Wars of the Roses Origins

• The Wars of the Roses, a historical conflict between two noble families, served as the basis for Game of Thrones.
• The conflict spanned generations and involved a large cast of characters with complex motives and shifting loyalties.

Origins of the Wars

• The seeds of the war were sown by the death of King Edward III in 1377.
• Edward's eldest son predeceased him, leading to his ten-year-old grandson, Richard II, inheriting the throne over Edward's three living sons.
• This succession created competing claims to the throne among the descendants of Edward's sons.
• The Lancasters, descendants of Edward's third son, and the Yorks, descendants of his fourth son, were the main contenders.
• The wars were named after the symbols of the two families: the white rose of York and the red rose of Lancaster.

Early Reign of the Lancasters

• The Lancasters first gained the throne in 1399 when Richard II was overthrown by his cousin Henry IV.
• Their reign remained secure until 1422, when Henry V's death left the infant Henry VI as king.
• Henry VI was weak-willed and influenced by advisors, marrying Margaret of Anjou to secure French support.
• Margaret was ambitious, ruthless, and distrustful of Richard of York, who had been a close advisor and loyal general to the King.
• York's criticisms of the war against France led to his removal from court and transfer to Ireland.

Richard of York's Rise

• Military failures and Margaret's corrupt rule caused widespread discontent.
• Richard of York returned with an army to arrest Somerset and reform the court, but was initially unsuccessful.
• He was appointed Protector of the Realm after Henry experienced a mental breakdown.
• However, Henry recovered, and Margaret persuaded him to reverse York's reforms.
• This led York to raise another army, aiming to secure his position as Protector and naming his heirs as Henry's successors.

The Yorkist Kings

• Richard of York was killed in battle against the Queen's loyalists.
• His young son took the initiative and was crowned Edward IV.
• Edward IV achieved military success against the Lancasters, capturing Henry while Margaret fled into exile with their son Edward of Westminster.
• However, Edward IV alienated his ally, the Earl of Warwick, by secretly marrying a minor noblewoman.
• Warwick allied with the Lancasters, turned Edward's younger brother George against him, and briefly restored Henry to the throne.
• Edward regained the throne, the Lancastrian Prince was killed, and Henry died in captivity.

Richard III and the Rise of Henry Tudor

• Edward IV's death in 1483 led to renewed conflict
•  Edward's younger brother, Richard III, declared his nephews illegitimate and seized the regency, imprisoning the young princes.
• The princes disappeared, and Richard's power seemed secure, but his reign was short-lived.
• Henry Tudor, a descendant of the Duke of Lancaster, raised in exile, gained support to challenge Richard III.
• Gathering an army in France, Henry crossed the English Channel in 1485 and defeated Richard's forces.
• Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, uniting the two roses and ending the Wars of the Roses.