The War of the Roses and the English Monarchy

Historical Context

• 14th Century England
  • Bubonic plague reduced the population by a third
  • England faced societal changes and conflicts over royal succession
  • Richard II ascended to the throne at age 10

Richard II's Reign

• Family Dynamics and Power Struggles
  • Uncle John of Gaunt was the power behind the throne
  • Economic shifts due to labor shortages post-plague
• Peasant Revolt
  • Taxes imposed on a reduced population
  • Revolt led by Wat Tyler; suppressed after a false promise of fair treatment by the King
• Richard's Downfall
  • Homophobia among the nobles led to his unpopularity
  • Deposed and murdered by cousin Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV)

The Lancaster and York Rivalry

• Henry IV
  • Usurped the throne, leading to paranoia and oppression
  • His reign marked by internal rebellions
• Henry V
  • Stabilized England and resumed war with France
  • Married French royalty; died young, leaving an infant heir
• Henry VI
  • Inherited mental instability from French lineage
  • Loss of English territories in France; eventual mental breakdown

Civil War and The War of the Roses

• Lancasters vs. Yorks
  • Cousins competed for the crown
  • Richard of York as regent and rival to Henry VI

Edward IV and the Yorkist Line

• Rise to Power
  • Declared king after York’s death
  • Married Elizabeth Woodville; controversial choice
• Dynastic Turmoil
  • Dealt with betrayal and internal family plots
  • Restored to the throne after brief exile

Richard III's Reign

• Controversial Ascendancy
  • Alleged murder of nephews (Princes in the Tower)
  • Reputation shaped by Shakespearean propaganda
  • Physical deformity confirmed by modern archaeology (scoliosis)

The End of the War of the Roses

• Battle of Bosworth Field
  • Richard III defeated by Henry Tudor (Henry VII)
  • Marked the end of Plantagenet rule and the rise of the Tudor dynasty

Transition to the Tudor Dynasty

• Impact
  • New dynasty began with Henry VII
  • Future videos to explore the Tudor monarchs' influence on England