What was the role of propaganda during the Wars of the Roses?

Propaganda played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, shaping public opinion and legitimising the claims of rival factions.

During the Wars of the Roses, which took place in England from 1455 to 1487, propaganda was a crucial tool used by both the House of Lancaster and the House of York to manipulate public sentiment and justify their respective claims to the throne. This period was marked by a power struggle between these two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet, and propaganda was used to sway the loyalties of the nobility, the gentry, and the common people.

The use of propaganda during this period was multifaceted. It included the manipulation of heraldic symbols, the commissioning of chronicles that presented biased accounts of events, and the use of sermons to disseminate political messages. For instance, the House of York used the symbol of the white rose, while the House of Lancaster used the red rose. These symbols were used to create a sense of identity and unity among the supporters of each house.

Chronicles and other written accounts were also commissioned by the rival houses to present their version of events. These accounts often portrayed the opposing side in a negative light, while glorifying their own actions and leaders. For example, the Yorkist chronicle 'The Arrival of Edward IV', written in the 1470s, presents a highly favourable account of the Yorkist king Edward IV, while vilifying his Lancastrian opponents.

Sermons were another important medium of propaganda. Clergy, who were often aligned with one faction or the other, used their sermons to spread political messages, often interpreting biblical passages in ways that supported their side's claim to the throne. For instance, during the reign of the Yorkist king Richard III, sermons were used to legitimise his controversial seizure of the throne by portraying it as a divine intervention against the supposedly illegitimate rule of his nephews.

In conclusion, propaganda was a key weapon in the Wars of the Roses, used by both sides to shape public opinion and legitimise their claims to the throne. Through the use of symbols, biased chronicles, and politically charged sermons, the rival houses of Lancaster and York sought to win the hearts and minds of the people, in their struggle for power.