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Explore the White Tower

Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.

A Medieval Mystery

There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.

1: Location

Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.

2: Alignment

Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.

3: Size

Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?

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3D/VR

Virtual Buildings

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

1451 .. 1475
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

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Fifteenth Century

185 Historical events occurring between 1451 and 1475

Years: 1451 1452 1453 1454 1455 1456 1457 1458 1459 1460 1461 1462 1463 1464 1465 1466 1467 1468 1469 1470 1471 1472 1473 1474 1475

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Click to explore

1451

Regnal years: 29 Henry VI - 30 Henry VI
 
Births

Columbus, Christopher (b.1451 - d.1506)

Grey, Thomas (1st Marquess of Dorset) (b.1451 - d.1501)

Isabella (of Castile) (b.1451 - d.1504)

Neville, Isabel (Duchess of Clarence) (b.1451 - d.1476)

...
Glasgow University founded
Founded in 1451, Glasgow University is one of the oldest universities in the UK.
...
Support for Richard in Parliament
Thomas Young, the member of Parliament for Bristol stood up and declared that Richard, Duke of York's claim to the throne should be considered. Thomas Young was quickly arrested and locked up in the Tower of London.
...
Birth of Christopher Columbus
The son of a wool weaver, Christopher Columbus was born in the Italian coastal city of Genoa. ¹
Episode: The Great Explorers [highlight all]
...
Somerset is Captain of Calais
King Henry confirmed his faith in Edmund Beaufort, the Duke of Somerset, by giving him the important and powerful position of captain of Calais. ¹
Feb 3
Death of Murad II
Feb 3
Murad II, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, died. He was succeeded by his son Mehmed II.
Feb 14
Louis marries Charlotte of Savoy
Feb 14
Louis, the Dauphin of France and future King Louis XI married Charlotte of Savoy against the wishes of his father Charles VII.
Jun 30
Bordeaux falls to the French
Jun 30
The port city of Bordeaux fell to the French and English control was lost.
Episode: Henry VI and Joan of Arc [highlight all]
Aug 20
Bayonne falls to the French
Aug 20
After Bordeaux fell to the French it was only a matter of time before Bayonne fell as well. This marked the end of English control in Aquitaine after some three hundred years. It was in 1152 that Eleanor of Aquitaine had married King Henry II of England.
Episode: Henry VI and Joan of Arc [highlight all]
Qtr 4
York starts an uprising
Qtr 4
The Duke of York writes to supporters in Norfolk asking for their support in an uprising against the King. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
See Also

1452

Regnal years: 30 Henry VI - 31 Henry VI
 
Births

Ferdinand (II, King of Aragon 1479-1516) (b.1452 - d.1516)

James (III, King of Scotland 1460-1488) (b.1452 - d.1488)

Richard (III, King of England 1483-1485) (b.1452 - d.1485)

...
The town of Ghent revolts against taxes
A new tax on salt imposed on the town of Ghent led to revolt. Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy declared war on the town and its inhabitants leading to many months of conflict and many deaths.
...
Dum Diversas slave trade
The bull Dum Diversas issued by Pope Nicholas V gave the right to the kings of Portugal to eternally enslave any pagans or non-Christians. Invading, conquering, expelling and fighting were all allowed. A further bull was issued in 1455.
Feb
The Duke of York marches on London
Feb
The Duke of York gathered an army and marched on London intent on persuading King Henry to remove Somerset from power. The king took an army north to Northampton to prevent Yorkist supporters in the east joining York in the west. The king also sent word to the city of London to not allow York to enter. Learning that he was refused entry to the city, the Duke of York continued south and crossed the the River Thames at Kingston. York moved his army to Dartford while King Henry came back south to London. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Feb
Death of William Douglas at Stirling
Feb
During a meeting at Stirling Castle between the Earl of Douglas and King James II the 8th Earl refused to meet the King's demands. Angered by the refusal James stabbed the Earl and killed him.
Mar
The Duke of York surrenders
Mar
Queen Margaret had raised an army and with the King they confronted the Duke of York at Dartford. Outnumbered, York disbanded his army and surrendered. He was taken to London and later at St. Paul's Cathedral was forced to swear an oath saying he would not oppose King Henry. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Mar 19
Frederick III invested in Rome
Mar 19
Frederick III was the last emperor to be crowned actually in Rome with the Roman imperial crown.
Apr
General Pardon issued
Apr
To draw a line under the revolts that had taken place in the previous two years, a general pardon was issued for those that were guilty of acts of disloyalty against the King.
Oct
Talbot retakes Guyenne
Oct
John Talbot, the Earl of Shrewsbury, landed near Bordeaux and took the area of Guyenne.
Episode: Henry VI and Joan of Arc [highlight all]
Oct 2
Richard (III) is born
Oct 2
Richard, the future King of England, was born in Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire. His father was Richard Duke of York and his mother was Cecily Neville. Richard was their fourth son.
Nov
Edmund and Jasper created Earls
Nov
The two sons of Owen Tudor, Edmund and Jasper were made Earls. Edmund became the Earl of Richmond and Jasper became the Earl of Pembroke.
See Also

1453

Regnal years: 31 Henry VI - 32 Henry VI
 
Births

Edward (of Lancaster, Prince of Wales) (b.1453 - d.1471)

 
Deaths

Talbot, John (Lord, Earl of Shrewsbury) (b.1387 - d.1453)

...
Pacific Kuwae Eruption
A large volcanic eruption occurred in the Pacific region of Vanuatu. This eruption was so powerful that it affected the World's climate. Another large eruption was recorded happening in 1458 or 1465, but its location is not known.
More Natural World Events
May 22
Partial Eclipse
May 22
A partial eclipse of the sun occurred several days before the Turks captured Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
More Natural World Events
May 29
Turks established in Constantinople
May 29
The Fall of Constantinople came after a seige of some fifty days. ¹
Jul
English defeated at Castillion
Jul
Sir John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and his army were totally destroyed by the French as they attempted to regain control of the region around Bordeaux. This is regarded as the last event in the Hundred Years War.
Episode: Henry VI and Joan of Arc [highlight all]
Aug
The King's health suffers
Aug
From August 1453 until the end of 1454, the mental health of King Henry VI was such that he was unable to conduct the day-to-day government of the country. The illness was some kind of mental condition possibly inherited from his grandfather Charles VI of France who also suffered from bouts of madness. What followed was a struggle for power and control of the English throne. Amongst the main rivals were Richard, Duke of York and Edmund Deaufort, the Duke of Somerset.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Oct 13
Prince Edward of Lancaster is born
Oct 13
Edward of Westminster, also known as Edward of Lancaster, King Henry's and Margaret of Anjou's only son, was born at Westminster.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Nov
Somerset sent to the Tower
Nov
With support of the other barons Richard, Duke of York won over the unpopular Edmund Beaufort, the duke of Somerset. He had only kept his position of power with the support of the King and without that support all was lost. Somerset was arrested and sent to the Tower of London.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Qtr 4
Some success in Gascony
Qtr 4
Under the command of the Duke of Shrewsbury, an English army was able to take back some of the lost ground in Gascony. But the successes would be short-lived.
See Also

