Vicious Facts About The Wars Of The Roses
Game of Thrones has nothing on the Wars of the Roses. One of the most important conflicts in English History, this brutal saga saw the fall of a mad king, two families torn apart from within, and the rise of one of England's most powerful dynasties. For more than three decades, the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster struggled for power on and off the battlefield. But how did it all begin? Who were the winners? Who were the losers? Join us as we delve into the dark history of the Wars of the Roses.
Wars of the Roses Facts
It All Began With the Mad King
To put it as simply as possible, the Wars of the Roses happened because of the Mad King Henry VI. Though his father, Henry V, was one of the most legendary warrior kings in history, Henry VI was famously weak, sensitive, and prone to bouts of insanity. Having such a man on the throne made England's nobles nervous enough, but that wasn't even the worst part.
A Crisis of Succession Didn't Help
Not only was Henry VI a feeble weakling, but even worse, for several years he seemed unable to produce an heir. In cases like these, most people in the Middle Ages would be quick to blame the wife—but in this case, no one dared point the finger at the ruthless Queen Margaret of Anjou. Henry VI might have been scared of his own shadow, but his wife couldn't have been more different...
Margaret Lannister
Many people hated the beautiful Margaret of Anjou, but everyone respected her. She was intelligent, capable, and above all else, ambitious. In fact, when writing A Song of Ice and Fire, Margaret inspired George R.R. Martin to create one of his most cold-blooded characters: Cersei Lannister. The only difference is, Cersei was fictional—while Margaret's dark deeds were all too real.
.jpg){kind=link}
