Wars of the Roses () – sounds nice, doesn’t it? This is the common name of the conflict for the throne of England between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: houses of Lancaster and York. Wars lasted for 30 years, and the final victory went to the House of Lancaster which formed the dynasty to rule England and Wales for the next 117 years.

The first open fighting between Lancastrians and Yorks broke out in 1455 at the First Battle of St Albans. As a result English Parliament announced Richard York to be the Protector of England, and heir of Henry VI, who was unable to rule England at that time due to illness. In 1460 Richard was killed at the Battle of Wakefield, and next year, on April 29, 1461 his elder son Edward was crowned as King Edward IV, and took over responsibility for the future destiny of the white rose. That was the first coronation.
Nine years later, in 1470, wars continued, when Earl of Warwick and Duke of Clarence, who favored the red rose, restored Herny VI to the throne. Edward IV ran to Burgundy and his next chance to return to England appeared only in 1471, when Duke of Clarence (Edward's brother) offered him his support. They won complete victories at Barnet and Tewkesbery. After the second battle the Lancastrian heir was executed, and in a few days his death was followed by the murder of Henry VI in the Tower of London, what was the end of the direct Lancastrian line of succession.

Edward IV, the first king from the York's dynasty was crowned (that's the second time), and brought to England the period of comparative piece. He died in 1483.

Today we celebrate his two coronations, and introduce the new unique hero - King Edward IV.

The hero is conditionally free. Level 24.