1454

Regnal years: 32 Henry VI - 33 Henry VI
 
Births

Stewart, Alexander (Duke of Albany) (b.1454 - d.1485)

Woodville, Edward (b.1454 - d.1488)

...
University of Glasgow founded
The University of Glasgow was founded in this year.
Feb 17
Feast of the Pheasant
Feb 17
A lavish banquet was held at Lille, put on by Philip the Good Duke of Burgundy to raise support for a crusade against the Turks who had captured Constantinople. The banquet was so large that it included a landscape with ships, mock villages, castles and churches. It had a pie in which more than twenty musicians palyed. Chariots of gold were moved around by hidden machinery and a horse had been trained to walk backwards. To complete the spectacle a huge Saracen giant and an elephant appeared. On the elephant rode a female figure meant to represent the Holy Church who appealed to the banqueting guests to join the crusade and save her. ¹
Mar 27
Richard, Duke of York made Protector
Mar 27
With the King unable to govern, Queen Margaret with the support of the powerful Neville Earls gave Richard, Duke of York the position of 'Protector of England'.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Apr 2
Earl of Salisbury becomes Chancellor
Apr 2
With Richard, Duke of York running the country, several changes were made, one of which was to make the elder Richard Neville the Chancellor of England. Richard also made himself the Captain of Calais removing his rival the Earl of Somerset from the post.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Dec
King Henry's health returns
Dec
King Henry returned to health and Richard, Duke of York was removed from the position of Protector.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
See Also

1455

Regnal years: 33 Henry VI - 34 Henry VI
 
Births

Stafford, Henry (Duke of Buckingham) (b.1455 - ex.1483)

 
Deaths

Beaufort, Edmund (2nd Duke of Somerset) (b.1406 - d.1455)

...
Edmund Tudor marries Margaret Beaufort
Edmund Tudor married Margaret Beaufort, the heiress of the Duke of Somerset. Margaret was only twelve years old. Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort were the parents of Henry Tudor, the future King of England, Henry VII. ¹
...
The Gutenberg Bible
Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, printed the first Bible. At the time all Bibles were hand copied and prone to errors and amendments making each copy unique. A standard Bible meant all priests would be able to work from the same version of the text. The Gutenberg Bible was also a work of art each page having two columns of text and many pages being illuminated with colourful letters and flowers. ¹
...
Calixtus III becomes Pope
Jan
Papal Bull for African exploration
Jan
A Papal Bull approved by Pope Nicholas V gave the Portuguese a monopoly for the exploration and exploitation of Africa, Many Africans were kidnapped from the west coast to be used as slaves in Europe.
Episode: The Great Explorers [highlight all]
Feb
Somerset released from the Tower
Feb
With Henry back in power the Duke of Somerset was released from captivity.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Mar
Somerset back in command
Mar
King Henry's return to sanity swung the balance of power back to favour the Duke of Somerset and he was quickly restored to his former position of Captain of Calais. The Yorkists at this time felt it wise to leave London in fear of reprisals.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
May 21
The Yorkists are summoned
May 21
A council was called and Edward, Earl of March and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick were summoned to attend. Concerned that the reason they had been called was to be punished, the Yorkists decided to demand a meeting of their own with the King at St. Albans.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
May 22
First Battle of St. Albans
May 22
King Henry VI had by his side at St. Albans the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham, Lords Pembroke, Northumberland and Devon and around 2,000 Lancastrian men. They tried to hold the town against the Yorkists led by Salisbury and Warwick but Warwick was able to enter the town through an unguarded spot and attack the flanks of the Lancastrian barricades. Although this battle was small it left the Duke of Somerset dead along with Lord Northumberland and Clifford. As a result of this victory power again swung to the Yorkists although support from the Barons was not total. Richard, Duke of York, again became Protector of the Realm and the powerful position of Captain of Calais was given to the Earl of Warwick.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Jul
Parliament held
Jul
A Parliament was held after the Battle of St. Albans to confirm the changes of appointment. Richard, Duke of York became protector for the second time. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Oct
Henry VI becomes ill once more
Oct
King Henry VI suffered another bout of mental illness. This time to last until February of the following year. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
See Also

1456

Regnal years: 34 Henry VI - 35 Henry VI
 
Births

Margaret (of Denmark) (b.1456 - d.1486)

Neville, Anne (Duchess of Gloucester, Queen of England) (b.1456 - d.1485)

 
Deaths

Cromwell, Ralph (Lord Treasurer of England) ( - d.1456)

Tudor, Edmund (Earl of Richmond) ( - d.1456)

Feb 25
Duke of York resigns as Protector
Feb 25
King Henry VI again came around from a bout of mental illness and Richard, Duke of York, was relieved from the position of Protector of the Realm. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
Jun
Halley's Comet
Jun
Return of the comet now named after Edmond Halley who died in 1742. The comet returns approximately every 75 years.
More Natural World Events
Aug
Edmund Tudor captured
Aug
Edmund Tudor Earl of Richmond was captured at Carmarthen Castle after a siege by men under the control of Sir Wiliiam Herbert. ¹
Nov
Edmund Tudor dies
Nov
Edmund the Earl of Richmond died in captivity in Carmarthen Castle. His thirteen year old bride Margaret was expecting their child who would become the future King Henry VII.
Dec
Margaret Beaufort moved to Pembroke
Dec
After the death of Edmund Tudor, his brother, Jasper Tudor Earl of Pembroke, moved Margaret Beaufort to Pembroke Castle. Margaret was the wife of Edmund Tudor and expecting their first child, Henry Tudor, the future King of England. ¹
Dec 5
Large Italian Earthquake
Dec 5
In Naples, a large earthquake struck near the town of Pontelandolfo in the present-day Province of Benevento of southern Italy. With an estimated magnitude of between 7.1 and 7.4 this earthquake is possibly the largest to occur on the Italian Peninsula. The reported death toll varied from a few thousand up to 70,000. Several large aftershocks occurred in the following days causing even more destruction.
More Natural World Events
See Also

1457

Regnal years: 35 Henry VI - 36 Henry VI
 
Births

Henry (VII, King of England 1485-1509) (b.1457 - d.1509)

