The Wars of the Roses happened in the Common Era.
Common Era or Current Era ( CE ) is a year-numbering system ( calendar era ) for the Julian and Gregorian calendars that refers to the years since the start of this era , i.e. , since AD 1 . The Wars of the Roses were a series of wars for control of the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet : the House of Lancaster ( associated with a red rose ) , and the House of York ( whose symbol was a white rose ) . The conflict lasted through many sporadic episodes between 1455 and 1487 ; however , there was fighting before and after this period between the houses .