Second Battle of St Albans

The Second Battle of St Albans was a battle of the English Wars of the Roses fought on 12 February, 1461, at St Albans. The army of the Yorkist faction under the Earl of Warwick attempted to bar the road to London north of the town. The rival Lancastrian army used a wide outflanking manoeuvre to take Warwick by surprise, cut him off from London, and drive his army from the field. The victors also released the feeble King Henry, who had been Warwi... more

The Second Battle of St Albans was a battle of the English Wars of the Roses fought on 12 February, 1461, at St Albans. The army of the Yorkist faction under the Earl of Warwick attempted to bar the road to London north of the town. The rival Lancastrian army used a wide outflanking manoeuvre to take Warwick by surprise, cut him off from London, and drive his army from the field. The victors also released the feeble King Henry, who had been Warwick's prisoner, from his captivity. However, they ultimately failed to take advantage of their victory. The Wars of the Roses were fought between the supporters of the House of Lancaster, represented by the mentally unstable King Henry VI, and those of the rival House of York, headed by Richard of York, who was respected for his statesmanship and believed by many to have a better claim to the throne. After several armed clashes and attempts at reconciliation, York and his friends finally openly rebelled in 1459. At the Battle of Northampton in... less