...
French attack on Sandwich
The coastal town of Sandwich on the south coast of England was raided by the French. The town was left burning and the mayor dead,  ¹
...
Glass first manufactured
Glass was first manufactured in England.
Jan 28
Henry (VII) is born
Jan 28
The future king of England, Henry VII, was born at Pembroke Castle. His father was Edmund Tudor who had died a couple of months before the birth and his mother was Margaret Beaufort who was directly descended from King Edward III.
See Also

1458

Regnal years: 36 Henry VI - 37 Henry VI
 
Births

Woodville, Catherine (b.1458 - d.1497)

...
Warwick fights several naval battles
England's naval power was weak and the waters between France and England were filled with pirates. Sandwich had been attacked by the French the year before. To put an end to this problem, the Earl of Warwick, the Captain of Calais, commanded a fleet of ships to patrol the English Channel. His fleet attacked and captured Spanish and Genoese ships talking prisoners and treasure. This made the Earl popular with the sailors under his command and the traders who the pirates had previously attacked. ¹
...
Pius II becomes Pope
...
Magdelan College founded
Magdelan College, Oxford, was founded by William Waynflete, the Lord Chancellor of England.
...
John II of Aragon
The brother of the previous king, Alphonso, John reigned from 1458 until 1479. John's son Ferdinand by his second wife became king of a unified Spain with his wife Isabella.
...
Mystery Volcanic Eruption
Antarctica ice cores show a spike in sulpur deposits indicating a large volcanic eruption in this year, but its location is not known.
More Natural World Events
Mar 24
Loveday march
Mar 24
In an attempt to bring both Yorkists and Lancastrians together in peace, King Henry VI led a march of both parties to a ceremony at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase One [highlight all]
See Also

1459

Regnal years: 37 Henry VI - 38 Henry VI
 
Deaths

Tuchet, James (5th Baron Audley) ( - d.1459)

Jun 24
Great Council
Jun 24
A council at Coventry decided that the Yorkists should be brought under control by the use of force.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Sep
Warwick returns to England
Sep
The Earl of Warwick arrived in England from Calais. He was welcomed in London before setting off north to meet up with the Duke of York. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Sep 23
Battle of Blore Heath
Sep 23
Led by Richard Earl of Salisbury the Yorkists in the north mobilised an army and headed south to meet the Duke of York at Ludlow. Salisbury was intercepted by a Lancastrian army led by Lord Audley at Blore Heath in Shropshire. The Lancastrians were the first to attack. Their first and second cavalry charges were repulsed and when the Lancastrian foot soldiers were also repulsed they turned and fled. In the battle Audley was killed and although two of Salisbury's sons were captured they were quickly released. The Yorkists had won this battle.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Oct 12
Battle of Ludford Bridge
Oct 12
The Earl of Warwick with a force from Calais reached Ludlow and the combined army of the Yorkists attacked the King's army at Ludford Bridge near Ludlow. The men from Calais refused to fight their king and a weak Yorkist army was defeated. Richard Duke of York and his younger son escaped and fled to Ireland while Salisbury, Warwick and Edward of March (later Edward IV) fled to Calais.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Nov
Parliament acts against the Yorkists
Nov
At a Parliament called in Coventry the Yorkists are condemned as rebels and their land was confiscated by the crown.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
See Also

1460

Regnal years: 38 Henry VI - 39 Henry VI
 
Births

Gama, Vasco da (b.1460 - d.1524)

 
Deaths

Edmund (Earl of Rutland) (b.1443 - d.1460)

James (II, King of Scotland 1437-1460) (b.1430 - d.1460)

Neville, Richard (Earl of Salisbury) ( - d.1460)

Neville, Thomas ( - d.1460)

Richard (Duke of York) (b.1411 - d.1460)

Stafford, Humphrey (Duke of Buckingham) ( - d.1460)

Jan 15
Yorkists capture Lancastrian fleet
Jan 15
The Lancastrians were building a large fleet of ships at Sandwich on the south coast and with it they planned to attack Calais. The Earl of Warwick became aware of this and arranged a raid led by John Dinham to steal the ships. Early in the morning of the fifteenth of January the Yorkists supporters attacked the dockyard and stole those ships that were seaworthy. Richard Woodville (Earl Rivers), his wife Jacquetta and their son Anthony were captured. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Mar
Warwick sails to Ireland
Mar
With the Yorkists in control of the seas around the south coast of England, the Earl of Warwick was able to leave Calais and sail to Ireland where the Duke of York had taken refuge. There they planned their invasion of England and the defeat of the Lancastrians. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Apr 10
James III crowned at Kelso Abbey
Apr 10
James III was crowned King of Scotland at Kelso Abbey.
May
Warwick returns to Calais
May
With plans of invasion made the Earl of Warwick sailed back to Calais to organise his army.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jun
Yorkists take control of Kent
Jun
Yorkists from Calais landed on the south coast of England and quickly seized Sandwich. They prepared for the arrival of the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of March.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Summer
Queen Margaret flees to Wales
Summer
After the Lancastrian defeat at Northampton, Queen Margaret and her son Edward escaped to Wales and the safety of Harlech Castle. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jun 26
Earls of March and Warwick land in England
Jun 26
Once the Yorkist army had secured Sandwich the Earls of March and Warwick arrived from Calais. They had a force of around 2,000 and the support of the Kentish men.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jul 2
Yorkists enter London
Jul 2
The Yorkists marched first to Canterbury where the officers in charge of protecting the town against them joined forces with the rebels. They then moved on and arrived at London on July 2nd. There they were welcomed by the Mayor of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jul 5
The Earls of Warwick and March leave London
Jul 5
Accompanied by a large army of Yorkist supporters, the Earl of Warwick and Edward, the Earl of March left London and marched towards Northampton where the King was staying. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jul 10
Battle of Northampton
Jul 10
The Lancastrians's Court was in Coventry at the time of the Yorkist rebels entering London. When news reached them, the Lancastrians moved south to Northampton to meet the rebels. The Yorkists led by the Earl of Warwick wanted to talk but the Lancastrians led by the Duke of Buckingham wanted to fight. Although the Lancastrians had less men than the Yorkists, they did have control of a stronger position. The Yorkists managed to defeat the Lancastrians due to a section of the Lancastrian army led by Lord Grey of Ruthin moving away allowing the Yorkists through. Orders were given that the King and ordinary men should be spared, while the knights and lords should be killed. When the fighting was over the casualties were light, but the Lancastrian leaders, Buckingham, Shrewsbury and Egremont were dead and the King was captured.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jul 19
Garrison at Tower of London surrenders
Jul 19
The Lancastrian garrison holding the Tower of London surrendered. Lord Scrope tried to escape but was seen and killed by the river, but most of the garrison escaped. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jul 30
Yorkists in power
Jul 30
Now that the Yorkists had control of the King, they started moves to regain their confiscated lands and reverse the sentences of the attainder passed by the Coventry Parliament. To this end they sent letters demanding Parliament should meet on 7th October. George Neville, the Kingmaker's brother was made chancellor of England.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Aug 3
James II accidentally killed
Aug 3
Whilst besieging Roxburgh Castle, James II, King of the Scots was killed by one of his own army's bombards. He was succeeded to the throne by his son James III.
Sep
Richard, Duke of York returns
Sep
Richard, Duke of York returned from Ireland arriving somewhere near Chester.
Oct
Duke of York claims throne
Oct
Richard, Duke of York returned from Ireland to claim the throne of England as a direct descendant of King Edward III. The Lords refused to abandon Henry VI and Parliament agreed he should remain King until his death after which Richard or his heir should become the next king of England.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Nov 13
Death of Prince Henry the Navigator
Nov 13
Prince Henry the Navigator died.
Episode: The Great Explorers [highlight all]
Dec 30
Battle of Wakefield
Dec 30
Queen Margaret had been building an army in the North and started attacking Yorkist held settlements. Richard left London with a small army to deal with the Queen. He had underestimated the Lancastrians and at his castle at Sandal Richard was confronted by superior forces. Although Richard sent word to the Earl of March for assistance he didn't wait and attacked. The battle left Richard Duke of York and his son Earl of Rutland dead.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
See Also

