The War of the Roses may have ended over 500 years ago, but the legacy of the Houses of Lancaster and York lives on today. Éager to learn more about the historic families? Here are 8 things you didn’t know about the Houses of Lancaster and York.
1.Their Heraldic Badges Represent Real Animals
The heraldic huildges used to represent the Houses of Lancaster and York both reflect English nobility. The red rose of Lancaster symbolizes the Tudor rose while the white rose of York evokes the symbol of Yorkist-Lancastrian unity. Aside from the flowers, the badge of York also features a white lion and a falcon, while Lancaster’s emblem depicts a red falcon and more lions. The red and white chevrons that make up the shield of either house reflect their loyalty to England.
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The War of the Roses Ended with a Marriage
The War of the Roses was a conflict that rocked England from 1455–1485. It saw the powerful Houses of York and Lancaster fight for the throne of England. In the end, the House of Lancaster’s royal line was ended by the marriage of Henry VII—the first monarch of the House of Tudor—and Elizabeth of York, the oldest daughter of the House of York’s King Edward IV. This union of the White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster brought an end to the conflict. -
They Claim Henry V as an Ancestor
The Houses of Lancaster and York both claim legendary medieval King Henry V as an ancestor on their family trees. He was the great-great-great-grandson of Edward III, and both sides of the family claimed descent from him. -
They All Trace their Roots Back To a Single Family
The Houses of Lancaster and York both belonged to the Plantagenet dynasty, which had its ancestors trace their roots all the way back to William the Conqueror. Despite their differences, the Houses of Lancaster and York still shared blood ties from their common ancestor. -
They Both Had Links To Royalty Across Europe
The Houses of Lancaster and York also boasted impressive European royal family connections, with descent from European royalty in England, France, and potentially other countries. For example, once Princess Isabella of Angoulême married King John of England in 1200, both Houses of Lancaster and York drew their ancestry from the French royal house of Valois. -
Richard III Belonged to the House of York
Richard III was the last king of England from the House of York. He was the only son of Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, and the grandson of Edward III. During his two-year reign, Richard had to endure a number of political and military challenges as he tried to secure the throne for his family. -
The War of the Roses Led to Years of Turmoil
The warring between the Houses of Lancaster and York caused disruption, pain, and suffering for countless individuals across England. Many lives were lost, battles raged and cities were destroyed due to the conflict. This War of the Roses was a time of great struggle and chaos in English history and it is often seen as the beginning of the end of the Middle Ages. -
The Symbolism of Roses Lives On
Though the War of the Roses has long since ended, the connotations of red and white roses still hold strong today. The flowers often appear in media and today, the white rose is even a symbol for the county of Yorkshire.
The Houses of Lancaster and York are an expansive part of English history, and as we’ve seen, their legacy and symbols still remain with us today. To understand England’s past, it’s vitally important to look into the story of these two houses and the War of the Roses. This conflict is, to this day, remembered as a time of great strife and turbulence for the country. We can only hope that England shall never know such an era again.
