1. History of British Monarchy

2. The War of the Roses Lancaster – red rose York – white rose
In the 1400’s the Plantagenet family which ruled England split into two factions, fighting for the throne.
Lancaster – red rose
York – white rose

3. The War of the Roses The war occurred for the following reasons:
1. Both sides were direct descendants of
Edward III.
2. The ruling Lancastrian king, Henry VI,
surrounded himself with unpopular
nobles.

4. The War of the Roses 3. Civil unrest among most of the population.
4. Powerful nobles with private armies.
5. Henry VI was mentally unstable.

5. The War of the Roses
Edward IV, a York, became king in 1461, after defeating the Lancasters in battle.
BUT Edward’s place as king wasn’t threatened by the Lancasters….. Instead, his greatest threat came from someone much closer to home……

6. His brother Richard!!!

7. The War of the Roses
Edward IV died under mysterious circumstances in 1483.
His son, Edward V, was to be crowned king; however, he and his younger brother were imprisoned in the Tower of London….

8. By their uncle Richard!!!

9. The War of the Roses
When the young princes were murdered in June 1483, their uncle Richard became king since he was the only living male heir!

10. The War of the Roses
When suspicions and challenges to Richard III’s rule arose, Richard attempted to force his young niece, Elizabeth of York, to marry him!

11. The War of the Roses
Elizabeth was saved from marriage to Richard by an army of Lancasters and their dashing leader, Henry Tudor, who killed Richard at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

12. Henry married Elizabeth
The War of the Roses
Henry married Elizabeth
Arthur Henry VIII

13. So began the House of Tudor
And the story of Henry VIII