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Click to explore

1461

Regnal years: 39 Henry VI - 1 Richard III
 
Births

Neville, George (Duke of Bedford) (b.1461 - d.1483)

 
Deaths

Charles (VII, King of France 1422-1461) (b.1403 - d.1461)

Clifford, John (9th Lord Clifford) (b.1435 - d.1461)

Grey, John (Sir) ( - d.1461)

Tudor, Owen (b.1400 - d.1461)

Feb 2
Battle of Mortimers Cross
Feb 2
Edward Earl of March, now the heir to the English throne, showed off his military skills at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in Herefordshire. The Lancastrians with Welsh support had caught Edward as he travelled to London. On the morning of the battle three bright lights were seen in the sky. Edward used this strange sight as a good omen. The Lancastrians were defeated and Owen Tudor was captured and beheaded. Jasper Tudor escaped.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Feb 17
Second Battle of St. Albans
Feb 17
The Lancastrians army led by the Queen met the Yorkist army led by Warwick at St. Albans. The Yorkist army was split in two and during the battle sections of the Yorkists defected to the Queen's side. The Yorkists were defeated and Warwick escaped. The King, who had been travelling with the Yorkists, was freed and he was reunited with his wife and son.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Feb 27
Yorkists enter London
Feb 27
Edward and Warwick were allowed to enter the city of London. The citizens of London had refused to let the Queen enter and so she returned north with the King.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Mar 4
Edward IV is proclaimed king
Mar 4
Edward, the Earl of March, was crowned King Edward IV of England at London by the available peers and public acclamation.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Mar 13
Edward leaves London
Mar 13
Edward IV with a large army left London to march north and face the Lancastrians. Richard and George, the young sons of the late Duke of York were put on a ship and sent to Burgundy where they would be safe from Lancastrian hands.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Mar 28
Battle of Ferrybridge
Mar 28
This small battle occurred just before the larger battle of Towton. The Lancastrians were defeated and John Clifford, Lord Clifford was killed.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Mar 29
Battle of Towton
Mar 29
The Battle of Towton was the bloodiest battle of the Wars of the Roses and was fought in a snowstorm at Towton in Yorkshire. Both the Lancastrian and Yorkist armies were large having possibly 40,000 men each. The battle lasted many hours until the Lancastrians's line was broken. Fleeing into a river many of the Lancastrians were drowned due to their heavy armour and the rest were killed by the pursuing Yorkists.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jun 28
Edward IV is crowned
Jun 28
The Yorkists were in control after the battle of Towton and Richard and George were brought back to England where they were made Knights of the Order of the Bath. Edward took part in the crown-wearing ceremonies at Westminster Abbey and became King of England. Shortly afterwards his younger brother George was given the title of Duke of Clarence.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Two [highlight all]
Jul
Lancastrian Embassy in France
Jul
An embassy of several Lancastrians, including the Duke of Somerset, travelled to France and the court of Charles VII to ask for men and a loan of money to continue the fight against the Yorkists. But the death of Charles on the 22nd put an end to their plans. Their situation became serious when they were arrested. The new French King, Louis XI, at this stage of the Wars of the Roses was a Yorkist supporter. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul 22
Death of Charles VII
Jul 22
Charles VII died in July of 1461 after a long illness resulting in an abscess in his mouth that meant he could not eat or drink. Louis, his son, had refused to see his dying father, but as soon as he learnt of the King's death Louis headed to Reims and Paris to claim the French throne. ¹
Aug
Edward on a royal tour
Aug
Edward began a tour of the south and west of England visiting the Welsh Marches and the midlands.
Aug 15
Louis XI crowned King of France
Aug 15
Louis XI and his wife were crowned at Reims Cathedral.
Sep
Pembroke Castle captured
Sep
Pembroke Castle was captured by William Herbert. The young Henry Tudor was found in the castle where he had been hiding. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Oct
Lancastrians lose castles in Wales
Oct
By October the Lancastrians were losing control of the castles that they held in Wales.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Nov
Richard (III) becomes Duke of Gloucester
Nov
Richard (III) was give the title of Duke of Gloucester.
Nov
Pembroke Castle in Yorkist hands
Nov
William Herbert was given the castle at Pembroke in recognition of his assistance to Edward IV. Herbert was made the guardian of the future Henry VII who was living at the castle.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1462

Regnal years: 1 Richard III - 2 Richard III
 
Births

Louis (XII, King of France) (b.1462 - d.1515)

