1. The Wars of the Roses

2. Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York
Rebelled against Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou- beginning of the Wars of the Roses
Failed to take the throne
Father of future kings Edward IV and Richard III

3. Henry VI
Weak ruler-> mentally unstable and controlled by wife-Margaret of Anjou
Deposed by Edward IV
Margaret of Anjou unsuccessfully raised armies to put her husband back on the throne

4. Edward IV Defeated Henry VI’s armies in battle and forced him to flee
Brother (George Plantagenet) and cousin (Richard Neville) tried to rebel against him and temporarily succeeded in unseating him

5. Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick
First helped Richard of York rebel against Henry VI
Helped Edward IV defeat Henry and Margaret of Anjou
Betrayed Edward IV and allied with Margaret of Anjou to put George Plantagenet on the throne- failed and was killed in battle

6. Henry VI
Warwick’s forces were successful in battle but resulted in Henry VI back on the throne
Deposed by Edward IV again
Held prisoner in the Tower of London and most likely murdered

7. Edward IV Peaceful 12 year reign after Henry VI was killed
Died suddenly and succeeded by his 12 year old son Edward V
Edward V was never crowned and mysteriously vanished along with his brother shortly before Richard III took the throne

8. Richard III Named Lord Protector after Edward IV died
According to legend, he killed the Princes in the line of succession
Took the throne in 1483
Defeated at the Battle of Bosworth

9. Henry VII
Claim to the throne: Great-grandson of John of Gaunt who was the grandfather of Henry VI
Forced to flee England as a child
Defeated Richard III ending the Wars of the Roses
Married Elizabeth of York, uniting the families in the House of Tudor