In the 15th century, England was embroiled in a bitter conflict known as the War of the Roses, which was fought between the rival houses of Lancaster and York. This bloody and prolonged struggle for the English throne lasted for over 30 years, from 1455 to 1485.

The roots of the conflict can be traced back to the deposition of King Richard II in 1399, which led to a power struggle between the Lancastrian and Yorkist factions. The Lancastrians were descended from John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, while the Yorkists were descended from Richard, Duke of York.

The war officially began in 1455 when the Duke of York challenged King Henry VI's rule. The first battle of the war, the Battle of St Albans, resulted in a decisive victory for the Yorkists. However, the Lancastrians would soon regain control, leading to a series of back-and-forth battles and shifting allegiances.

One of the most famous battles of the War of the Roses was the Battle of Towton in 1461, which resulted in a bloody victory for the Yorkists. The Lancastrian forces were decisively defeated, and Edward IV, the son of the Duke of York, was crowned king.

Despite this victory, the war continued to rage on, with both sides vying for control of the throne. In 1471, Henry VI was briefly restored to the throne, only to be overthrown once again by Edward IV. The Lancastrian cause suffered a final blow in 1485 when Henry Tudor, a distant relative of the Lancastrian line, defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field and was crowned King Henry VII.

The War of the Roses had a profound impact on English history, leading to the establishment of the Tudor dynasty and the end of the medieval period. The conflict also left a lasting legacy of bitterness and division among the English nobility, which would continue to shape the country's politics for centuries to come.

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