Customer Reviews

BATTLES OF ST ALBANS (Battleground: Wars of the Roses)

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First of all why 2 battles at St. Albans-because it was in the path of invasion route to London and points north and south.These 2 battles of the Wars of the Roses are described in readable detail.St Albans I(1455),a smallscale Yorkist victory by Richard of York.
Unfortunately York can't figure out what to do with the deposed King Henry VI,should he execute him or legitmate him.This proves to be Yorks' downfall because Henry's queen Margaret knows just what to do with Richard of York.After Margarets victory at Wakefield she beheads York(1460).Where is King Henry VI in all this-why he is being shuffled around by the Yorkists and even more by the Lancasterians,the worst offender being his own wife Queen Margaret.Talk about hen-pecked.
ST. Albans(II,)(1460)lots bigger than the first with thousands of casualties, a pyrric victory for Margaret and her Lancastrians.1460 is looking like a bad year for Yorkists but thing can change rapidly.It seems this win has brought out the shaky condition of Queen Margarets' army.Notice I don't mention King Henry VI.Confusion follows and the Yorkists under Warwick and Edward of York(Richard's son),are able to gain ascendency which leads an end to the Lancastrian claim,at least temporariliy.(whew!)I'm confused myself.
The author offers a good reason why the Wars of the Roses went on for so long(about 40 years interspersed with long perids of quiet.)He says the rising middle classes were no longer supporting the royal family and the Royal Yorkists seemed to be the opposition party to the Royal Lancastrians.Sort of a prelude to the execution of King Charles in the 1600s.
Excellent maps and weapons presentations,including handguns and artillery which are often ommitted when discussing the Wars of the Roses.I particularly liked the caltrops,small metal barbs for stepping on and being injured.Also some ghost stories which although probably never occurred do break up some of the monotony of tactics and weapons discussions.Lots of pictures and only 158 pages.Then you can go on a driving tour in a car or at least in your mind.Who knows maybe you'll be given a surprise visit by one of the numerous ghosts of the battle in the wee hours of the morning.Haunted by a bad dream,is it a ghost or the bad positioning of your neck when you fell asleep in the easy chair.