Description
These two battles of the Wars of the Roses occurred within a few miles and two years of each other on the Welsh border in the central Marches.
The first, Ludford Bridge (1459), at which little fighting took place, in effect marked the end of the leadership of the Yorkist faction by Richard, Duke of York. Effective command passed to the Earl of Warwick – the Kingmaker. The second battle, Mortimer’s Cross (1461), saw the first independent military action of the Duke of York’s son, Edward, Earl of March. After a decisive victory, albeit between two fairly small armies, Edward then had to advance eastwards to support the Kingmaker, who himself had been defeated at teh Second Battle of St Albans. Bringing hope and new troops, Edward claimed the crown as Edward IV and led the combined forces north to overwhelming victory at one of the bloodiest battles fought on English soil – Towton.
Apart from chronicling these events, Geoffrey Hodges brings life to the military campaigns and offers an analysis of the complete change in Yorkist fortunes and leadership in the two years, which were to have a major effect on the political structure of the Welsh Marches.
Geoffrey Hodges was a historian who lived within easy reach of Ludford Bridge and Mortimer’s Cross and this, coupled with an enquiring mind and delight in local history, led initially to a series of articles on these events. Further research led to this booklet.
Paperback | 80 pages | 210 x 148mm | 2001
Black & white illustrations, maps & family trees
ISBN 9781873827222
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