The battle of Towton – a 550-year retrospective

This talk introduces the biggest battle of the Wars of the Roses, described as ‘The largest, longest, bloodiest and most murderous battle ever fought in Britain’. It was the decisive clash in a snowstorm at Towton in Yorkshire on 29 March 1461. A new English dynasty came to the throne with Edward IV’s victory, but more Englishmen may have died at Towton than on the first day of the battle of the Somme. The talk outlines the events of that day, looking at some of The National Archives’ sources for the battle and examines the participants’ motivations. Dr. James Ross is a medieval records specialist at the National Archives. He has a particular interest in the politics of the Wars of the Roses, and the nobility and gentry during the period.