...
Prudhoe Castle granted to the Duke fo Clarence
Both Prudhoe Castle and Warkworth Castle were granted by King Edward IV to his brother George Duke of Clarence. ¹
...
Carreg Cennen demolished
Carreg Cennen Castle was captured from the Lancastrians by the Yorkists. To prevent it from being used as a castle again 500 men were employed to take it apart. The castle has remained a ruin ever since. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Feb
A plot to kill the king
Feb
A Lancastrian plot to kill King Edward IV was uncovered early in the year. Edward was planning to go north to deal with the Scots and the plotters planned to follow him north and kill him. One of the leaders was the 12th Earl of Oxford, John de Vere. Both the Earl and his eldest son where executed for treason. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Feb 13
Treaty of Westminster
Feb 13
This treaty was signed at Westminster by Edward IV and representatives of the Earls of Ross and Douglas and stipulated that if the northern lords in Scotland assisted in a successful conquest of Scotland by the English they would be rewarded with lands and titles. The earls had previously agreed to this arrangement at a meeting at Ardtornish Castle on the West coast of Scotland.
Apr
Queen Margaret sails to France
Apr
In an attempt to raise support for the Lancastrian cause, Queen Margaret sailed from Scotland to Brittany. She hoped she could get support from the French King, Louis XI. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jun 28
Queen Margaret and Louis XI
Jun 28
Queen Margaret of England and Louis XI of France signed a treaty. Margaret promised that Calais would be returned to the French if he helped her return her husband King Henry VI of England to the throne. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Oct 25
Queen Margaret invades
Oct 25
Queen Margaret landed near Bamburgh Castle on the Northumbrian coast with a small army. The main castles in the area, Alnwick, Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh surrendered to the Queen. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Nov 13
Queen Margaret retreats to Scotland
Nov 13
Edward acted quickly to Queen Margaret's arrival in the north. He raised a large army that marched towards Northumbria. Queen Margaret did not have the resources and local support required to fight Edward and so she decided to seek refuge in Scotland. A garrison of soldiers were left at the three Northumbrian castles.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Dec
Yorkists take back control of Northumbrian castles
Dec
The Earl of Warwick was put in charge of capturing the castles from the Lancastrian garrisons. Edward had to stay at Durham to recover from a bout of the measles. The castles were not attacked but cut off from supplies to starve the soldiers out. Just before the new year the Lancastrian soldiers surrendered and the Yorkists took control of Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh Castles. Warwick used the castle at Warkworth as his base while he monitored the sieges at the other castles. The seige of Alnwick Castle continued into January. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1463

Regnal years: 2 Richard III - 3 Richard III
 
Deaths

Mary (of Guelders) (b.1433 - d.1463)

...
Norwich third spire destroyed
Lightning once again hit the wooden and lead spire at Norwich Cathedral causing a fire that spread to the roof. After this disaster stone was used in the roof to provide vaulting and used in the new spire to replace the wood. ¹
Jan 6
Alnwick Castle surrenders to the Yorkists
Jan 6
The Lancastrians inside Alnwick Castle were short of supplies so an army from Scotland under the control of George Douglas, the 4th Earl of Angus marched down to assist. When the Scottish army arrived at the castle, the Yorkists who were beseiging the castle withdrew allowing many of those inside to escape. Douglas did not attack the Yorkists but turned with the rescued men back to Scotland. The Yorkists returned to the castle and those Lancastrians that had not been able to escape surrendered. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Mar
Northumbrian castles fall to Lancastrians
Mar
Sir Ralph Percy, the constable in charge of Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh castles, defected and allowed the Lancastrians to take control. Alnwick Castle fell to the Lancastrians shortly afterwards.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
May
Alnwick Castle in Lancastrian hands
May
Alnwick Castle was captured by the Lancastrians. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul
Queen Margaret returns to France
Jul
Warwick took an army north to deal with the new threat from Queen Margaret. The Lancastrians had laid siege to Norham Castle on the Scottish border. Under the control of the Earl of Warwick, the Yorkists again proved too powerful for the Lancastrians and with her invasion plans in ruin Margaret decided to return to France. She took Prince Edward with her. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul
Siege of Norham Castle
Jul
Queen Margaret and King Henry VI with Scottish support besieged the castle at Norham. King Edward failed to react to the problem and it was left to the Earls of Warwick and Northumberland to come to the castle's rescue. King Henry, Margaret and the Scots fled.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Oct
Treaty with France
Oct
King Edward IV agreed a peace treaty with France in which both sides promising not to assist each others enemies. This was a disaster for the Lancastrians who had hoped that they could get French assistance against the English king.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Dec
Duke of Somerset rebels
Dec
Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset and Lancastrian supporters rebelled against Edward and used Bamburgh Castle as a base.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Dec
English Truce with Scotland
Dec
Edward IV agreed a truce with Scotland who had lost interest in fighting for the Lancastrians and Queen Margaret. The truce was signed at York and Edward spent Christmas in the city.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1464

Regnal years: 3 Richard III - 4 Richard III
 
Births

Pole, John de la (Earl of Lincoln) (b.1464 - d.1487)

 
Deaths

Beaufort, Henry (3rd Duke of Somerset) (b.1436 - d.1464)

...
Paul II becomes Pope
Apr 25
Battle of Hedgeley Moor
Apr 25
The Battle of Hedgeley Moor took place a few miles from Alnwick. Lord Montague was attempting to meet Scottish envoys and escort then back to York for peace talks. The Lancastrians wanted to put an end to these plans and attacked Montague's army. Lancastrians involved in the battle were Somerset, Roos, Hungerford, , Sir Ralph Percy, Sir Richard Tunstall and Sir Thomas Finderne. Percy was killed in the battle. The Yorkist army was too strong for the Lancastrians and won the day. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
May
Edward secretly marries
May
King Edward IV married Elizabeth Woodville (Wydville) secretly during a hunting trip. The hunting trip that may have been arranged as a cover. Edward is supposed to have had a reputation as a lady's man and had many lovers. To Edward, Elizabeth could have been just another lover, but Elizabeth may have wanted more and persuaded Edward to marry her. The marriage took place in secret and was kept quiet until the spring of 1465. One problem with the marriage was that Elizabeth was the widow of Henry V's brother John, a Lancastrian and her family were Lancastrian supporters. The other problem was that Warwick had contacted the French king Louis XI and had been trying to arrange a marriage for Edward to a French princess. Edward's act upset Warwick's plans.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
May
Battle of Hexham
May
The Nevilles defeated the last of the Lancastrian forces near Hexham and executed the rebels including Henry Beaufort the Duke of Somerset. In recognition of their contribution to the security of his reign Edward IV gave John Neville, Lord Montague, the title of Earl of Northumberland and George Neville became the Archbishop of York.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jun
Truce with Scotland.
Jun
Anglo-Scots truce signed at York. ¹
Jun
Herbert becomes Constable of Harlech
Jun
William Herbert was given the title of Constable of Harlech Castle by Edward IV and told to capture the castle from the Lancatrians. But the castle was strongly fortified and a lengthy siege began. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jun 23
Alnwick Castle Surrenders to Warwick
Jun 23
After the Lancastrians were defeated at the Battle of Hexham their power in Northumberland was at an end. The Earl of Warwick accepted the surrender of Alnwick Castle on June the 23rd. Dunstanburgh Castle surrendered shortly afterwards. The siege at Bamburgh Castle was brought to an end with the use of cannons, the first castle to fall in such a way. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Sep 14
Council at Reading
Sep 14
At the Great Council at Reading Abbey King Edward IV announced his marriage and Elizabeth Woodville was recognised as Queen. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1465

