Tewkesbury 1471: The Last Yorkist Victory (Campaign) [Paperback]

Christopher Gravett (Author), Graham Turner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Campaign | Publication Date: October 22, 2003

In this book Christopher Gravett details the climactic events of 1471 and the battle that virtually extinguished the Lancastrian cause. After the crushing Yorkist victory at Towton in 1461, King Edward IV appeared to have triumphed in England’s bloody Wars of the Roses (1455-1485). The Lancastrian King Henry VI was even a prisoner in the Tower of London. By 1470, however, Edward’s erstwhile ally the Earl of Warwick – The ‘Kingmaker’ – had joined the Lancastrians and a final reckoning was inevitable. Warwick perished at Barnet in April 1471, and on 4 May Edward confronted his enemies, including Edward, Prince and last hope of the House of Lancaster, at Tewkesbury.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Books in Osprey's 'Campaign' series stand out at both secondary and college levels as works' that will engage and sustain student interest ... sophisticated maps and comprehensive graphics complement the texts without overwhelming them.

From the Publisher

Highly visual guides to history's greatest conflicts, detailing the command strategies, tactics, and experiences of the opposing forces throughout each campaign, and concluding with a guide to the battlefields today.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (October 22, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841765147
• ISBN-13: 978-1841765143
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.3 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,078,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars lean and detailed-92 pages, December 5, 2007

By 

Douglas E. Libert "howitt" (parkersburg wv) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tewkesbury 1471: The Last Yorkist Victory (Praeger Illustrated Military History) (Hardcover)

This book focuses primarily on the Battles of Barnett and Tewkesbury,2 decisive battles of the War of the Roses in the latter part of this conflict.It describes the weapons,tactics,and mechanics of the battles,without going into a long and complex history in the Wars of the Roses.I particularly found it interesting because of the mention of the use of field artillery that fired stone balls and possibly a type of cannister shot.By this time warfare was evolving and the heraldry charging knight and his armored steed were rapidly being replaced.I was wondering if artillery,of which Edward IV was superior in,may have played the decisive role at Tewkesbury and Barnet.The author mentions Somersets' ill-advised charge into Edward's line.Was Somerset "unnerved" by Edward's artillery and frustrated to the point of making a wreckless advance to escape the bombardment.Field Artillery was a relatively new armed wing and it would constantly require new tactics and strategies to deal with it.Since both opposing were close in size,about 6,000 apiece and both had a legitimate title to the English throne a few extra cannon could have been the difference.There is excellent illustrations and really superb,detailed maps of tactics and manuevers.A flashback in time to a period when England was a pawn of continental politics,with fresh armies organized and equipped in west-europe willing to risk a crack at the English throne.Alot of books written about the Wars of the Roses,deal with what population elements comprised the armies during this period and describe their equipment.From other reads a surprising percentage of both armies were mercenaries and the rest pretty much "retained" soldiery in the pay and alliance of their lord.These books also try to discern how badly these moving armies disrupted the English economy of the period:some books say that despite it all the carnage of these wars was relatively small and contained,and business went on as usual even during the worst of the conflict.Other books say that the Wars of Roses effected gravely the economy and severely downgraded the living standards of the period.This book sticks primarily to the battle itself and has more detail in regard to this.