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The Hundred Years War and the Wars of the Roses
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For more than a century England fought France. Then English nobles fought each other for the crown.
The Hundred Years War, 1337 to 1453
English kings claimed the French throne and wanted to keep their lands in France. War began in 1337.
English longbowmen helped win great victories at Crecy (1346) and Agincourt (1415, under Henry V).
Joan of Arc, a young French peasant, inspired the French to fight back. She was captured and burned in 1431.
By 1453 England had lost all its French lands except Calais.
English longbowmen helped win great victories at Crecy (1346) and Agincourt (1415, under Henry V).
Joan of Arc, a young French peasant, inspired the French to fight back. She was captured and burned in 1431.
By 1453 England had lost all its French lands except Calais.
The Wars of the Roses, 1455 to 1485
Two branches of the royal family fought for the crown: the house of Lancaster (red rose) and the house of York (white rose).
The roses were mostly a later symbol, but the fighting was real, with several kings losing their thrones.
The roses were mostly a later symbol, but the fighting was real, with several kings losing their thrones.
Bosworth and the Tudors
In 1485 Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian, beat the Yorkist King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. Richard was killed.
Henry became Henry VII. He married Elizabeth of York, joining the two families. The Tudor rose combines red and white.
Henry VII died in 1509 and his son became Henry VIII.
Henry became Henry VII. He married Elizabeth of York, joining the two families. The Tudor rose combines red and white.
Henry VII died in 1509 and his son became Henry VIII.
How did Henry VII try to end the Wars of the Roses?
- He won the crown in battle at Bosworth in 1485.
- He married Elizabeth of York, uniting Lancaster and York.
- He used the Tudor rose, red and white together, as a symbol of unity.
Answer: Victory at Bosworth, a marriage that united the two houses, and the Tudor rose as a symbol.
Hundred Years War (1337 to 1453): Crecy 1346, Agincourt 1415, Joan of Arc; England lost all but Calais. Wars of the Roses: Lancaster (red) against York (white). Henry Tudor won at Bosworth in 1485 and married Elizabeth of York.
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