# UK Constitution and Government/Houses of Lancaster and York


### `<font size=1 color=dimgray>`{=html}Presentation`</font>`{=html}

```{=html}
<table height=1 border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; border-color:LightSkyBlue; background-color:AliceBlue;" width="100%">
```
```{=html}
<tr>
```
```{=html}
<td align=left>
```
```{=html}
<table width="100%" align=left>
```
```{=html}
<tr>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
!Plantagenets{width="" height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
![](Gohome.png "Gohome.png"){width="" height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td nowrap>
```
`<font size=6 color=teal>`{=html}`</font>`{=html}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
!House of Tudor{width=""
height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
!List of Topics{width=""
height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td width="99%">
```
 

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
```{=html}
<td>
```
!House of Tudor{width=""
height="40"}

```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
</tr>
```
```{=html}
</table>
```
```{=html}
</td>
```
```{=html}
</tr>
```
```{=html}
</table>
```
 

`<big>`{=html}`<big>`{=html}The Houses of Lancaster and York
(1399-1485)`</big>`{=html}`</big>`{=html}

Previous
Chapter \|
Next Chapter

------------------------------------------------------------------------


## Henry IV

Henry of Bolingbroke deposed his weak cousin, Richard II, in 1399. Henry
IV\'s reign was marked by widespread rebellion. These were put down
thanks to the great military skill of the Henry IV\'s son, the future
King Henry V. Henry IV died in 1413 while plagued by a severe skin
disease (possibly leprosy).

## Henry V

Henry V\'s reign was markedly different from his father\'s in that it
involved little domestic turmoil. Overseas, Henry V\'s armies won
several important victories in France. In 1415, the English defeated the
French King Charles VI decisively at the Battle of Agincourt. About 100
English soldiers were killed, along with about 5000 Frenchmen.

For the next two years, Henry V conducted delicate diplomacy to improve
England\'s chances of conquering France. He negotiated with the Holy
Roman Emperor Sigismund, who agreed to end the German alliance with
France. In 1417, the war was renewed; by 1419, English troops were about
to take Paris. The parties agreed to a treaty whereby Henry V was named
heir of France. Henry V, however, died before he could succeed to the
French throne, which therefore remained in the hands of the Frenchmen.

## Henry VI and Edward IV

!Figure 3-1: Edward IV (left) and the future Edward V
(centre) and the future Edward V (centre)")

Henry VI succeeded to the throne while still an infant. His uncles, the
Dukes of Bedford and Gloucester, both functioned as Regents. During his
reign, many French territories won during the Hundred Years War were
lost.

Henry VI\'s reign was interrupted by Edward IV\'s due to the War of the
Roses. Henry VI was a member of the House of Lancaster, while Edward IV
was from the House of York. The former House descended from Henry of
Bolingbroke, the fourth son of King Edward III; the latter House
descended from Edmund of Langley, Edward III\'s fifth son.

In 1461, the Lancastrians lost to the Yorkists at the Battle of Towton.
The Yorkist claimant, Edward IV, ascended to the throne, with the
support of the powerful nobleman Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick,
known by the nickname *Warwick the Kingmaker*. In 1464, Lancastrian
revolts were put down. In 1469, however, Warwick the Kingmaker switched
his allegiance, and in 1470, Henry VI was restored to the throne. The
exiled Edward, however, soon returned and defeated Henry\'s forces. At
the Battle of Tewkesbury, the remaining Lancastrians were defeated;
Henry VI was also murdered.

## Edward V and Richard III

Edward IV was succeeded by his twelve year-old son in 1483. Edward IV\'s
brother, Richard, was made guardian of Edward V and his brother, also
named Richard. The young King\'s uncle usurped the throne and had
Parliament declare the two brothers illegitimate. The two princes were
then imprisoned in the Tower of London, where they might have been
killed (their fate, however, is not certain).

In 1485, Richard III faced Henry Tudor, the Lancastrian claimant, at the
Battle of Bosworth Field, during which Richard became the last English
monarch to be killed during battle. Henry came to power as Henry VII,
establishing the Tudor Dynasty.

ms:Perlembagaan dan Kerajaan United Kingdom: Dewan Lancaster dan
York
