War Of the Barons

• When was the Battle of Blore Heath?

  The Battle of Blore Heath was the 23rd September 1459
• Who was involved on each side of the Battle of Blore Heath?

  Yorkists:

  • York
  • Salisbury
  • Warwick
  • Trollope

  Lancastrians:

  • Somerset
  • Lord Audley
  • Lord Dudley
• Brief summary of the Battle of Blore Heath

  • Yorkist troops travelling + gained attention of Lancastrians
  • Salisbury shadowed by Somerset
  • Attempts to negotiate peace
  • Audley refused Salisbury passage + forces were deployed
  • Audley killed + men began to flee
• Key deaths and captures of the Battle of Blore Heath

  • Audley killed
  • Dudley captured
  • Salisbury just escaped but his 2 younger sons captured
• What were some significant outcomes of the Battle of Blore Heath?

  • Yorkist victory
  • Discredited Yorkist loyal subject claim as repeated action to challenge the crown
  • Yorkists had to get to Ludlow
• What happened before the rout of Ludford Bridge?

  • After the Battle of Blore Heath
  • York + Salisbury sealed an agreement by indenture that binds them to assist one another -> saving only their allegiance to Henry VI
• When was the rout of Ludford Bridge?

  The rout of Ludford Bridge was the 12th October 1459
• Which Yorkists were involved in the rout of Ludford Bridge and big was their force?

  Yorkists: 25000 forces

  • York
  • Salisbury
  • Warwick
  • Edward (Earl of March)
  • Edmund (Earl of Rutland)
  • Faunconburg
  • Trollope
  • Lord Clinton Grey
• Which Lancastrians were involved in the rout of Ludford Bridge and big was their force?

  Lancastrians: 40-60000 forces

  • Henry VI
  • Buckingham
  • Northumberland
  • Shrewsbury
  • Devon
  • Wiltshire
  • Beaumont
• Brief summary of the rout of Ludford Bridge


  • Yorkists path to Worcester blocked by Royalist army who regarded them as traitors + rebels
  • York swore oath of loyalty but was ignored
  • Pardon offered to all but Salisbury
  • Yorkists long retreat to Ludlow (fortified the fields) moral was low
  • Trollope + others defected because of Henry VI
  • After council of war held all Yorkist leaders fled
  • York + Edmund -> Ireland
  • Salisbury Warwick Edward + Fauconberg -> Calais
• What were the significant outcomes of the rout of Ludford Bridge?

  • Shameful loss for the Yorkists
  • They could have been executed
  • Duchess of York had to surrender herself to the King
  • Act of Attainder
• When did the Parliament of Devils meet and where?

  The Parliament of Devils met on the 20th November 1459 in Coventry
• What was different about the Parliament of Devils?

  • Parliament had not met for 3 and a 1/2 years
  • Parliament had moved to Coventry
  • Elections should have been held but political strife prevented this
  • Mp's were named without free election (very Lancastrian)
• What were the outcomes of the Parliament of Devils?


  • The aim of the parliament was to condemn Yorkists as traitors
  • Somerset = Captain of Calais only in the name as Warwick + allies refused to yield possessions
  • Wiltshire = Lord Lieutenant of Ireland only in name as Irish Parliament declared support for York + supplied with retinues of archers
• What treaties were made in the Parliament of Devils?

  • Somnium vigilantes - set case against Yorkists saying broken oaths + rebellion was unjustified
  • Act of Attainer = York, Salisbury, Warwick, March, Rutland + others declared traitors + lands, honours + titles sentenced to forfeiture (given to lancastrians) = families ruined
• What was Henry's reaction to the Parliament of Devils?

  • Henry still wished for leniency + wanted compromise + forgive the men (House of lords also want peace -> only after ring leaders of Yorkist cause)
  • Clause at the end of Attainder showed Henry was still more concerned with showing mercy as he reserved right to pardon those who submitted to him
• What were the Yorkists reactions to the Parliament of Devils?

  • Yorkists dismissed their sentences and planned to return to England with a force ( no other choice as traitors )
  • From Calais they issued a manifesto declaring loyalty to the king and condemning their enemies at court for their misfortune
• When was the Battle of Northampton?

  The Battle of Northampton was the 10th July 1460
• Who was on the Yorkists side and how big was their force during the Battle of Northampton?

  Yorkists (12000)

  • Dynham
  • Wenlock
  • Faunconberg
  • Warwick
  • Earl of March (Edward)
• Who was on the Lancastrian side and how big was their force during the Battle of Northampton?

