The political crises of 1460 transformed the Wars of the Roses. Defeat, death, and shifting claims to the throne redefined Yorkist ambitions and laid the foundation for Edward’s rise.

Flight of the Yorkists

In the early months of 1460, the Yorkist leaders, including Richard, Duke of York, the Earl of Warwick, and the Earl of Salisbury, faced mounting opposition. The regime of Margaret of Anjou and her allies had secured a temporary dominance following the collapse of Yorkist influence after earlier clashes.

• The Yorkists were forced into flight, retreating abroad to regroup.

• Warwick fled to Calais, a critical Yorkist stronghold across the Channel, where his naval control gave him a strategic advantage.

• York himself initially moved into Ireland, another power base of support for his cause.

This exile was not merely an escape but a calculated pause, allowing Yorkist leaders to plan a return supported by both foreign and domestic allies.

The ‘Parliament of the Devils’

To consolidate Lancastrian control, Margaret and her supporters convened the notorious ‘Parliament of the Devils’ at Coventry in November 1459.

• This assembly attainted Yorkist leaders, legally stripping them of lands, titles, and rights.

• It declared them traitors and attempted to delegitimise their cause.

• The Parliament earned its ominous nickname due to its sweeping severity and unprecedented scope of punishment.

The harsh measures backfired by alienating moderate nobles who felt that the scale of attainders undermined the principle of reconciliation. This fostered discontent that Yorkists would later exploit.

The Battle of Northampton (1460)

By mid-1460, the Yorkists were prepared to return. The Earl of Warwick, with support from Calais garrisons and English allies, landed in Kent and quickly gathered momentum.

• On 10 July 1460, Yorkist forces confronted the royal army at Northampton.

• The battle was notable for its brevity and the betrayal of royal commanders. Lord Grey of Ruthin defected to the Yorkists, significantly weakening Lancastrian resistance.

• The Yorkists captured King Henry VI, whose passive presence on the battlefield symbolised the weakness of the Lancastrian crown.

The victory at Northampton was decisive. It enabled the Yorkists to reassert themselves politically and forced Margaret and her son, Prince Edward, to flee north.

Map of the Battle of Northampton (Ramsay, 1892), showing the fortified Lancastrian position near Delapré Abbey and the Yorkist lines of attack. Note the proximity of the River Nene and the layout of fences and ditches that shaped the short engagement. Use this to visualise why the Lancastrian artillery was ineffective in heavy rain. Source

York as Heir

Following Northampton, Richard, Duke of York returned from Ireland in triumph, convinced that the moment had come to assert his claim.

• In October 1460, York entered Parliament with royal insignia, symbolically placing his hand on the throne.

• His claim was rooted in descent from Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, an elder son of Edward III, which arguably gave him a stronger hereditary right than Henry VI, descended from John of Gaunt.

However, York’s bold claim shocked many nobles. The majority were unwilling to depose Henry VI, who, despite his weakness, remained an anointed king.

A compromise was reached in the Act of Accord (October 1460):

• Henry VI would remain king for life.

• York was recognised as heir to the throne, disinheriting Prince Edward, Henry’s son.

This solution enraged Margaret of Anjou, whose determination to secure her son’s inheritance ensured that conflict would continue.

The Death of Richard, Duke of York

The Lancastrian cause, bolstered by northern support, gathered strength in response to York’s ascension as heir.

• In December 1460, York marched north to confront the Lancastrian army near Wakefield.

• On 30 December 1460, at the Battle of Wakefield, York’s forces were decisively defeated.

• Richard, Duke of York, was killed in battle.

His death marked a pivotal moment: the extinction of his personal ambition but the unleashing of his son’s claim.

Ruins of Sandal Castle, overlooking the River Calder, the Yorkist mustering point before the Battle of Wakefield. The image situates the location associated with York’s death and the collapse of his immediate bid for power. The modern information panel visible in the foreground is extra detail not required by the syllabus. Source

The Lancastrians displayed York’s head on the walls of York with a mocking paper crown, an act designed to humiliate his memory but which instead galvanised Yorkist resolve.

Edward’s Claim to the Throne

Richard’s death transferred the Yorkist claim to his eldest son, Edward, Earl of March.

• Edward, only 18 years old, emerged as the new Yorkist leader.

• His military success, charisma, and political pragmatism quickly distinguished him from his father’s rigid approach.

• The Act of Accord had effectively designated the Yorkist line as successors, and Edward now carried both the hereditary claim and the military authority to enforce it.

Key points in Edward’s emerging position:

• His claim was strengthened by the disinheritance of Prince Edward through the Act of Accord.

• His legitimacy was boosted by Yorkist propaganda that framed him as the rightful continuation of his father’s mission.

• His leadership in subsequent battles, such as Mortimer’s Cross (1461), would confirm his capacity to turn claim into kingship.

The sequence of 1460 therefore did not resolve the Wars of the Roses but escalated them, transitioning leadership from Richard, Duke of York, to his son Edward, and transforming the conflict from one of factional opposition into a direct contest for the crown.