The Wars of the Roses 1455-1485

Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing Ltd, 2003. New book, 96 pages. ESS054. The Wars of the Roses raged from 1455 to 1485 - the longest period of civil war in English history. They barely affected the daily routine of the civilian population, yet for the leaders of the opposing houses of York and Lancaster, the wars were devastating. First hand accounts reveal how the lives of their women and children were blighted during three decades of war, as many of their male relatives met with violent deaths. This book examines in detail the causes, course and results of each of the main wars and concludes with a fascinating insight into why the wars ended so abruptly. Contents: Introduction and chronology; Background to war : Collapsing regimes; Warring sides: Part-timers, professionals, and people; Outbreak: Force for change; The fighting: Dash to battle; Portrait of a soldier: Nicholas Harpsfield; The world around war : Life goes on; Portrait of civilians: Female victims; How the war ended: Decisive victories; Conclusion and consequences: Return to normality; Further reading; Index.. Soft Cover. As New. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.