Regnal years: 4 Richard III - 5 Richard III
...
Mystery Volcanic Eruption
Records indicate a large eruption that affected the climate around the world occurred in this year, but its location is not known. The change in climate was severe causing floods across Europe, lakes to freeze over and crops to fail. As records for the time can be inacurate, this could have been the same eruption that was recorded in 1453, the Kuwae eruption.
More Natural World Events
May 26
Elizabeth crowned
May 26
Elizabeth Woodville was finally crowned Queen at Westminster Abbey.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Summer
Henry VI captured
Summer
Henry had been helped by Lancastrian supporters in the north but was finally captured at Waddington Hall. He was taken to London and put in the Tower.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1466

Regnal years: 5 Richard III - 6 Richard III
 
Births

Elizabeth (of York) (b.1466 - d.1503)

...
Central tower at Bristol
The central tower was under contruction in around 1466 taking possibly five years to complete. ¹
Feb 11
Birth of Edward IV's first daughter
Feb 11
Elizabeth, the first daughter to Edward IV and Elizabeth was born. A second daughter, Mary, was born on August 8th 1467. ¹
See Also

1468

Regnal years: 7 Richard III - 8 Richard III
...
Canterbury Lady Chapel Vault
Canterbury Lady Chapel Vault built. ¹
...
Orkney pledged to Scotland
The islands of Orkney were pledged to James III of Scotland in part payment of the dowry for the marriage of James to the daughter of King Christian I of Norway. ¹
Summer
Margaret marries Duke of Burgundy
Summer
Edward arranged for his sister Margaret to marry Charles the Duke of Burgundy. Burgundy had for some time been a supporter of the Yorkists and this marriage strengthened the bond. For Warwick, this was a disaster. Warwick had been attempting to make an alliance with France and that was not about to happen.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul
Jasper Tudor's invasion
Jul
King Louis XI of France provided Jasper Tudor, the Earl of Pembroke, with three ships and fifty soldiers to invade Wales. The small invasion force planned to gain support against Edward IV and help the Lancastrian garrison trapped at Harlech Castle. The castle was surrounded by the English so Pembroke attacked and occupied Denbigh gaining many supporters. Lord Herbert was dispatched to deal with the threat and defeated Pembroke who managed to escape.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Qtr 4
Warwick plots against the King
Qtr 4
Warwick was unhappy with the marriage of Edward and Elizabeth Woodville and he began to plan how overthrow the king. Warwick's plans centred around Edward's brother George, the Duke of Clarence. If George was to marry Warwick's daughter Isabel and become king, Warwick would be back in a position of power.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1469

Regnal years: 8 Richard III - 9 Richard III
 
Births

Cecily (of York) (b.1469 - d.1507)

 
Deaths

Herbert, William (Earl of Pembroke) ( - ex.1469)

Woodville, Richard (1st Earl Rivers) (b.1410 - d.1469)

Qtr 1
Rebellion of Robin of Redesdale
Qtr 1
A rebellion began early in the year started by a mysterious person calling himself Robin of Redesdale. The motivation for the uprising against the king was his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville and the influence the Woodvilles were having. The rebels were supported by the Earl of Warwick.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jun
Edward advances against rebels
Jun
Edward and the Duke of Gloucester took a small army in search of the rebels in the North.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul
Clarence marries Isabel Neville
Jul
Warwick and the Duke of Clarence travelled to France where Clarence was married to Warwick's fifteen year old daughter Isabel. The ceremony was conducted by Warwick's brother George Neville the Archbishop of York.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul
Marriage of James III and Margaret of Denmark
Jul
James III of Scotland married Margaret of Denmark. Margaret's father was unable to pay the dowry for his daughter so offered Orkney and the Shetland Islands instead until he could raise the money. They were married at Holyrood Abbey.
Jul 18
Warwick returns from France
Jul 18
Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick returned from France to England with an army, passing through Canterbury and London. His plan was to take the army north and join up with the Rebels led by Robin of Redesdale.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul 26
Battle of Edgecote
Jul 26
Edward's army was insufficient to deal with the rebels alone and he had moved them to Nottingham to wait for a larger army to join them led by Sir William Herbert, the Earl of Pembroke. Pembroke's army was attacked and defeated by a combined rebel army led by Robin of Redesdale and the Earl of Warwick who had returned from France. The battle took place at Edgecote near Banbury. Sir William Herbert and his brother Richard were captured and executed.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul 29
Edward is captured
Jul 29
After the defeat of William Herbert at Edgecote, Edward was left without a strong enough army to deal with the Earl of Warwick. Either Edward's army deserted him, or he dispersed his army on purpose, but the outcome was the same; Edward was captured and taken to Middleham Castle as a prisoner.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Aug
Woodville family members executed
Aug
While Edward was imprisoned, Warwick captured the Queen's father (Earl Rivers) and one of her brothers and had them executed at Warwick Castle.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Sep
Riots and rebellions
Sep
With the king in custody there began a series of riots around the country protesting against the Earl of Warwick. Warwick did not have the backing of Parliament and in the end had little choice but to let Edward go free and return to rule the country.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Oct 19
Marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella
Oct 19
The eighteen-year-old Isabella, heir to the King of Castile married her cousin Ferdinand, the heir to the King of Aragon. Ferdinand was seventeen.
Qtr 4
Richard appointed Constable of England
Qtr 4
Richard (III) was given the role of Constable of England and was given Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire. ¹
See Also

1470

Regnal years: 9 Richard III - 10 Richard III
 
Births

Charles (VIII, King of France 1483-1498) (b.1470 - d.1498)

Edward (V, King of England 1483) (b.1470 - m.1483)

Isabella (Queen of Portugal) (b.1470 - d.1498)

