[MR] War of The Roses Began today in 1455

[Garth Groff]

Noble friends,

Today is the anniversary of the 1st Battle of St. Albans, the first 
armed conflict in what would be called the Wars of the Roses.

A small Lancastrian army under Edmund, Duke of Somerset, and the 
feeble-minded King Henry VI, occupied and attempted to hold the town of 
St. Albans, about 25 miles from London. The were opposed by Richard, 
Duke of York and Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, with a slightly 
larger army. Though the Lancastrians had built strong barricades across 
some of the streets, they failed to fortify all the entrances to the 
town. Warwick entered St. Albans from the undefended rear with a strong 
force, which surprised the Lancastrians and lead to  their devastating 
defeat. Somerset was killed in the fighting, and Henry VI was captured 
and became a puppet of the Duke of York. This gave the initiative to the 
Yorkist cause for some time.

Curiously, Warwick defended the same town at the 2nd Battle of St. 
Albans in 1461, and his army was routed under similar circumstances. He 
should have known better. Henry VI, now completely mad, was freed from 
the Yorkists at this battle.

You can read a brief account of the 1st battle at: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Battle_of_St_Albans .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, That Crazy Scot