Information on the War of the Roses

Part I: Historical background on the War of the Roses

Henry V – Henry the fifth was a Lancastrian king who was crowned in 1413, at the age of 26. He spent most of his kingship involved in the hundred year’s war in France, with his most notable victory being the Battle of Agincourt.

Henry VI – Henry the sixth was an infant king who was crowned in 1422 (and later in 1470). He was the king who lost the hundreds year war. He also clashed with Richard, Duke of York, who believed he was the rightful king. He was eventually captured by the Yorkist and forced to admit Richard as the rightful heir to the throne. He eventually lost the throne in battle the Richard son, Edward IV.

Edward IV – Edward was a Yorkist king who came into power in 1461. To come into power, Edward and his father led the Yorkist in battle in the 1450s, until with the victory at the battle of Mortimor’s Cross. He was king until 1470, when the Lancastrian army forced Edward to flee to Holland, ending his kingship…for now.

Henry VI – Henry became King again for a short time in 1470, after Edward had left England. However, in 1471 Edward returned and captured Henry, having him executed.

Edward IV – In 1471 Edward returned to England, defeated the Lancastrian forces, executed King Henry, and regained his kingship. He was king until 1483, with his death.

Edward V – Edward was only 12 years old when his father died, leaving him to become the next King of England. However, he was taken by his uncle, Richard III and eventually murdered.

Richard III – Richard forcefully takes the crown after his brother’s death by taking his heirs and imprisoning them. He took over in 1483 after Edwards’s death, and was killed by Henry VII two years later.

Henry VII – Henry was the first Tudor named king, in the year 1485. Henry was now the head of the Lancastrian family. Henry then tried to unite the Lancastrians and Yorkist by marrying Elizabeth of York in 1486. He was king until his death in 1509.

Part II: Richard III: Fact and Fiction

Shakespeare portrayed Richard as a hunchback, sly, and evil individual because that was the way in which history remembered him. The Lancastrians wrote history, and viewed their enemies in a negative light, which was passed down through history.

Ricardian – This is a source that supports Richard III and wants to change the image portrayed of Richard, They believe that the view of Richard as a deformed, evil person is a fallacy, formed by the Lancastrians who came into reign after him.

Lancastrian – This is a source which does not support Richard III, and is more in line with the house of Lancaster, and does not view him in a favorable manor.

Traditionalist – Traditionalists are those who stood by the Yorkist and Richard III during his time, and were against a change in power.

Revisionist – Revisionists are those who wanted change from the York’s and Richard III as the reigning power.

from Vergil, Polydore. Anglica Historia, Books 23-25. London: J. B. Nichols, 1846.

This first passage is written in the Lancastrian point of view. This writing views Richard III as a less than favorable individual.

“ And so was thinnocent chyld pullyd owt of his mothers armes. Richard having by this meane obtaynyd almost his hartes desire, convaighed his nephewys from the bysshop of Londons howse unto the Towr”

This quote talks about how Richard forcefully took the thrown and had those who stood in his way, executed.

Horace Walpole (1768)

This passage is written in the from the Ricardian point of view. This passage believes that the recorded history of Richard as an evil, deformed, sly fellow is inaccurate and wishes to correct it. Right from the beginning it states how his figure may have been misrepresented by his actions.

“With regard to the person of Richard, it appears to have been as much misrepresented as his actions. “

It also talks about how some viewed Edward as “the handsomest man in the room except his brother Edward, and was very well made”. This severely contradicts the idea that Richard was deformed, and seems that these descriptions were dramatized to represent an evil man.

Part Three: The Battle of Bosworth Field

Poem on King Edward III

I am Edward, King of my land,

My most precious land, my land of England.

This is the land of my fathers, the land of my kin

Here is my story, and now I shall begin. [1]

Ah, I remember how it all began

The year of 1483, ‘twas so grand.

My brother, poor Edward has passed

But now, I had the throne within my grasp [2]

Now I must do away with my nephews

They cannot spoil the plot I am about to brew.

With them gone, I can seize the throne

Now my might shall be known! [1]

How dare they say that I am not the rightful king?

Why would they ever say or think such a thing!

I obtained the thrown through power

If they argue, send them to the tower! [3]

Now they are uprising against me?

Henry Tudor thinks that the rightful ruler is he?

He thinks he is the one in command?

We shall see after this battle, who controls our land [2]

This cannot be!

I am the King and I believe not what I see.

My men have fallen, my enemy risen,

All right in front of me. [1]

I am Edward! I cannot be defeated!

