Battle of Tewkesbury (1471)

On 4th May 1471, two armies met at Tewkesbury: that of Edward IV of York and that of Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI of Lancaster, at that time a prisoner in the Tower, and their son Prince Edward. The aim was to regain the throne for the Lancastrians, that Edward IV had seized in a time of confusion and lawlessness in England through Henry VI mental disease. Edward IV, however, was victorious at Tewkesbury. Many Lancastrian noblemen died, and also Prince Edward, which meant the end to the House of Lancaster, as there were no other male heirs to the throne. On 21st May 1471, Edward returned to London, had the 50 year old king Henry VI killed and ruled in peace until 1483.