History: Tell Sad Stories of the Death of Kings: The Origins of the Wars of the Roses

.‘And tell sad stories of the death of kings.’ The course examines the origins of the bitter struggle for the Crown of England in the mid-fifteenth century. It also considers the impact of events in France on England, the collapse of Henry VI’s continental possessions, the end of the Hundred Years War, and its impact on events at home. We consider the rivalries within the nobility of England and whether the civil war that resulted was inevitable. Notable figures who emerged included Richard Neville, who switched sides at different points, supporting the Yorkists and Lancastrians. Another pivotal figure is Richard Duke of York, whose wronged ego was a catalyst for the noble in-fighting that characterised the 1440s and 50s. It was a time characterised by dynastic instability and political chaos. The shifting of leadership and loyalties within the nobility and the shifting claims to the throne created a sense of mistrust among the ruling elite, fuelling the violence and bloodshed we call the Wars of the Roses.