Especially by this man, my most hated adversary

How could I have been so unwary?! [3]

Now I fall, on my loved country

I have lost, to put it bluntly

My kingdom, my land, my home,

All taken, along with my throne. [1]

Now I lay under Henry’s sword,

With him grasping for my crown as his reward

I realized this was my last breath

Now, I shall finally meet my death. [2]

"RICHARD III - A MAN AND HIS TIMES." Web. 30 Sept. 2010. . [1]

"The Richard III and Yorkist History Server." Richard III Society - American Branch. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. . [2]

"Richard III." Richard III Society - American Branch. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. . [3]

Poem on King Henry Tudor

Henry Tudor am I

And this land of England shall be mine

This, you cannot deny. [1]

In the year of 1457 was I born.

I knew one day the crown I would adorn

I would then become the leader of my family, the wonderful Tudors

For my enemies, their shall be none left to mourn [1]

We will go and make battle Richards men

We shall battle, defeat him, and then…

I will be king! I will be king!

I shall have control over everything! [2]

We are victorious! We have won!

We have defeated close to everyone.

Now where is Richard, where is this man?

I must find him to fulfill my plan. [2]

Here you are Richard, my hated rival

Now, I must quell your hopes of survival

With you gone, I will now be supreme

This feels more wonderful than a dream [3]

Here is my crown, it gleams so bright

It certainly and surely was worth the fight

My enemies have fallen, that are nowhere in sight

Oh my, oh my, this is simply such a delight. [3]

Now, I must go on to rule, and unite these to houses

First I shall marry Elizabeth of York, and we shall be spouses.

Our families will now be united, as one.

An entire new era has begun. [4]

My reign has began, and it shall be ever so grand!

It feels wonderful to be the man, the man in command

I shall take England in to a wonderful time

I will not stop until the last bell has chimed. [2]

"Primary Sources: The Death of Elizabeth of York and the Betrothal of Princess Margaret to the King of Scots, 1503." EnglishHistory.net. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. . [4]

"Primary Sources: The Obituary of King Henry VII, 1509." EnglishHistory.net. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. . [1]

"Richard III Society- The Ballad of Bosworth Field." Richard III Society - American Branch. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. . [3]

"Tudor Monarchs - Henry VII, One." EnglishHistory.net. Web. 30 Sept. 2010. . [2]

What do primary sources during and after the plague suggest about the direct effect of the Black Death on European society?

The Black Death was a horrible disease that overwhelmed European societies, specifically social, religious, and political affairs.

One large factor of the Black Plague was that it severely diminished the amount of workers, which created a need to farm the land of the wealthy. This allowed the workers to now be in control of their employment, making wages their choice, not of the landowners. If the owner would not give into the demands, the workers could simply move on to an owner that would.

During the Black Plague, the serfs and peasants realized that they were no longer held down by the Kings, Queens, and knights of the land. In the midst of the chaos, there were large rebellions and riots, rising up against their former leaders. They went on brutal raids, murdering knights, violating their families, and killing them also. The peasants rebelling believed that what they were doing was justified, due to the horrible treatments they received prior to the plague. Those who were bystanders or being persecuted viewed these acts as appalling and absurd acts of violence.

In the time of the Black Plague, many people needed a scapegoat to blame the event on, looking for any way to solve their problem. In this time, the unlikely people were the Jews, who suffered a large deal due to this improper persecution. The Jews were then tortured until they had to reveal false confessions, which would then further the blame on them, stating that they created the plague with poison. This then led to large numbers being rounded up and killed.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/seth/ordinance-labourers.html

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/froissart2.html

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/jewish/1348-jewsblackdeath.html

DBQ - English Views Vs. Scots Views

What do the following primary sources tell us about English views of the Scots and the Scots' views of themselves? Please write a DBQ.

In the early 14^th Century, the Scottish and English were constantly butting heads, and had very demeaning views on each due to this conflict. The English viewed the Scots as inferior and the Scots them viewed themselves as greater because of this.

The English then labeled the Scottish war-hero William Wallace as an evil man, murderer, and felon. Then they represent his form of battle as him leaving his fellow Scots to be slaughtered, with him running from the scene. They specifically word the deeds that William Wallace has committed to seem as if he did them for no reason, and disregarded that he was fighting for Scottish freedom against the English.

Robert the Bruce was viewed similarly as William Wallace, being misjudged and having his endeavors viewed as evil, malicious acts done, without proper motives. The ways that the English worded these statements creates a hatred for the Scots, which would be a common theme among the English.

