DBA Armies

This list covers Yorkist and Lancastrian armies of the English civil wars brought about by the incompetence of the unworldly Henry VI (and popularly known as the “Wars of the Roses”) from first St Albans until the battle of Bosworth in 1485, the largely-foreign rebel armies of Henry Tudor in 1485 and Lambert Simnel in 1487, and the Tudor royal armies of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Perkin Warbeck’s rebellion of 1495-7 failed because his Imperialist and French backers were busy fighting each other in Italy. Lightly-armoured billmen stiffened by dismounted men-at-arms in full plate were now as important as archers. Armies initially formed with a centre and two wings, all dismounted; but later as a vaward of the best troops, a main body with most of the rest, a rearward of the least reliable and sometimes an elite mounted reserve. Leaders initially dismounted to fight, but Richard III charged mounted at Bosworth. Henry Tudor wore full plate and rode a war horse, but tried to avoid personal combat and at Stoke stayed a mile to the rear, which makes Kn classification untenable. Of the 5,000 men in Tudor’s army at Bosworth, probably 4,000 were French and at least 1,800 of these were from the recently closed pike training camp at Pont d’Larche. Treachery was an important factor. Edward IV unwisely forgave too many enemies. Henry forgave nothing. References: Armies of the Middle Ages Vol 11. Heath, The Wars of the Roses A. Goodman, The Military Campaigns of the Wars of the Roses P.A Haigh. The Battle of Towton A.W. Boardman, Tewkesbury S. Goodchild, Richard Il and the Bosworth Campaign P. Hammond, Lambert Simnel and the Battle of Stoke M. Bennett, An Alternative History of Britain: The Wars of the Roses T. Venning, Army Royal C.G Cruikshank, Sun of York R. Welch (novel), The Traitors of Bosworth R. Farrington (novel); and for a competent dispelling of myth detailing all sources The Mystery of the Princes A. Williamson.