1471 May 4
Battle of Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury, UKUrged on by Louis XI, Margaret finally sailed on 24 March. Storms forced her ships back to France several times, and she and Prince Edward finally landed at Weymouth in Dorsetshire on the same day the Battle of Barnet was fought. Their best hope was to march northward and join forces with the Lancastrians in Wales, led by Jasper Tudor.
In London King Edward had learned of Margaret's landing only two days after she arrived. Although he had given many of his supporters and troops leave after the victory at Barnet, he was nonetheless able to rapidly muster a substantial force at Windsor, just west of London.
At the Battle of Tewkesbury the Lancastrians were completely defeated and Edward, Prince of Wales, and many prominent Lancastrian nobles were killed during the battle or executed. Queen Margaret was completely broken in spirit after her son's death and she was taken captive by William Stanley at the end of the battle.
Henry died of melancholy on hearing news of the Battle of Tewkesbury and his son's death. It is widely suspected, however, that Edward IV, who was re-crowned the morning following Henry's death, had in fact ordered his murder. Edward's victory was followed by 14 years of Yorkist rule over England.
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