The Families of the Wars of the Roses - Bosworth Battlefield

The Families of the Wars of the RosesThe ‘Wars of the Roses’ describes a long conflict between two rival branches of Royal family, the descendants of the Dukes of York and Lancaster, and their

supporters. The conflict at the time was known as The Cousin’s Wars.

Virtually all of the major landowning families of the time were involved in the wars, but family ambition and long-standing feuds turned some powerful

families into key players. Many of the families were allied by political marriages, but in times of war this often put sisters and daughters

on opposing sides to their brothers and parents.

Those involved in the struggles rarely died of old age!

The Neville FamilySupporters of Richard of York.

Arch-enemies of the Percy family. The women of the family made very powerful marriages. Cecily,

Isabelle and Anne married into the Yorkist Plantagenet family.

The Woodvilles and GreysLancastrian turned Yorkist then confused!

The Beaufort FamilyStaunchly Lancastrian with long term feud

against Richard of York and King Edward IV.

Richard, Earl of Warwickkilled at Barnet 1471

John, Baron Montagukilled at Barnet 1471

Sir Thomaskilled at Barnet 1471

Richard, Earl of Salisburyexecuted at Wakefield 1460

William, Lord Fauconbergexecuted 1471

4th Earl of Northumberland

killed by a mob 1489

3rd Earl of Northumberland

killed at Towton 1461

2nd Earl of Northumberland

killed at St Albans 1455

Sir John Grey of Groby killed at St Albans 1461

Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers

brother of Elizabeth executed 1483

Sir Richard Greyson of Elizabeth, executed 1483

John, Marquess of Dorsetkilled at Tewkesbury 1471

Henry, 3rd Duke of Somerset

killed at Hexham 1464

Edmund, 2nd Duke of Somerset unpopular

advisor of Henry VIkilled at St Albans 1455

Edmund, 4th Duke of Somersetexecuted after Tewkesbury 1471

Lady Cecily Neville wife of Duke of York, mother of Edward IV and Richard III

Elizabeth Woodvillemarries John Grey then Edward IV. Mother of Elizabeth of York and

‘Princes in the Tower’

Lady Margaret Beaufortmother of Henry Tudor by her second marriage

Sir Ralph Percykilled at Hedgeley Moor 1464

Thomas, 1st Baron Egremont

killed at Northampton 1489

Sir William Stanley

York

Sir William Stanley

Lancaster

The Percy FamilyArch-enemies of the Neville

family and therefore Lancastrian - until the 4th earl befriended

Richard of Gloucester.

The PlantagenetsThe Royal Family

The rival royals were all Plantagenets until 1483, when the Tudor family entered the struggle for the throne.