The War of the Roses: A Lesson in Royal Genealogy

When it comes to the challenges of ancestry, nothing holds as much conflict as disagreements over royal lineage. The War of the Roses, fought between 1455 and 1487, was primarily about which family line should hold power. The Houses of Lancaster and York, both descended from King Edward III, both made claims to the thrones, gained and lost allies, incited civil wars, and destabilized the English monarchy for decades.

As interesting as the War of the Roses was for military and political researchers, it holds a special interest for those with interest in genealogy. How were bloodlines recognized? How much strength did different family tree branches hold? Questions around legitimacy, female vs. male lines, and how marriage could help unite them were explored in depth. Royal genealogy became both a trigger for strife and a way to find peace once again.

Key points about the war of roses

• Two opposing family lines, Lancaster and York, fought for the throne
• Questions arose about legitimacy and power of maternal lines
• A mentally unstable Henry VI paved the way for the flip of power
• Eventually marriage between the lines brought a more peaceful union with the Tudors

The origins of the genealogical struggle

Having five strong, legitimate sons might have sounded like a very powerful and pleasant thing for Edward III, king of England between 1327 and 1377. However, when his firstborn son and heir died before he did, the crown automatically passed to the son’s firstborn, Richard II. Altogether unpopular and without an heir of his own, his uncles, Edward III’s other sons, saw their opportunity to claim the throne instead.

The struggle was further complicated by the fact that the second son did not have a son of his own. Instead, he only had one daughter, Philippa. In those days, the idea of a daughter inheriting the throne causes upheaval on its own. Her sons continued the Mortimer line on the York side of the original warring families. This left the remaining sons, specifically John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster) and Edmund of Langley (Duke of York) vying for the coveted kingly position.

The Lancaster vs. York families

The two brothers themselves did not claim power. Instead, that was left to their descendants. The Lancaster line’s son, Henry Bolingbroke, became Henry IV after deposing Richard II. This continued through Henry VI, who was unfortunately plagued with mental illness that led to a weak hold over the throne.

The House of York saw its opportunity and led by current Duke Richard, made a claim for the kingdom. He positioned himself as protector over Henry VI before deciding to grab the crown for himself. Battles were fought, but the York line eventually triumphed and passed the throne down to Edward IV. The path to this outcome involved a lot of strife and exchanges of power as wars raged on.

Through decades filled with different battles and political maneuvering, new generations arose and traded power back and forth. Throughout it all, questions about family lines and which branches were more powerful and proper kept the conflict going.

Questions of legitimacy and marital alliances

The War of the Roses, like all wars, was decided by military strength and the ability to gain control over the population. However, this one was unique in that the main cause was one of genealogy, inheritance traditions, bloodlines, and legitimacy. Simply put, the different houses and the people who supported them had very different ideas about who deserved the crown. These questions about proper inheritance centered mainly on whether paternal or maternal descent mattered when it came to authority.

York’s claim came from the second son of Edward III, Lionel’s daughter, making the claim from the maternal line. Some people simply did not believe this was strong enough to matter. The Lancaster line followed the male line from a son of Edward III’s third son, John. Some believed this technically made them the stronger and more correct option. It was a hotly debated topic whether gender or seniority mattered more.

As the generations continued, things got even muddier. There were mistresses, legal legitimizations outside of strict bloodlines, and arranged marriages intended to unite the opposing sides. Eventually, this worked and gave rise to the Tudor dynasty. Marriage and the combined blood lines gave genealogy a win after a long wartime fueled by power, perceptions, and tradition.

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FAQ about the war of roses

Why was Edward III having five sons a problem for succession?

While having multiple strong sons was not a problem in itself, the death of the first led to questions about who would get the crown. Proper inheritance and the quest for power caused decades of war and uncertainty.

Who were the key families vying for control in the War of the Roses?

The Houses of Lancaster and York were both descended from Edward III but stemmed from different sons. Lancaster came from the third son, John of Gaunt, while York descended from his second son, Lionel of Antwerp’s daughter.

What is legitimacy and why did it matter?

Any child born out of wedlock was considered illegitimate and therefore did not have a claim to the throne. However, mistresses that later became wives or political decrees that reinforced legitimacy changed this somewhat. It still caused problems for the royal succession rules.

How did gender play a role in how the crown was passed down?

In traditional crown inheritance, the oldest son would come to power after the father died or abdicated. In Edward III’s case, his oldest son died. His second son’s bloodline would therefore get the crown. However, he only had a daughter. The argument that only descendants that follow the male lineage could ascend to the throne caused a large amount of conflict.

Why is the War of the Roses of special interest to genealogists?

The complex and sometimes confusing bloodlines make the whole struggle between the Lancaster and York houses quite entertaining for those who like to study history genealogy. It is a perfect case study in how bloodlines, birth order, legitimacy, and marriages can affect power and peace.

Melanie G. is a writer who loves family history. She enjoys bringing overlooked stories and lesser-known historical events to light, and crafts engaging narratives that highlight important connections across generations.

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Source: My Heritage