The Wars of the Roses are one of the most turbulent times in our history. Its events affected not just England but Wales, parts of Ireland and Scotland too, in addition to other nations overseas. And while it is true that women did not fight in armies in the wars, there is evidence that they did take up arms to protect their homes, support the opposing side or even lash out in vengeance. Here are stories of courageous women who found themselves at the centre of violence - and fought back- during the fifteenth century Wars of the Roses.
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| Photo by Lance Reis on Unsplash, cropped |
Elizabeth Blount
When Richard III learned that the castle of Hammes was under Lancastrian command, he sent troops to besiege it to return it to the crown. Sir James Blount was the constable of the castle, which had recently imprisoned John de Vere Earl of Oxford, a well-known supporter of the Lancastrian cause and also of Henry Tudor in Brittany. John convinced James to join him, and the two fled to Henry, leaving Elizabeth in charge of the castle. Before he left, 'because he lefte his wife in the castle, did fumishe the same with a good garison of menne before his departure'. It was up to Elizabeth to command them. She held out valiantly, and when news of the siege reached the exiles, de Vere returned with troops to help her defend it. A negotiation with the royal forces was made, and Elizabeth was allowed to leave the castle. Elizabeth's actions have left a trace in the official papers of the realm, with Richard III later granting her a pardon. Her name appears at the top of a list of her soldiers. Find out more about Elizabeth.
Margaret Paston
Margaret found one of her properties surrounded by troops in a land dispute of 1469. The Duke of Norfolk claimed ownership of the Paston's Caister Castle and set out to seize it by force. Margaret wrote to her eldest son, who was in London trying to petition Edward IV for help. Her younger son was helping his mother and servants defend the castle. Margaret had manned sieges before, at their family home of Gresham in 1448 and also at their homes at Drayton and Hellesdon. Her letter to her husband from the conflict at Gresham is one of the most well-known of the period, asking him to send her crossbows and windlasses for the defence of the castle and adding, practically, that the family also needed sugar, almonds and material for the children's clothing. Learn more about Margaret.
Alice Knyvett
In 1461 Alice's husband and son were away from their home in Buckenham Castle, in Norfolk. Edward IV took this as the perfect opportunity to seize the castle into royal hands. Sending a group of men to take the castle and 'arrest and imprison any that resist', Alice remained defiant. She gathered together some household servants and a veteran soldier from her village community. Commissioners reported to Edward that they saw Alice standing in a tower armed with 'slings, paveisis, faggots, timber and other armaments of war' with around fifty supporters. Shouting from across the moat, with the drawbridge pulled up, she yelled to the men to leave, telling them 'if ye begin to break the peace or make any war to get the place of me I shall defend me', adding that her husband had charged her to keep the property in his absence should any attempt on it be made. Learn more about Alice.
Ellen Gethin
A woman of legend, but also a real survivor of the events of the conflict. Ellen was born in Wales, and following the death of her father, lived with her brother David near Radnorshire on the family estates. After a boozy night out at a tavern, her brother and cousin fought, and her brother was (probably accidentally) murdered. But Ellen vowed to get her revenge. At an archery competition, she appeared in disguise covered in a dark cloak, obscuring her identity. Lifting the bow and arrow, she turned and sprung the arrow into the heart of her cousin, John hir ab Philip Vychan. Ellen later married Thomas Vaughan of Hengest. Sadly he died fighting for the side of York in the Battle of Edgecote in 1469 and she became a widow. Find out more about Ellen's legend and life here.
Find out more about these women, and many more, in my book Forgotten Women of the Wars of the Roses, published by Pen and Sword.
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