Enjoy Medieval Warfare Vol V.3 - The Yorkist Triumph

Medieval warfare - v.3

Topic: The Yorkist triumph

Topic: Erich B. Anderson, The Rise and Fall of Queen Margaret - The Yorkist triumph

During the reign of Henry VI, the kingdom of England plunged into chaos: the economy deteriorated and almost all the imperial conquests made in France were lost. In the 1450s, the Duke of York could no longer bear the state of decay of the kingdom and decided to dismiss those he considered responsible: the king's "evil" counselors. His actions greatly threatened the court faction, especially Queen Margaret, who would stop at nothing to protect her son's inheritance. The Wars of the Roses had begun.

Topic: Andrew Lavoie, A War Captain of the House of York - Lord Fauconberg

The Wars of the Roses have their fair share of unique and intriguing personalities. The historiography of the early period of the Wars of the Roses is often dominated by discussions and analysis of the central figures of the conflict. William Neville, Lord Fauconberg, is one of the most overlooked commanders of the era, and his service to the Yorkist cause must be re-examined. Fauconberg was one of the last surviving field commanders of England's war against France, and his service and experience in France proved to be of vital importance to the success of the Yorkist cause in the bitter winter of 1460-61.

Topic: Patrick S. Baker, The Role of Calais in the Yorkist Triumph - Sanctuary and Stronghold

The city of Calais was of enormous military importance during the Wars of the Roses. Whoever controlled the city and the garrison controlled the largest and most experienced standing military force in the English kingdom. Furthermore, they had a fortified and secure base from which to gather resources and attack their rivals.

Topic: Mike Ingram, The Battle of Northampton - War in Writing

The Battle of Northampton, fought on July 10, 1460, may be one of the lesser-known battles of the Wars of the Roses, but in importance, it stands alongside Towton, Tewkesbury, and Bosworth. It was the first time that artillery was used en masse in England and the only time a field fortification was assaulted during the wars. It was also the only time an entire army was excommunicated in the wars and, immediately afterward, the Yorkists publicly claimed the throne of England for the first time.

Topic: David Santiuste, The Early Military Career of Edward IV - Son of York

King Edward IV was the most successful commander of the Wars of the Roses. His opponents were tenacious and he sometimes made mistakes, but he ultimately died in his bed, undefeated in battle. This article tells the story of the beginning of his career, covering the years before his ascent to the throne and the campaign that allowed him to take the English throne. Although he was still only eighteen at the time of his great victory at Towton, which confirmed his royal title, Edward had already managed to establish himself as a charismatic and effective leader.

Topic: Sidney E. Dean, The Battle of Towton - Bloody Sunday

The longest and perhaps fiercest battle of the Wars of the Roses was fought just south of Towton, a village near York. It has even been called the largest and bloodiest battle ever fought on English soil, with perhaps as many as 30,000 casualties. The terrain and the weather (in the form of a late snowstorm) were important factors that shaped the outcome of this decisive confrontation that secured Edward IV's place on the English throne.

The Weapon: Brian R. Price, The Changing Face of War - The Axe

Of all medieval weapons, the axe played a unique historical role as the weapon of the aristocratic knight and the rising non-noble infantry combatant. It was used on the battlefield and in chivalric duels; it was illustrated by fight masters in Germany and its use was described by Burgundian chroniclers.

Topic: Gareth Williams, Jasper Tudor and the Welsh Robin Hood - Unrest in Wales

During the earlier phase of the Wars of the Roses, the Lancastrian defense of Wales fell to Jasper Tudor, who attempted to resist the Yorkists. In 1468, Jasper allied with the leader of a local war band, Dafydd ap Siencyn, and moved to attack the Yorkist stronghold of Denbigh Castle in North Wales. What role did Jasper Tudor play in this and other earlier Welsh affairs related to Denbigh, and how successful was this interesting alliance?

Special: James Gilmer, The Rise and Fall of the Hashashin - Blood and Sand

It was a quiet summer day when the castellan of Alamut, Mahdi, received an apparently modest schoolmaster. This master soon turned out to be none other than Hassan ibn Sabbah, the mastermind of a new and dangerous religious movement that was sweeping through Persia. When Mahdi called for his guards, Hassan simply smiled and informed the castellan that his services were no longer required. Alamut had fallen; the rise of the Hashashin had begun.

Special: Nicholas Whaley, Heroine or Ogress? - The Tale of Freydís

When people imagine a Viking, they immediately conjure images of large, muscular men equipped with axes and swords almost as fierce as their powerful, fiery beards. However, it seems that some Viking women also chose the path of the warrior.


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