History of Wars Summary 21 - England's Wars of the Roses 2: First Battle of St Albans

In 1455, the conflict between Richard, Duke of York, and the Lancastrians escalated into armed confrontation. On May 22nd, the Yorkist forces marched north from London and clashed with the Lancastrian army at St Albans, winning the First Battle of St Albans. The deaths of key Lancastrian nobles in this battle gave the Yorkists political dominance. Henry VI fell under Yorkist influence once more, and Richard became deeply involved in the kingdom's governance. However, the Yorkists' seizure of power did not end the war. Queen Margaret and the Lancastrian nobles began to regain their strength, and both sides alternated between temporary truces and renewed conflict. In 1459, armed clashes intensified again, and the Yorkists suffered a defeat at the Battle of Ludford Bridge, forcing them to temporarily leave England. Yet, the Yorkist power was not entirely extinguished. With the emergence of Richard's son, Edward, the focus of the war began to shift to a new generation. Both sides claimed royal legitimacy, but in practical politics, the loyalty of the nobles and military strength determined victory or defeat.