• History -> Middle Ages and Feudalism

• 0 Comment

How did the War of the Roses ultimately come to an end in medieval England?

Magen Soppett

Well, well, well, the War of the Roses, one of the most iconic and violent periods in British history. Let's see, how did it end? Oh, I know, with a Hollywood-style plot twist!

First, let me give you a little historical context. The War of the Roses was a series of bloody battles between two powerful houses that fought for the English throne in the late 15th century. On one side were the Lancastrians, represented by a red rose, and on the other were the Yorkists, represented by a white rose. The conflict began in 1455 and lasted for over thirty years, with intense bloodshed and countless deaths.

Now, back to the plot twist. After years of brutal battles, political intrigue, and betrayals, the end of the War of the Roses came down to one decisive moment: a horse race. Yes, you heard that right, a horse race.

The story goes that in 1485, the Lancastrian Henry Tudor, who was in exile in France, landed in Wales with a small army to claim the English throne. He marched his army toward England and was met by the Yorkist King Richard III at Bosworth Field. The two armies clashed in a fierce battle, and during the fighting, Richard III was killed.

But here's the twist: the key to Henry Tudor's victory was not his military strategy or his charismatic leadership, but rather his horse. Legend has it that during the battle, Richard III charged toward Henry Tudor, hoping to kill him and end the conflict. However, Tudor's horse was reportedly faster and more agile than Richard's, allowing Tudor to narrowly avoid Richard's attack and continue the fight. The horse's name? Believe it or not, it was called "White Surrey."

With Richard III dead and his army in disarray, Henry Tudor emerged victorious and was crowned Henry VII of England. He became the first Tudor king, and his reign marked the end of the Wars of the Roses.

Now, I know this is a controversial theory, and there are many historians who dismiss this horse race story as a myth. But hey, who doesn't love a good conspiracy theory? And let's be real, if there was ever a moment in history that deserved a dramatic plot twist, this was it.

So, there you have it, folks. The War of the Roses ended not with a bang, but with a horse race. Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.