# First Battle of St Albans (1455)

URL: https://english-history.com/timeline/1455-first-battle-of-st-albans
Categories: battle, main-event

The Duke of York's forces defeated Lancastrian supporters and captured Henry VI. Within the broader Medieval Kingdoms period, the English, Scottish and Welsh polities were reshaped by conquest, parliamentary development, dynastic conflict, plague and long wars with France. This event is placed at 22 May 1455 in the chronology so it can be read alongside the political, military, social and cultural changes around it. The battle is conventionally treated as the opening of the Wars of the Roses.

## Why it matters
The battle is conventionally treated as the opening of the Wars of the Roses.

Ruler at the time: [Henry VI](https://english-history.com/rulers/henry-vi)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia topic lookup — First Battle of St Albans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=First+Battle+of+St+Albans&go=Go)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — First Battle of St Albans](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=First+Battle+of+St+Albans)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of British history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_British_history_%281000%E2%80%931499%29)
- [UK Parliament — Living Heritage](https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/)