles Charles of Burgundy command Commynes contemporary Coventry Crowland Crowland Chronicle Devon Duke of Somerset Duke of York Earl of Warwick Edward IV Edward’s army enemies England English Chronicle example Exeter exile Fauconberg fighting force France French garrison Geoffrey Wheeler Gloucester Goodman Gregory Henry VI Henry’s Herbert historians joined killed King Henry King’s Lancastrian Lancastrian army Lancastrian leaders London Lord Louis XI Ludlow Mancini March Margaret of Anjou medieval military Montagu Mortimer’s Cross Neville noble northern Paston Pembroke Percy perhaps political presumably Prince quickly rebellion rebels Richard Rivers Roses Ross royal Salisbury Scofield Scots Sir John soldiers sources St Albans Stroud suggests Tewkesbury throne took Towton troops Tudor Wales Warkworth’s Chronicle Wars Warwick and Clarence Wavrin weapons Whethamstede Woodville York’s Yorkist Yorkist army