The dispute for power was the reason for several conflicts that occurred throughout history. One of them was War of the Two Roses, battles set in 15th century England between descendants of King Edward III who claimed the throne.
Over three decades, the region witnessed the alternation of power between the two families in a scenario of much violence. The consequences, as we shall see below, included the weakening of the nobility and the beginning of dynasties.
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The War of the Two Roses was a civil conflict fought between the York and Lancaster families between 1455 and 1485. The main reason was the dispute for the English throne by the two descendants of King Edward III.
The name of the war is due to the fact that both used, in their coats of arms, emblems with roses that represented them – white rose for York and red for Lancaster. The power struggle was fueled by historical rivalry between the families.
King Edward III, upon his death, left four sons: Edward (heir to the throne), Lionel of Antwerp (Duke of Clarence), John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster) and Edmund of Langley (Duke of York). The former died in 1376, leaving his ten-year-old grandson Richard as king.
Obviously, his management incapacity meant that the throne was assumed by his uncle, Duke of Lancaster. Years later, Richard rebelled and, in 1399, confiscated his uncle's lands after his death. His cousin, Henry, raised an army until Richard surrendered. Mysteriously, Edward's grandson died in 1400 after being arrested.
Despite the challenges of not being the natural successor to the throne, Henry IV ruled the country until his death in 1413, when he left it to his son, Henry V. The new king invades France and marries the princess under the promise that their children will take care of both kingdoms.
However, with his death, the French throne was restored in the hands of his heir, Henry VI, who later starred in moments that put his competence to the test. Faced with episodes of madness, Richard, Duke of York, assumes power with the support of the nobility. He then refuses to hand it over after Henry VI's recovery.
The king then organizes an army to attack Richard and his supporters. Then, the War of the Two Roses begins in the midst of a scenario, still, of economic deprivation and territories lost to France with the end of the Hundred Years' War.
Over three decades, several battles were fought with defeats and victories for both sides. The country was divided and watched the deaths of thousands of Englishmen. In the last battle, in 1485, Henry Tudor, a descendant of the Lancaster family, won and was crowned King Henry VII of England.
Putting an end to the conflict, the new king marries Elizabeth of York and unites the two families. Thus began the Tudor Dynasty.
Among the main consequences of the conflict are: