How did the Wars of the Roses end with the Battle of Bosworth in 1485?

The Wars of the Roses ended with the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III, becoming King Henry VII.

The Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars for the throne of England, were fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the House of Lancaster, associated with a red rose, and the House of York, whose symbol was a white rose. The conflict spanned over three decades, from 1455 to 1485, and was marked by sporadic bouts of intense violence and political manoeuvring.

The Battle of Bosworth, fought on 22nd August 1485, was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses. Richard III, the last Yorkist king, was defeated and killed in the battle by the forces of Henry Tudor, who was of Lancastrian descent. Richard III's death marked the end of Plantagenet rule and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty.

Henry Tudor's victory was not just a military one, but also a political triumph. He had managed to unite the warring factions by marrying Elizabeth of York, thereby merging the houses of York and Lancaster. This marriage symbolised the end of the Wars of the Roses, as it brought together the two rival houses and their claims to the throne. Henry's reign as King Henry VII marked the start of a new era in English history, known as the Tudor period.

The Battle of Bosworth is often seen as the end of the Middle Ages in England. It marked a shift from the feudal system, which had been in decline for some time, to a more centralised form of government. This was largely due to Henry VII's policies, which aimed to reduce the power of the nobility and increase the power of the monarchy.

In conclusion, the Wars of the Roses ended with the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III, becoming King Henry VII. This marked the end of the Plantagenet rule and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty, bringing about significant changes in English society and government.