...
York Minster north-west tower
Building work on the north-west tower of York Minster took place until 1474. ¹
...
'Le Morte d'Arthur'
The book about the legend of King Arthur called 'Le Morte d'Arthur' was written by Sir Thomas Mallory. ¹
...
First printing press in France
The first printing press was operating in France in the Sorbonne, the university in Paris. ¹
Mar 12
Lincolnshire rebellion
Mar 12
A rebellion had begun in Lincolnshire early in the year and had been mostly been dealt with by Edward, but Sir Robert (Welles ?) had escaped capture and was still on the run. Edward finally caught up with Sir Robert near Stamford in Lincolnshire. In the battle known as Empingham (or Lose-Coat), Sir Robert was captured and confessed that the rebellion had been master-minded by the Earl of Warwick and the Duke of Clarence.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Mar 20
Battle of Nibley Green
Mar 20
The private battle of Nibley Green in 1469 or 1470 was fought between William Berkeley and Thomas Talbot Lord Lisle over the inheritance of the Berkeley estate. The original dispute arose some fifty years earlier when Thomas Berkeley died and his inheritance was disputed by his daughter and nephew James Berkeley. William Berkeley, the son of James, won the battle leaving Lord Lisle dead on the battlefield. ¹
May
Warwick and Clarence escape to France
May
After their treachery had been uncovered, the Earl of Warwick and Duke of Clarence fled to France. Warwick's plan was to get help from the French King. They took a ship with their immediate relatives and followers from either Exeter or Dartmouth. Isabella, Warwick's daughter, gave birth on the ship to a son, but he died shortly afterwards. When they reached Calais, the deputy-governor, John Lord Wenlock, refused them entry to the harbour and fired his guns at them. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul 22
Warwick and the Lancastrians
Jul 22
Louis XI, the French King devised a plan to remove Edward IV from the English throne. Louis persuaded the Yorkist Earl of Warwick and Margaret of Anjou the exiled wife of Henry VI, a Lancastrian, to combine forces and attempt to over through Edward. Warwick and Margaret met on 22 July at Anger Cathedral to put their differences aside and to agree on a course of action.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul 25
Betrothal of Prince Edward and Anne Neville
Jul 25
The betrothal of Prince Edward and Anne Neville formed part of the agreement between Queen Margaret and the Kingmaker to put King Henry VI back on the English throne. The act taking place at the Cathedral of Angers, ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Jul 31
The plan to restore Henry VI
Jul 31
The Earl of Warwick promised to restore Henry VI to the English throne, and he betrothed his youngest daughter Anne to Margaret's son Edward, the Prince of Wales.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Sep 9
Warwick sails from France
Sep 9
With an army and over fifty ships provided by King Louis, the Earl of Warwick set sail from France to England. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Sep 13
Warwick lands in England
Sep 13
The Earl of Warwick landed at Dartmouth in Devon accompanied by the Lancastrian Earl of Oxford and Jasper Tudor, the half-brother of Henry VI. Edward was in the north at the time of Warwick's return and was turned upon by John Neville, Warwick's brother. Although John Neville had accepted Edward as King, Edward had removed John's title of Earl of Northumberland earlier in the year and given it to the Percys. John Neville advanced on Edward's position with a force much larger. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Oct 2
Edward flees to Burgundy
Oct 2
Warwick did not need to fight the King. Edward was outnumbered and was almost captured by John Neville at Doncaster. Along with his brother Richard and a small party of followers, Edward travelled to Lynn in Norfolk where he sailed to Burgundy and refuge. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Oct 6
Henry restored as King
Oct 6
The Earl of Warwick and Clarence entered London. King Henry VI was released from the Tower of London. Henry was crowned King of England for the second time.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Qtr 4
Edward (V) is born
Qtr 4
King Edward IV's wife Elizabeth gave birth to her first son. Elizabeth had taken refuge at Westminster Abbey after King Henry VI had been restored to the throne by the Earl of Warwick and King Edward had fled to Burgundy. The baby was named Edward and would be heir to the English throne.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Qtr 4
Louis declares war on Burgundy
Qtr 4
King Edward IV had taken refuge with his brother-in-law Charles, the Duke of Burgundy. Louis of France declared war on Burgundy forcing the Duke to support Edward in his attempt to reclaim the English throne. ¹
Dec 13
Marriage of Edward of Lancaster and Anne Neville
Dec 13
The marriage between Edward of Lancaster, the son of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou, to Anne Neville, the daughter of Richard Neville the Kingmaker was a marriage to cement the agreement that Richard and Margaret would support each other and try to get Henry VI back on the English throne. The marriage took place in France at the Chateau d'Amboise where Margaret and Edward were exiled.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Click to explore

1471

Regnal years: 10 Richard III - 11 Richard III
 
Deaths

Beaufort, Edmund (4th Duke of Somerset) (b.1438 - d.1471)

Beaufort, John ( - d.1471)

Edward (of Lancaster, Prince of Wales) (b.1453 - d.1471)

Henry (VI, King of England 1422-1461, 1470-1471) (b.1421 - d.1471)

John (Baron Wenlock, Sir) ( - d.1471)

Neville, John (Earl of Northumberland, Lord Montague) ( - d.1471)

Neville, Richard (Earl of Warwick, 'The Kingmaker') (b.1428 - d.1471)

