York Submits Near Dartford
Richard, Duke of York, submitted to Henry VI after the king's superior army confronted his forces near Dartford, ending the immediate crisis without a pitched battle.
Wars of the Roses · Permanent subject page
Richard, Duke of York
Richard, Duke of York, during the struggles leading to 1460.
33 matching records from the 512-record archive. Year range: 1452–1460. These events are grouped by recorded place and year (or by person); their original event titles, descriptions and dates are retained.
1452
York Pledges Loyalty After Dartford
Richard, Duke of York, professed loyalty to Henry VI after his armed confrontation with royal forces ended in the failure of his challenge at Dartford.
1455
York Captures King After Saint Albans
Richard, Duke of York, defeated Henry VI's supporters at St Albans, took the wounded king into his custody and escorted him to London.
York Rallies Neville Supporters
Richard, Duke of York, secured the support of the Neville earls of Salisbury and Warwick as tensions with Henry VI's court moved toward armed conflict.
York Rejects Hostile Royal Advisers
Richard, Duke of York, feared that Somerset and other royal advisers would exclude him from power and prepared an armed confrontation with the king's entourage.
York Resumes English Protectorate
Following victory at St Albans, Richard of York was reappointed Lord Protector because Henry VI was again unable to govern effectively.
Yorkist Army Moves Toward Saint Albans
Richard, Duke of York, advanced with his supporters to intercept the royal party on its way to Leicester, leading to the encounter at St Albans.
Yorks Sons Among His Heirs
Richard, Duke of York, had several surviving sons, including Edward, Edmund, George and Richard, whose dynastic status gained importance as the struggle for royal authority developed.
1456
York Withdraws From Protectorate
Richard, Duke of York, lost the office of Lord Protector in February 1456 as Henry VI resumed personal control of government.
1459
York Publicly Declares Loyalty to Henry
York and his allies publicly professed loyalty to Henry VI near Worcester while condemning the advisers they blamed for misgovernment.
York Withdraws From Ludlow Castle
Richard, Duke of York, left the Ludlow district after his troops dispersed, ending the Yorkist concentration around the castle.
Yorkist Army Disperses at Ludford
Richard, Duke of York, abandoned his fortified position at Ludford Bridge when his army lost the will to confront the larger royal host.
Yorkist Coalition Collapses Without Battle
The Duke of York abandoned the Ludford position when the defection of veteran troops and the larger royal army made resistance impracticable.
Yorkist Leaders Leave Camp at Night
York and his allies abandoned their camp overnight, leaving their army without its principal commanders before the king's advance.
Irish Support Protects York From Attainder
Supporters of Richard, Duke of York, in Ireland resisted enforcement of the Lancastrian attainders passed after the failure at Ludford Bridge.
York Calls Allies to Ludlow
Richard, Duke of York, summoned his supporters to the Ludlow region as confrontation with Henry VI's government intensified.
York Departs With Edmund of Rutland
Richard, Duke of York, escaped from Ludford with his son Edmund, Earl of Rutland, and found safety in Ireland.
York Faces Overwhelming Royalist Strength
York's coalition was significantly outnumbered by the royal army at Ludford, prompting its leaders to consider flight rather than battle.
York Finds Refuge in Ireland
Richard, Duke of York, travelled to Ireland after the collapse at Ludford Bridge, benefiting from his earlier service as lieutenant there.
York Fortifies Position Near Ludlow
York's troops prepared a ditch and artillery position near Ludford Bridge while anticipating confrontation with the larger royal army.
York Leaves the Welsh Borderlands
Richard of York escaped from the Welsh border region after Ludford and eventually reached Ireland, where he retained allies.
York Retreats Toward Ludford Bridge
Richard of York's force pulled back toward Ludlow, where it prepared a defensive position to face the king's approaching troops.
York Seeks Irish Refuge After Ludford
Richard, Duke of York, escaped from the failure at Ludford Bridge and sought safety among his political supporters in Ireland.
Yorkists Move Toward Worcester Before Retreat
York and his associates manoeuvred toward Worcester before withdrawing to the fortified area around Ludlow as the royal army approached.
Yorkists Position Artillery Beside Teme
The Duke of York's troops positioned artillery and improvised defences near the River Teme as they prepared to resist the royal host.
1460
York Formally Claims English Crown
Richard, Duke of York, returned from Ireland and formally claimed the throne in Parliament, provoking resistance even among some of his allies.
Parliament Names York as Royal Successor
The Act of Accord preserved Henry VI's kingship for life while naming Richard, Duke of York, and his heirs as successors.
York Accepts Act of Accord
Richard, Duke of York, accepted the parliamentary compromise under which he would succeed Henry VI instead of immediately replacing him.
York Gains Recognition as Heir
Parliament negotiated the Act of Accord, which disinherited Henry VI's son and made Richard of York the next in line to the crown.
York Dies at Battle of Wakefield
Richard, Duke of York, was killed when a Lancastrian army defeated his forces outside Sandal Castle at Wakefield on 30 December 1460.
York Killed During Wakefield Fighting
The Duke of York died in battle at Wakefield after his force left Sandal Castle and was overwhelmed by Lancastrian troops.
York Resumes Political Protectorate
After his return to England, Richard of York exercised restored political influence under the settlement reached in the autumn of 1460.
Yorks Head Displayed After Wakefield
Following the Battle of Wakefield, the Duke of York's severed head was displayed at York as a warning to his supporters.