Warwick the Kingmaker didn't lose many battles, but he lost this one - the Battle of St. Albans could have proved diasastrous to the Yorkist cause.
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The 2nd Battle of St. Albans Warwick the Kingmaker didn't lose many battles, but he lost this one - the Battle of St. Albans could have proved diasastrous to the Yorkist cause. |
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The 2nd Battle of St. Albans
Her advisors called for a quick march from York to London to free the king. The Earls of March and Warwick realized the need to prevent them reaching the capitol. Warwick, later called The Kingmaker for his power and influence, headed north from London, bringing Henry VI with him. The two armies met at St. Albans. The Battle Queen Margaret and her advisors then surprised Warwick by abandoning a traditional frontal attack in favour of a flank attack. In making this plan they were aided by a traitor in Warwick's ranks, a certain squire from Kent called Lovelace, who revealed details of Warwick's position to the Lancastrians. The Lancastrians marched all night to come upon St Albans at dawn on February 17. They attempted to surprise archers left in the town around the watchtower, but were repulsed. In the narrow streets of the town the arrows of the bowmen proved murderously effective, and it was not until mid morning that they were silenced. None of Warwick's other positions had sent help to the valiant archers, and now the Lancastrians were free to deal with the isolated Yorkist positions one at a time. The cold February skies unloosed biting snow, which may have blown in the face of the Yorkist troops and hampered their shooting. In any event the Yorkists were badly outnumbered, and their split positions made the task of their enemies comparatively easy. Warwick brought fresh troops into the fray, but then the traitor Lovelace turned on his supposed friends. In the face of his crumbling lines and obvious defeat, Warwick managed to prevent a total collapse of discipline and prevented the defeat from becoming a rout. He withdrew with some 4000 men, leaving behind King Henry, who was joyfully reunited with Queen Margaret. The Results More British Battles
History
Prehistory | Roman Britain | Dark Ages | Medieval Britain | The Tudor Era | The Stuarts | Georgian Britain | The Victorian Age Article and images © 2004
David Ross |
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February 17, 1461
St.
Albans, Hertfordshire
Lancastrian
forces under Anthony Trolloppe vs. a Yorkist army led by the Earl
of Warwick (Warwick the Kingmaker)
The
interminable conflict we know as the Wars of the Roses dragged
on. Henry VI was captured at Northampton and remained a puppet
in the hands of the house of York, and the fight was carried on
by Queen Margaret. 