Battle of Wakefield

By doing this, Henry had disinherited his own son, Edward and this greatly angered Henrys wife Margaret of Anjou. She refused to accept this decision and would continue to fight for the rights of her son. 

 

Margaret started to build her forces from all across England and her army may have been as many as fifteen thousand men, a large part of which encamped at the market town of Pontefract, while others set out to attack estates owned by York and Salisbury. 

 

Richard, Duke of York left Richard, Earl of Warwick in charge of London, while he, his son Edmund, Earl of Rutland and the Earl of Salisbury marched north on 9 December 1460. 

 

They reached York’s fortress, Sandal Castle near Wakefield on 21 December, only 9 miles (14 km) from the Lancastrian force at Pontefract. 

 

York’s army was about nine thousand strong and heavily outnumbered by the Lancastrian force, however it is believed he did not know he was so heavily outnumbered. 

 

Richard, Duke of York accompanied by his army left the safety of his castle on 30 December 1460, although there is much speculation as to why. This led to the Battle of Wakefield at Sandal Magna, near Wakefield in Yorkshire. 

 

York marched his men forward to engage in battle with Lancastrian forces ahead of them. While fierce fighting took place, Lancastrian forces attacked the Yorkists from the flank and rear, cutting them off from retreat to the castle. The Yorkist forces were outnumbered, surrounded and routed. 

 

The Duke of York died in battle, as did his son Edmund, Earl of Rutland, and Salisbury’s son Sir Thomas Neville. William, Lord Harrington and William Bonville were captured and executed. Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury initially escaped but was hunted down, captured and beheaded. 

 

The Battle of Wakefield ended in a decisive Lancastrian victory, but this advantage would not last for long. 

 

 

Fought - 30 December 1460 

 

Location - Wakefield, West Yorkshire 

 

Participants - House of York and House of Lancaster 

 

York 9,000 

Lancaster 12,000 - 18,000 

 

Richard, Duke of York 

Edmund, Earl of Rutland 

Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury 

 

Henry Beaufort, Duke of Somerset 

Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland 

John, Lord Clifford 

Andrew Trollope 

 

Victory - House of Lancaster 

 

900 - 2,500 

Richard, Duke of York (York) 

Edmund, Earl of Rutland (York) 

Sir Thomas Neville (York) 

Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury (York) 

William, Lord Harrington (York) 

William Bonville (York)