| First Battle of St Albans | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Wars of the Roses | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 House of York |
 House of Lancaster |
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| Commanders | |||||||
| Richard, Duke of York, Richard, Earl of Warwick |
Edmund, Duke of Somerset† | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 3,000 | 2,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 300 | ||||||
The First Battle of St Albans was the first battle of the Wars of the Roses and was fought on May 22, 1455 in the town of St Albans[1], 22 miles (35 km) north of London. The Wars of the Roses (1455–1485 were a series of dynastic Civil wars fought in England between supporters of the Houses of Lancaster and York Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. Hertfordshire (ˈhɑːtfədʃə(r, abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three of whom became English kings in the late 15th century The House of Lancaster was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York ( 21 September 1411 &ndash 30 December 1460) was a member of the English royal family who served in senior Richard Neville Jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and Suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury ( 22 November Edmund Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset (1406 &ndash May 22, 1455) sometimes styled 2nd Duke of Somerset was an English nobleman and an important figure in the The Wars of the Roses (1455–1485 were a series of dynastic Civil wars fought in England between supporters of the Houses of Lancaster and York Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically Richard, Duke of York and his ally, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, defeated the Lancastrians under Edmund, Duke of Somerset, who was killed. Richard Plantagenet 3rd Duke of York ( 21 September 1411 &ndash 30 December 1460) was a member of the English royal family who served in senior Richard Neville Jure uxoris 16th Earl of Warwick and Suo jure 6th Earl of Salisbury ( 22 November The House of Lancaster was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet. Edmund Beaufort 1st Duke of Somerset (1406 &ndash May 22, 1455) sometimes styled 2nd Duke of Somerset was an English nobleman and an important figure in the York also captured Henry VI and had himself appointed Constable of England. Henry VI (6 December 1421 &ndash 21 May 1471 was King of England 1422–1461 (though with a Regent until 1437 and then 1470–1471 and a claimant to the kingdom The Lord High Constable of England is the seventh of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Great Chamberlain and above the Earl Marshal
The Lancastrian army of 2,000 troops arrived at St Albans first, and proceeded to defend it by placing troops along the Tonman Ditch and at the bars in Sopwell Lane and Shropshire Lane. St Albans is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London. The 3,000 strong Yorkist army arrived and camped in Keyfield to the east. The House of York was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, three of whom became English kings in the late 15th century Lengthy negotiations ensued with heralds moving back and forth between the rival commanders. After several hours, Richard, despairing of a peaceful solution, decided to attack. The bulk of Henry's forces were surprised by the speed of Richard's attack; most of the army was expecting a peaceful resolution similar to the one at Blackheath in 1452. Blackheath is an area in southeast London centred around a section of open public grassland ('the Heath' and straddling the boundary of the London Borough of Lewisham and the However, two frontal assaults down the narrow streets against the barricades made no headway and resulted in heavy casualties for the Yorkists.
Warwick took his reserve troops through an unguarded part of the town's defences, through back lanes and gardens. Suddenly the Earl appeared in the Market Square where the main body of Henry's troops were talking and resting. There is evidence they were not yet expecting to be involved in the fighting, as many were not even wearing their helmets. Warwick charged instantly with his force, routing the Lancastrians and killing the Duke of Somerset.
The Earl then ordered his archers to shoot at the men around the King, killing several and injuring the King and the Duke of Buckingham. Humphrey Stafford 1st Duke of Buckingham KG ( 15 August 1402 &ndash 10 July 1460) was best-known as a military commander in the The Lancastrians manning the barricades realised the Yorkists had ouflanked them, and fearing an attack from behind abandoned their positions and fled the town.
The First Battle of St Albans was relatively minor in military terms, but politically was a complete victory for York: he had captured the King and returned himself to complete power; his rival Somerset was dead; and Warwick's arch-enemies Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland and Lord de Clifford both fell during the rout. Henry Percy 2nd Earl of Northumberland, ( 3 February, 1392 /1393 &ndash 22 May, 1455) was the son of Henry Percy ( Harry Hotspur
Shakespeare's play Henry VI, Part 2 ends with the result of this battle. William Shakespeare ( baptised The Second Part of King Henry the Sixth, or Henry VI Part 2, is a history play by William Shakespeare believed written in approximately 1590-91
See also
References
- Burley, Elliott &Emma Watson!!<3(by Alexa), The Battles of St Albans, Pen & Sword, 2007, ISBN 9781844155699
- Burne, A. St Albans is in southern Hertfordshire, England around 22 miles (35km north of London, beside the site of a Catuvellauni settlement and the The Second Battle of St Albans was a Battle of the English Wars of the Roses fought on February 17, 1461 near the town of St Albans The Percy-Neville feud was a series of skirmishes raids and vandalism between two prominent northern English families and their followers that helped provoke the Wars of the Roses H. The Battlefields of England, Classic Penguin, 2002, ISBN 0-141-39077-8
Notes
- ^ St Albans was a town at the time of the battle. It did not become a city until 1877.