What was the War of the Roses about and how did it start?

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Karen Hill

The War of the Roses was a power struggle for the throne of England that occurred in 1422 when Henry VI was king.

He was from the House of Lancaster, and the nobles of another family, the House of York, decided that he was weak enough to be overthrown.

Here’s where the roses come in: York’s emblem was a white rose, and Lancaster’s a red one.

Edward IV of York won the throne from Henry VI after six years of war, but Henry won it back nine years later.

In 1471, Edward again defeated Henry, and Henry died in the Tower of London.

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