Permanent historical factsheet

Battle of Tewkesbury

England · Warfare / Wars of the Roses. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.

18Records
1471–1472Date range
7Named people
1Places

Chronological records

1471

Henry Beaufort Somerset, 2nd4 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Captured in battle by the Yorkists

Anne Neville4 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Margaret of Anjou had returned to England with Anne Neville and Prince Edward in April, bringing additional troops. At the Battle of Tewkesbury, Edward IV crushed this last Lancastrian army. Prince Edward was killed in or shortly after the battle, and Anne Neville was taken prisoner

Edward IV7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

By contrast, King Edward's army was composed mainly of mounted men, who nevertheless dismounted to fight on foot as most English armies did during this period.

Edward IV7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Hearing from his "prickers" or mounted scouts of Margarets position, Edward drove his army to make another march of 6 miles (9.7 km) from Cheltenham, finally halting 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Lancastrians.

Edward IV7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Most of their army were footmen, and unable to continue further without rest, and even the mounted troops were weary.

Edward IV7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

The Lancastrians knew they could retreat no further before Edward attacked their rear, and that they would be forced to give battle

Edward IV7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

The Yorkists crush Margaret of Anjou whose son & heir, Prince Edward, is killed. The Yorkists capture Margaret of Anjou after the Battle of Tewkesbury. At Tewkesbury, the tired Lancastrians halted for the night.

Margaret of Anjou7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

At Tewkesbury, the tired Lancastrians halted for the night. Most of their army were footmen, and unable to continue further without rest, and even the mounted troops were weary.

Margaret of Anjou7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

By contrast, King Edward's army was composed mainly of mounted men, who nevertheless dismounted to fight on foot as most English armies did during this period.

Margaret of Anjou7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Hearing from his "prickers" or mounted scouts of Margarets position, Edward drove his army to make another march of 6 miles (9.7 km) from Cheltenham, finally halting 3 miles (4.8 km) from the Lancastrians. The Lancastrians knew they could retreat no further before Edward attacked their rear, and that they would be forced to give battle

Margaret of Anjou7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Tewkesbury Abbey was just behind the Lancastrian centre. A farmhouse then known as Gobes Hall marked the centre of the Lancastrian position; nearby was "Margarets camp". Margarets only son Edward is killed & Henry VI is captured.

Margaret of Anjou7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

The Yorkists capture Margaret of Anjou after the Battle of Tewkesbury. The Lancastrians took up a defensive position a mile south of the town of Tewkesbury. To their rear were River Avon and the Severn.

Richard III7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Helps restore Edward IV to the throne by defeating the Lancastrians

John Wenlock Wenlock, 1st7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

He was allegedly killed by his own commander, the Duke of Somerset, who blamed Wenlocks indecisiveness for the defeat.

John Wenlock Wenlock, 1st7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

The Lancastrian centre was commanded by Lord Wenlock.

John Wenlock Wenlock, 1st7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

The Lancastrians suffered a crushing defeat, and Wenlock died on the battlefield.

John Wenlock Wenlock, 1st7 May 1471

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Unlike the other principal Lancastrian commanders, Wenlock had deserted the Lancastrian cause after the First Battle of Saint Albans, only to revert to the Lancastrians when he was deprived of the Lieutenancy of Calais.

1472

Jasper Tudor Pembroke, 17th7 May 1472

Tewkesbury · Warfare / Wars of the Roses

Seeks exile in Paris with his nephew Henry VII after the Battle of Tewkesbury

Names involved

Anne NevilleEdward IVHenry Beaufort Somerset, 2ndJasper Tudor Pembroke, 17thJohn Wenlock Wenlock, 1stMargaret of AnjouRichard III

Provenance

This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.