Now, with as much as the English despised the Scottish and viewed them as savages, the Scots viewed themselves as great people. They believed that had the right to rule and govern themselves, they would not be second-class citizens to the English.

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1307bruce.html

http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/home/scotland/arbroath_english.html

9/7/10 Homework

1. What does the reign of Henry II suggest about the future of English foreign relations?

King Henry II's reign was focused on gaining land for England and being involved in foreign affairs of other countries. He was also concerned with taking control of Britain during his kingship. This Reign of King Henry suggests that England will be involved in foreign policies, but may not always be viewed upon kindly by neighboring areas.

2. Does the common conception of Richard as 'good' and John as 'bad' hold up to reality?

The belief that these Kings were solely labeled as good or bad is not a very accurate description of their lives. Both of these brothers had parts of their lives that could be labeled as good, and also as bad. In his early life, Richard may not have been viewed in such a kind light, considering him disobeying and eventually betraying his father. And likewise can be said for John, who was not put in a good position to leave, but more thrown into his situation.

3. How did the Magna Carta change the relationship of the Monarch and his subjects?

The Magna Carta limited the powers of a monarch by holding them to the laws of the land, and effectively bringing them down to level wit the common people. This would create a society that was not solely focused on a king, but more involved with multiple people.

My Family History

Herodotus Style

In the year of 1934, with the birth of Francis Stilling, a new generation of life was formed. Francis, my grandfather, has told me an abridged version of his life. Francis was the son of the sailor Francis John Stilling and his wife Ann. Francis suffered many hardships in his life due to the estrangement of his parents at a young age. There was a great mourning when his family was thrust apart and he and his sister were sent to live with his grandmother. My grandfather told me that he chose to become a sailor because he wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was also a sailor. With this decision of his, his new adventure in life would begin. Several years later he would meet his love, Rose Mary, my grandmother. The two then decided that they would have a family, and they gave birth to three children. The eldest was the only boy, and also named Francis. The next child was named Belinda, and the youngest was named Dawn, my mother. Dawn would then grow up to meet a college student named David Flair, who would become my father. These two would marry and have two children come out of this union. The first was George Martin, my elder brother, and the second was myself, Zachary David Flair, my middle name coming from my father. I was later told my mother wanted my first name to be David, but my father disagreed and they decide d it would be my middle name. This would then commence the beginning of my life. My parents tell me that as a child I was a very shy, quiet, and observant child. I was not a very talkative child, and mainly my brother would assume the role of talking for me in situations. They also tell me that whatever my brother was interested in that I would always copy him or try to be like him, hanging out with his friends for hours. From the time that I was born, my family would always take frequent trips down to the Delaware shore, to visit my grandparents. Whenever we visited I was always intrigued with the water and had to jump in the water, no matter the season, winter or summer. As I matured my interests began to lean towards sports and I became an avid fan of the Maryland Terrapins. I began to attend games at a very young age and have continued to support the team.

I have always felt very fortunate to have a loving family that supports everything I do. Our family has always enjoyed large family gathering for birthdays, religious accomplishments, and other noteworthy reasons for us to gather. Strong family roots trulyconnect a family for a lifetime.

Thucydides Style

The history of Francis Stilling began with his birth in the year 1934. Francis was born to his parents Francis John and Ann. Francis was thrown into trouble when his parents were divorced in the year 1937 and he and his sister went to live with his grandmother. Francis John was a

sailor during his life, which inspired his son Francis to become a sailor also. Francis then followed his father and joined the navy in the year 1952. This entering into the Naval Academy led to a new period of his life. He then met his future wife Rose Harden in 1959, and then married her the following year, on March 17 1960. A small ceremony with family and friends was held to commemorate the event. The two then created a family of their own, with their first son Francis being born on February 28, 1961. Their next child, Belinda was born on January 29, 1964. And the youngest child, Dawn, my mother, was born on June 26, 1966. Dawn would then grow up to meet a man named David Flair, her future husband. The two married on

May 20, 1988. Their first child George Martin was born on July 29, 1992. Then, three years after my brother, I was born on April 18, 1995. I was born in the evening and was a robust nine pound and seven ounce baby. During my life as a child, I grew up visiting my grandparents’ house often, which was on the Delaware shore. I have made countless trips to the ocean and have always loved visiting there. As I child I was also highly involved in sports, from playing in rec.

leagues to attending Maryland Terrapin games, I have always loved sports. My family is also very large in having gatherings in order to keep us connected, ranging from birthday, to celebrating accomplishments, or just a yearly family reunion, we try to remain together.