The battle of Tewkesbury took place on May 4th 1471 between the houses of York - The White Rose - and Lancaster - the Red Rose. It was the final battle of the Wars of the Roses. It started because Henry VI was considered insane and the country was without a strong leader. Edward of York, the most able leader left, was declared King in 1461. He had Henry locked in the tower of London, and his wife Margaret of Anjou fled to France with their son also called Edward. When he reached 18 she decided to return to England and re-claim the throne for him. She landed at Weymouth on April 14, 1471, and set off for Wales, where Jasper Tudor awaited with re-enforcements for her small army. Gathering supporters as they went, they headed for Gloucester to cross the Severn, only to find the city locked against them, by King Edward's orders. They headed for the next crossing point, Tewkesbury, but found that Edward's army was so close behind they had to stand and fight, rather than cross. Exhausted and outnumbered they were easily defeated, and so many of them were slain trying to get to the river that the field they ran through is still known today as Bloody Meadow. Margaret fled the scene with some of her ladies, and was later found in a priory at Little Malvern. Prince Edward was killed either during the battle or immediatly afterwards. He is buried in Tewkesbury Abbey. A brass plaque in the choir marks his last resting place - directly beneath a ceiling boss depicting the Yorkist badge, The Sun in Splendour.
