Northampton: Decisive Blow in Wars of the Roses

Yorkist Landing at Sandwich

On 26th June 1460, the Yorkist Lords, the Earls of Salisbury, Warwick, and March, returned from Calais with 2,000 men and landed in Sandwich, Kent. The Earl of Warwick was able to recruit many more troops in that county, where he enjoyed much support.

Advance on London

The Yorkist rebels reached London on 2nd July, and by that time, they had gathered around 20,000 armed men for their cause.

On 5th July, Lord Fauconberg left London with the Yorkist vanguard of 10,000 troops, heading north, while the Lancastrian army, led by King Henry VI, was in Coventry, ready to face the invasion.

Arrival at Northampton

On 10th July 1460, the Yorkist army arrived at Northampton, where it came across the Lancastrian force, which had marched south and set up its encampment west of Delapré Abbey.

The Earl of Warwick had wanted to avoid battle and sent a request to the king to hear their grievances. However, the king and the Duke of Buckingham refused the request, stating: ‘The Earl of Warwick shall not come to the king’s presence; and if he comes, he shall die.’

Estimated positions of the Yorkist and Lancastrian armies at Northampton, 10 July 1460

Battle Formations

The Yorkist army of around 16,000 men was twice the size of the royal force and deployed in battle formation, with the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of March leading the vanguard, the Earl of Warwick the centre, and Lord Fauconberg the rearguard.
The Lancastrian army was led by the Duke of Buckingham on the left wing; the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Egremont and Lord Beaumont at the centre; and Lord Edmund Grey of Ruthyn on the right.

Battle and Betrayal

The Yorkist army attacked and was met by a volley of arrows, although the Lancastrian cannon could not fire because of the heavy rain. There was also treachery in the royal army, where Lord Grey commanded his troops to lay down their arms and assist the Yorkist soldiers over the barricades. It appears that Grey had been promised support over a property dispute he had with the Duke of Exeter.

Knightly Rivalries

A Lancastrian knight, Sir William Lucy, heard the sounds of battle and rushed to the aid of his king. However, he was spotted by his love rival, Sir John Stafford, a Yorkist knight who had been having an affair with Lucy’s wife, and took the opportunity to kill his rival. The following year, Stafford married Lucy’s widow but was killed at the Battle of Towton.

Victory and Casualties

The Yorkist army won the day, with around 300 Lancastrian troops killed, including the Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Beaumont and Lord Egremont, who were cut down by Warwick’s men.

Capture of the King

King Henry VI was found disconsolate in his tent by the Yorkist lords, who fell to their knees, begged for his forgiveness, and stated that they only wished to establish a just government. The king was escorted to Delapré Abbey, then to Northampton, and back to London.

Margaret of Anjou, on hearing of the Lancastrian defeat, fled to Harlech Castle in Wales, then to Scotland.

Return of the Duke of York

The Duke of York returned from exile in Ireland in September and attempted to make a claim on the throne in Parliament as a descendant of Lionel of Clarence, the second surviving son of King Edward III. However, the Lords and the Commons were not prepared to break their oaths of allegiance to the king. Consequently, on 25th October 1460, Parliament passed the Act of Accord, which named the Duke of York as heir to the throne.

Renewed Conflict

On hearing the news that her son Edward, Prince of Wales, had been disinherited, Margaret of Anjou became furious and gathered her forces in Scotland and the north, challenging the Duke of York by force of arms.