The Wars of the Roses Volume 1: The Triumph of York 1455-1461 (From Retinue to Regiment 1453-1618)

This authoritative history reframes early Wars of the Roses battles through archival research, archaeology, and sharp analysis.

The Wars of the Roses offers a new and authoritative history of the military campaigns of the Wars of the Roses. Drawing upon decades of archival research and recent archaeological discoveries, it provides a fresh perspective on the civil wars of the mid-fifteenth century.

This first of three volumes explores the initial phase of the conflict, from 1455 to the Yorkist seizure of the throne in March 1461. It examines the major battles of Northampton, St Albans, and the decisive clash at Towton, as well as lesser-known campaigns in Ireland and Calais. Based on the author’s four decades of archival research, it presents new interpretations of key engagements, particularly Wakefield and Towton, while incorporating the latest archaeological evidence to reshape our understanding of warfare during this period.

Each battle and campaign is reconstructed in detail, highlighting the roles of key individuals. The Wars of the Roses Volume I reveals how the outcomes of battle were influenced not only by chivalric ideals and constitutional principles but also by deception, personal ambition, and individual acts of courage and skill.

David Grummitt is editor of Military Modelcraft International with more than a decade of building models and writing articles for publication. As well as being editor of MMI since 2009, he is a professional historian who has written several books on fifteenth- and sixteenth-century military and political history