The Families of the

The ‘Wars of the Roses’ describes a long conflict between two rival branches of Royal family, the descendants of the Dukes of York and Lancaster, and their supporters. The conflict at the time was known as The Cousin’s Wars. Virtually all of the major landowning families of the time were involved in the wars, but family ambition and long-standing feuds turned some powerful families into key players. Many of the families were allied by political marriages, but in times of war this often put sisters and daughters on opposing sides to their brothers and parents. Those involved in the struggles rarely died of old age! Sir William Stanley Sir William TheStanley Plantagenets The Royal Family The rival royals were all Plantagenets until 1483, when the Tudor family entered the struggle for the throne. York Lancaster

The Neville Family Supporters of Richard of York. Arch-enemies of the Percy family. The Percy Family The women of the family made Arch-enemies of the Neville very powerful marriages. Cecily, family and therefore Lancastrian Isabelle and Anne married into the - until the 4th earl befriended Yorkist Plantagenet family. Richard of Gloucester.

Lady Cecily Neville wife of Duke of York, mother of Edward IV and Richard III

Richard, Earl of Salisbury Thomas, executed at Wakefield 1460 1st Baron Egremont killed at Northampton 1489

William, Lord Fauconberg Sir Ralph Percy executed 1471 killed at Hedgeley Moor 1464

Sir Thomas John, Baron Montagu Richard, Earl of Warwick 2nd Earl of 3rd Earl of 4th Earl of killed at Barnet 1471 killed at Barnet 1471 killed at Barnet 1471 Northumberland Northumberland Northumberland killed at St Albans 1455 killed at Towton 1461 killed by a mob 1489

The Beaufort Family The Woodvilles and Greys Staunchly Lancastrian with long term feud Lancastrian turned Yorkist then confused! against Richard of York and King Edward IV.

Lady Margaret Beaufort mother of Henry Tudor by her second marriage

Edmund, 4th Duke of Somerset executed after Tewkesbury 1471

Elizabeth Woodville Anthony Woodville, Sir John Grey of Sir Edmund, 2nd Duke Henry, 3rd Duke John, Marquess of Dorset marries John Grey then Edward IV. 2nd Earl Rivers killed at St Albans 1461 son of Elizabeth, of Somerset unpopular of Somerset killed at Tewkesbury 1471 Mother of Elizabeth of York and brother of Elizabeth executed 1483 advisor of Henry VI killed at Hexham 1464 ‘’ executed 1483 killed at St Albans 1455