Politics 500+ years ago:

We have read about the cruelty of Saddam and his sons, but this is nothing new in human history. If one goes back and studies the events surrounding the War of the Roses, one finds multiple instances of royals being smothered to death (3), beheadings (at least 3), drowning (1), killings (many), and heads being impaled (3). Plus, there were battles galore (over a dozen). For those interested in the details, we have created a full-sized diagram that shows key events and personalities involved in the struggle for power among Edward III's descendants.



The order of events is fairly complicated. We have as background the intrigues between Thomas, Richard II, and John of Gaunt. Then Henry IV takes the crown (from Richard II) for the Lancaster side. With the advent of Henry VI we get seven battles between the House of York and the House of Lancaster. Then there are four battles between the House of York and another branch of the family tree (initially allies of York, but then they switched sides). Next, a battle that vanquishes the Lancaster group for good. This is followed by a bunch of royals getting murdered. Finally, the future Henry VII comes ashore to take the crown from Richard III of York in the battle at Bosworth. It was a violent era.

posted by Quiddity at 8/09/2003 02:46:00 PM