...
Sixtus IV becomes Pope
...
Caxton in Cologne
William Caxton was in Cologne where the printing process was being practiced. Here he worked on his translation of the Historyes of Troye into English in preparation for it being published and learnt how the printing process worked.
Jan
Support for Edward IV
Jan
King Edward IV and Charles of Burgundy met at Aire where an agreement was reached on support for Edward's return to the English throne. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Mar 14
Edward returns to England
Mar 14
With a small combined force of English and Burgundians, Edward landed on the Yorkshire coast. His fleet had been hit and scattered by a storm off the coast of Norfolk. Luckily for Edward he wasn't attacked even though Lord Montague, the Earl of Northumberland, was close by. As he marched south, Edward gained supporters and his army grew. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Apr
Anne Beauchamp flees to Beaulieu Abbey
Apr
After the death of her husband, Richard Neville at the Battle of Barnet, Anne Beauchamp, the Countess of Warwick, sought refuge at Beaulieu Abbey,
Apr 4
Clarence rejoins his brothers
Apr 4
George, Duke of Clarence deserted the Earl of Warwick and joined his brothers Edward and Richard. Importantly for the Yorkist cause, he brought with him a sizable army. ¹
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Apr 11
London opens its gates to Edward and the Yorkists
Apr 11
The Earl of Warwick was in Coventry and apparently unwilling to confront Edward, so Edward and Richard marched south to London. London was under the control of Warwick's brother, George Neville the Archbishop of York, but the Londoners were Yorkists and they welcomed the return of their true king. Once inside the city Edward had the Archbishop arrested and along with King Henry VI put in the Tower of London.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Apr 14
The Battle of Barnet
Apr 14
The Earl of Warwick had left Coventry to confront Edward. The armies met at Barnet just north of London in thick fog. The two battle lines overlapped and Warwick's Lancastrian men commanded by the Earl of Oxford were able to get around the Yorkists commanded by Lord Hastings. Hastings' men fled back to London with Oxford's men in hot pursuit. On the other side of the battle the Yorkists, led by Richard, were outflanking the Lancastrians and took the advantage pushing their enemy back. When Oxford's men returned to the battle they were mistakenly fired upon by their fellow Lancastrians and fled. By early evening Lord Montague and the Earl of Warwick were dead. The Lancastrians were defeated.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Apr 14
Queen Margaret lands at Weymouth
Apr 14
Queen Margaret (wife of Henry VI) and her son Edward the prince of Wales landed at Weymouth on the very same day as the battle of Barnet. Their intention was to assist the Earl of Warwick, but she arrived too late. Determined to avenge the Barnet defeat, the Queen and her army marched north towards Wales and men she could count on to join her army. Edward had thought of this and to cut the Queen off from Wales, had taken control of the bridges across the River Severn.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
May
London attacked by rebels
May
A group of men from Kent attacked London but left the city before the victorious Edward returned after the battle of Tewkesbury.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
May 4
The Battle of Tewkesbury
May 4
The Yorkists led by King Edward IV and his brother Richard Duke of Gloucester met the Lancastrians at Tewkesbury. Richard was able to outflank the Lancastrians led by Edmund Beaufort, the self-proclaimed Duke of Somerset. Once Somerset's men had been dealt with, Richard attacked the rear of the Lancastrian line which broke apart and fled. Many of the Lancastrian leaders were caught and killed including Edward the Prince of Wales. Margaret of Anjou, the wife of King Henry VI, was also captured.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
May 21
The murder of Henry VI
May 21
Edward, the Earl of March arrived back in London and that night King Henry VI was murdered at the Tower of London.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Summer
Henry Tudor flees England
Summer
Along with his uncle Jasper Tudor, Henry flee England after the defeat of the Lancastrians and death of King Henry VI. They went to Brittany where they were given refuge.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
Qtr 3
Richard becomes Lord of the North
Qtr 3
Richard (III) was given the task of bringing the north of the country under control. The conflicts between the Lancastrians and Yorkists over the previous few years had left the northern counties without any effective rulers resulting in lawlessness and unopposed Scottish raids. Richard was given the lands that the Earl of Warwick had previously possessed and he made his base at Middleham Castle.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1472

Regnal years: 11 Richard III - 12 Richard III
 
Births

Wolsey, Thomas (Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of York) (b.1472 - d.1530)

 
Deaths

Jacquetta (of Luxembourg) (b.1415 - d.1472)

...
Ludlow home for the two princes
The young Prince of Wales and his brother lived at Ludlow Castle.
Jun
Siege of Beauvais
Jun
After King Louis of France failed to turn over several towns to the Burgundians Charles the Bold attacked and took back some of them by force. But when he tried to capture Beauvais the defences were too strong. A siege was begun and some parts of the outer defences were destroyed but finally Charles withdrew his army and moved on.
Jul
Richard marries Anne Neville
Jul
King Richard III married Anne the widow of Edward Prince of Wales who died in 1471 at the Battle of Tewkesbury. Anne was the daughter of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick the 'Kingmaker', and had grown up with Richard III at Middleham Castle when he had been placed their for his education. Marrying Anne gave Richard III rights to the Earl of Warwick's northern estates.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1473

Regnal years: 12 Richard III - 13 Richard III
 
Births

Edward (of Middleham, Prince of Wales) (b.1473 - d.1484)

Howard, Thomas (3rd Earl of Norfolk) (b.1473 - d.1554)

James (IV King of Scotland 1488-1513) (b.1473 - d.1513)

Oct
Marriage agreement between England and Scotland
Oct
King James III of Scotland agreed that his new born son, James, should marry Edward IV's daughter Cecily. Cecily was only four and the agreement stated that the marriage should wait until both were old enough. Also, if either died before that time, a substitute would be found. This agreement brought peace between Scotland and England until October 1519.
Dec
Birth of Edward, Prince of Wales
Dec
Edward, the son of Richard III and Anne Neville was born at Middleham Castle.
Episode: Wars of the Roses Phase Three [highlight all]
See Also

1474

Regnal years: 13 Richard III - 14 Richard III
 
Births

Warbeck, Perkin (b.1474 - d.1499)

...
William Caxton's first book
Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye was the first book William Caxton published in Englsih. A translation of a French romance. He was in Bruges at the time where he was learning the process of printing.
...
Ferdinand becomes King of Aragon
Ferdinand became the King of Aragon, and as his wife Isabella was a princess of Castile, two of the most powerful Christain states in Spain were united. At this time the Iberian peninsula was divided into five areas, Portugal on the west coast, Granada on the south coast, Navarre on the north coast, Aragon on the east coast and taking most of the centre was Castile. Castile and Aragon were the largest of the five.
Jul
Treaty of London
Jul
Treaty of London between Edward IV of England and Charles the Bold of Burgundy against France. ¹
Dec 11
Death of Henry IV of Castle
Dec 11
The death of Henry IV, the King of Castile, plunged the state into civil war as he did not specify a successor. Many nobles supported Isabella the late King's sister, while others supported the King's daughter Joanna. Joanna's cause was boosted by that of Alfonso V of Portugal who planned to marry her and bring the state of Castile under Portuguese control.
See Also

1475

Regnal years: 14 Richard III - 15 Richard III
 
Births

Plantagenet, Edward (Earl of Warwick) (b.1475 - d.1499)

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Construction St. George's Chapel
Edward IV ordered the construction of the new St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. It's size dwarfed the previous chapel builrt by his predecessors. Inside were hung the banners and insignia of the Knights of the Garter. Edward himself would be buried inside the chapel.
Jul
Edward invades France
Jul
The plans of King Edward IV to unseat the King of France led to his invasion of France with a force of 10,000 men. He had been promised assistance from the Dukes of Brittany and Burgundy, and the King of Aragon. Unfortunately the Burgundian army did not turn up due to another conflict and Edward was left without sufficient men to proceed.
Aug
Peace treaty signed
Aug
Louis and Edward agreed to a peace treaty to last seven years. The agreement signed at the Treaty of Picquigny meant Louis was to pay Edward an initial sum to leave France and a smaller yearly sum there-after. The French also paid a ransom to free Margaret of Anjou who had been held by the English since the Battle of Tewkesbury.
Dec
Earl Ross accused of treason
Dec
In Scotland, the treaty signed by the Northern Earls and King Edward IV of England in 1462 was uncovered. King James summoned Earl Ross to appear before Parliament but he failed to attend and was declared a traitor. In 1476 Earl Ross appeared before the King and repented and iIn return was treated with clemency and his lands restored. But the Earldom of Ross was returned to the Crown.
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