Life in the UK Test
Sign in
Back to A Long and Illustrious History

The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485)

Study note

The Wars of the Roses were a civil war fought in England between 1455 and 1485 between two rival royal families. The House of Lancaster used a red rose as its symbol, while the House of York used a white rose. Both sides were fighting for control of the throne.

The wars ended in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field. There King Richard III, from the House of York, was killed, and Henry Tudor, of the House of Lancaster, won the throne and became King Henry VII. His victory began the Tudor dynasty, not the Stuart dynasty, which came much later. To unite the two sides, Henry married Elizabeth of York, and the new Tudor rose combined the red and white roses. Remember the colours: Lancaster red, York white, ending at Bosworth in 1485.

Memory tip: Roses: Lancaster = Red, York = White. Tudors begin in 1485 at Bosworth.

Practise this topic

Question 1 of 5

The Wars of the Roses were fought between which two houses?

Score so far: 0 / 0
Show all questions and answers for The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485)(5 questions with explanations)

The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485): questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. The Wars of the Roses were fought between which two houses?

    • Normandy and Wessex
    • England and Scotland
    • Tudor and Stuart
    • Lancaster and York

    Correct answer: Lancaster and York

    The House of Lancaster (red rose) fought the House of York (white rose).

  2. 2. Which battle in 1485 ended the Wars of the Roses and began the Tudor period?

    • Battle of Bosworth Field
    • Battle of Hastings
    • Battle of Waterloo
    • Battle of Bannockburn

    Correct answer: Battle of Bosworth Field

    At Bosworth Field in 1485, Henry Tudor won and became Henry VII.

  3. 3. In the Wars of the Roses, the white rose was the symbol of which house?

    • Tudor
    • Stuart
    • York
    • Normandy

    Correct answer: York

    The white rose was the symbol of the House of York; the red rose was Lancaster.

  4. 4. Which of these statements is correct?

    • The Wars of the Roses ended at the Battle of Hastings in 1485
    • The Wars of the Roses ended at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485

    Correct answer: The Wars of the Roses ended at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485

    The Wars of the Roses ended at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

  5. 5. Which statement about the Wars of the Roses is false?

    • The war ended with the start of the Stuart dynasty
    • The white rose was the symbol of the House of York
    • The red rose was the symbol of the House of Lancaster

    Correct answer: The war ended with the start of the Stuart dynasty

    The Wars of the Roses ended with the start of the Tudor dynasty, not the Stuart dynasty.

Back to A Long and Illustrious History, or try a mock test or timed exam.