The Wars of the Roses (1455 to 1485)

Study note

In 1455 a civil war began to decide who should be king of England, fought between the House of Lancaster, whose symbol was a red rose, and the House of York, whose symbol was a white rose. The war ended at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. King Richard III of York was killed and Henry Tudor of Lancaster became King Henry VII, the first Tudor king.

Memory tip: Roses 1455 to 1485: Lancaster red, York white; ends at Bosworth Field 1485.