  Lancastrians

  • Henry VI
  • Buckingham
  • Lord Grey
  • Shrewsbury
  • Viscount Beaumont
• Brief summary of the Battle of Northampton

  • Royalists arrived first -> Canons, staking fences + defensive ditches but rain soaked gunpowder so it was useless
  • Formalities and + negotiations -> Warwick made clear only to kill lords, knights and squires -> not king of common people
  • Lord Grey switched + helped Yorkists -> butchered anyone wearing armour or nobility colours
  • King apprehended -> Warwick, Faunconberg + March protested loyalty + asked for forgiveness
• Key deaths etc of the Battle of Northampton

  Key deaths:

  • Buckingham
  • Shrewsbury
  • 400 men

  Henry apprehended
• What were the significant outcomes of the Battle of Northampton?

  • Henry in custody of Yorkists
  • Parliament summoned to cancel Acts of Attainder
  • Duchess of York released
  • George Neville made chancellor
  • Thomas Brouchier made Treasurer
• What did York do on his return from Ireland after Northampton?

  • York returned on the 8th September 1460 displaying the royal banner and acted in the manner of a king
  • Approach Westminster with sword borne upright before him
  • When entering the hall on the opening of parliament on the 7th October he laid his hand on the throne as if to claim it
• What/When was the Act of Accord?

  • On the 16th October York was forced to submit a case for a claim to the throne
  • On the 25th October the Act of Accord was agreed with 3 main points: Henry VI to remain on the throne, York govern as protector of England, York renamed Henry's heir instead of Prince Edward
• What were the reactions of the act of accord?

  • Some yorkists (Warwick) not on York's side in this particular matter
  • Archbishop Brouchier refused to participate in his coronation
  • Breakdown in law and order in the North
  • Led to Lancastrian rebellion
• Was it always York's intention to seize the throne? (After the Act of Accord) 


  • Agree: Needed noble noble support and faked loyalty. Arms against king. Bills mentioned his place as heir
  • Disagree: Opportunity at St Albans and his protectorate. Tried to negotiate with bills. Always pledged loyalty to king. Parliament of devils gave no other choice
• Who was Anjou gathering support from in England etc ( After Act of Accord)?

  • Anjou gathered troops from the west country, Wales and the North
  • Jasper Tudor, Exeter Somerset Clifford Devon and Northumberland
• Who was Anjou's foreign support and how did they help her?

  • Anjou went to Scotland and spent 2 weeks with Queen Dowager Mary Gueldres (widow of James II) on how Scotland could support her
  • They couldn't provide money
  • Men at arms made available
  • Prince Edward promised to one of Gueldres daughters
  • Got port of Berwick-upon-Tweed
• When was the Battle of Wakefield?

  • 30th December 1460
• Who was on the Yorkist side during the Battle of Wakefield?

  • York
  • Salisbury
  • Edmund Earl of Rutland
  • 5000
• Who was on the Lancastrian side during the Battle of Wakefield?

  • Somerset
  • Lord Clifford
  • Wiltshire
  • Lord Roos
  • Trollop
  • 10000 - 15000
• What happened during the Battle of Wakefield?

  • Force led by Somerset outside Sandal castle where Somerset was waiting and building up force
  • Wiltshire and Lord Roos hid 2 flanks in woodlands
  • York and Salisbury led men out to attack but got trapped with fresh attack from flanks
  • York dragged from horse and killed
  • Rutland killed by Clifford and Salisbury - imprisoned then beheaded
• Key deaths in the Battle of Wakefield

  • York, Salisbury and Rutland beheaded and placed on spikes above Micklegate bridge in York
  • Paper crown on Yorks head
  • Thomas Neville killed
• Significant outcomes of the Batlle of Wakefield

  • Yorkist defeat - 2 leading figures killed
  • Returned initiative to Lancastrians
  • Lancastrians began to march to to London where Warwick was trying to gather force
• When was the Battle of Mortimers Cross?

  • On the 2nd of February 1461
• Who was involved in the Yorkist side of the Battle of Mortimers Cross?

  • Edward Earl of March
  • Sir William Herbert
  • Sir John Wenlock
  • Sir Walter Devereux
• Who was involved in the Lancastrian side of the Battle of Mortimers Cross?


  • Jasper Tudor Earl of Pembroke
  • Owen Tudor
  • James Butler Earl of Wiltshire
  • Forces quite even
  • 4000 - 5000
• What happened in the Battle of Mortimers Cross?


  • The morning of the battle there was a perihelion (3 suns) because of the reflections on the ice
  • Yorkists initially scared but Edward said it meant God was on their side = Father, Son and Holy spirit
  • Fighting starts and Lancastrians lined begin to collapse - fighting lasted half an hour
  • Lancastrians began to flee but were pursued by Yorkists
  • Common soldiers not spared like previous battles (big change for WORS)
• Key deaths in Battle of Mortimers Cross


  • More killed in this battle than last 3 combined
  • Owen Tudor taken captive, killed and head stuck on Market Cross