The Wars of the Roses were a period of violent and relentless conflict that divided England for over 30 years, from the mid-15th century to the early 16th century. The central battle was for the throne of England, with the House of Lancaster (Margaret’s faction) pitted against the House of York. As the wife of King Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou was a staunch defender of the Lancastrian cause.
When Henry VI's mental health deteriorated in the early 1450s, Margaret's role became increasingly prominent. She took on the mantle of leadership, and her efforts to preserve her husband’s reign and the Lancastrian claim to the throne marked her as a fierce and determined queen. Her political acumen, though often overshadowed by her more ruthless counterparts, earned her the reputation of a woman who would stop at nothing to defend her family's right to rule.
The key turning point in Margaret’s reign was the rebellion of Richard, Duke of York, in 1455. The conflict between the Lancastrians, led by King Henry VI and his supporters, and the Yorkists, headed by Richard, who had a rival claim to the throne, escalated quickly into war. Margaret, at the helm of the Lancastrian forces, proved to be a formidable military strategist. She led the Lancastrians to victory at the Battle of St. Albans in 1455, a significant triumph that temporarily secured her position. However, the struggle for control of the throne continued, with both sides suffering devastating losses and momentary victories.
Despite facing frequent defeats on the battlefield, Margaret’s resolve never wavered. After the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Northampton in 1460, Margaret’s life was filled with near-constant hardship. Her son, Edward of Westminster, was her most cherished hope for the future of the Lancastrian line, and she fought fiercely to ensure his position as the heir to the throne. shutdown123