The War of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses brought what had once been Europe’s most stable and well-governed kingdom to its knees. Weakness at the center, in the form of the useless King Henry VI, reverberated outwards th...Show More

By 1461, the Wars of the Roses had already claimed thousands of lives and shaken England's political system to its foundations. The bloodiest battle ever fought in England would soon follow, along wit...Show More

We talked to bestselling novelist Philippa Gregory about her views of history and historical fiction, and her perspective on the Wars of the Roses, where she has spent many years. You can listen to t...Show More

The Wars of the Roses were a series of battles that were fought between the supporters of the House of Lancaster (Lancastrians) and the supporters of the House of York (Yorkists). The wars were called...Show More

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Wars of the Roses which have been the scene for many a historical skirmish over the ages: The period in the fifteenth century when the House of Lancaster and the Ho...Show More

Henry V's untimely death in 1422 leaves a baby on the throne in the form of Henry VI and marks a total reversal in English fortunes. Disasters in France at the hands of Joan of Arc are eclipsed by the...Show More

1485 was not the end of the Wars of the Roses; the fear of dynastic strife lasts well into Henry VIII's reign. But we draw a close at the battle of Stoke, and ask what the Wars changed - if anything. ...Show More

Historian and politician Chris Skidmore discusses his major new biography of the Yorkist king, offering his take on pivotal moments such as Richard’s seizing of the throne, his death at Bosworth and t...Show More

Chris Skidmore, who is writing a new biography of Richard III, talks to us about how his research is presenting a different picture of the controversial 15th-century king. Meanwhile, we speak to Pamel...Show More

Richard III is not the evil, skulking villain Shakespeare proclaimed. So who was he really? Did he have a hunch on his back? Why is it so hard to get a good parking spot at Leicester Cathedral? Find a...Show More

Things get complicated this week as we cover the Wars of the Roses. Major figures are killed/captured/exiled/restored from month to month and if that is not enough some people even have the cheek to s...Show More

Tudor Grandmothers appeared first on The History Chicks.

Anne Neville was born into great privilege and wealth, things were going great. Then everyone died. Which was bad, But she rose from the ashes of Tewkesbury to become the wife of England's most contro...Show More

Elizabeth Woodville was the most left-field choice of a Queen in English history - one of only two commoners to become a consort. But why did the new Yorkist king risk everything for this poor, hot wi...Show More

Elizabeth had a lot to do to persuade the people of England that she was worthy of being their queen. She responded to it by packing the key positions and titles of the kingdom with Woodvilles. Warwic...Show More

The early death of her husband Edward IV left Elizabeth in charge of ensuring a smooth transition of power to their son, Edward V. Her brother-in-law's coup forced her to seek sanctuary, but she would...Show More

As English rule in France approached its end, England sought one final bride from the kingdom it claimed to rule. Margaret of Anjou would be the last queen of the House of Lancaster, and thanks to Sha...Show More

After finding her husband laid low by mental illness and the whole country collapsing into civil war, Margaret of Anjou was forced to take the bull by the horns. By taking control of the kingdom and t...Show More

Following the victory at Wakefield, Margaret and the Lancastrian army marched on London, but they were unable to take the capital. Thus the pendulum of fortune that was the Wars of the Roses continued...Show More

Award-winning journalist, best selling author and Historian Dan Jones joins the Medieval Archives Podcast to talk all things Plantagenets! His first book on the subject The Plantagents: The Kings Who ...Show More

In the first of two programmes marking In Our Time's 20th anniversary on 15th October, Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Shakespeare's versions of history, starting with the English Plantagenets. His e...Show More

Dan Jones is interviewed by Tudor expert Suzannah Lipscomb about his new book on the Wars of the Roses. The two historians discuss the writing of popular history, the role of medieval kings and the co...Show More

The reign of Edward V is one of the great controversies of English history. This episode is as uncontroversial - just what happened. Then in 2 weeks time - we have the big debate and prizes, at THoE F...Show More

Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss the Battle of Bosworth Field, the celebrated encounter between Lancastrian and Yorkist forces in August 1485. The battle, the penultimate of the Wars of the Roses, ...Show More

Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of the most remarkable queens of the Middle Ages who took control when her husband, Henry VI, was incapable. Margaret of Anjou (1430-1482) wanted Henry to stay in p...Show More

In the aftermath of Towton, Edward started his work to restore a broad based regime - crushing the recalcitrant, welcoming the turncoats, re-establishing royal justice. He also had a party. Margaret m...Show More

Lectures, discussions, talks and other events presented by The National Archives of the United Kingdom.

In 1483, the gates of the Tower of London closed on two innocent and defenceless boys; one, Edward, captured and the other Richard, given up by his mother. As far as we know, neither of were seen outs...Show More

Unfortunately for Richard he was never able to simply concentrate of governing the realm; the hangover of his accession, the presence of Henry Tudor abroad - these things constantly took his attention...Show More

Some argue that in a short time Richard showed that he good have been one of England's best rulers - is there any justification for the idea of Good King Richard? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...Show More

3 interpretations of the events of 1483 to help your all important vote - did Richard plan to usurp the throne; fall into it by mistake; or step into the breach to save the kingdom? Hosted on Acast. S...Show More

The 1470's were a marked contrast to the 1460's; a decade of complete calm, of control and authority. How did Edward do it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They had a complicated relationship - Edward, Clarence and Richard; Clarence and Richard had often been left together with Cecily and Margaret while Edward was with his father. In the 1470s, things ca...Show More

The first three years of Edward's reign were spent dealing stamping on the fires of the Lancastrian resistance. But then, he found time for something much more controversial than dis-embowelling, and ...Show More

There was a new faction at court - the Woodvilles, and they were there en masse. Were they really so bad? Had Edward boobed? And what did Warwick think - what would he do? Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...Show More

In 1461 the Queen failed to seize London,and retreated to the north. Warwick and Edward walked through London's empty gates and then chased north for the largest, and bloodiest battle of English soil....Show More

After the victory at Northampton and the Act of Accord, it looked as though all Richard of York had to do was wait or the crown to be his. But in the north and west, the Lancastrian opposition was gro...Show More

(Elizabeth) Before social security cards, driver's licenses, and DNA testing, how did you prove your identity? Join us to hear about two famous "pretenders" and their attempts to gain the English thro...Show More