AQA · A-Level · History
Course version: 7042 · Version from Sept 2017
The outbreak of war: the first Battle of St Albans and the balance of…
Full specification wording
2B The Wars of the Roses, 1450–1499 – The origins of conflict, 1450–1459: The outbreak of war: the first Battle of St Albans and the balance of military power in 1455
The outbreak of armed conflict in 1455 marked a critical escalation in the Wars of the Roses, culminating in the First Battle of St Albans on 22 May.
Checked against the AQA 7042 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The outbreak of armed conflict in 1455 marked a critical escalation in the Wars of the Roses, culminating in the First Battle of St Albans on 22 May. Richard, Duke of York, alongside his Neville allies, commanded a larger, highly motivated force of around 3,000 men. In contrast, the Lancastrian royal army, led by Somerset and Henry VI, was smaller (around 2,000 men), caught unprepared and lacked cohesive leadership despite having the nominal authority of the Crown. The Yorkist victory, achieved through Warwick's flanking manoeuvre through the town's gardens, resulted in Somerset's death and York's reinstatement as Protector, fundamentally altering the military balance.
What earns the marks
- Identify the immediate causes of the First Battle of St Albans, including York's exclusion from power following Henry VI's recovery.
- Evaluate the significance of the deaths of key Lancastrian leaders (Somerset, Northumberland, Clifford) in creating blood feuds.
- Assess the political consequences of the battle, specifically York's second Protectorate and the capture of Henry VI.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the First Battle of St Albans (1455) with the Second Battle of St Albans (1461).
Put it right: Ensure you specify the 1455 battle where York was victorious and Somerset was killed.
Assuming the Lancastrians had a larger army because they represented the King.
Put it right by noting the Yorkists actually held the numerical advantage with around 3,000 men compared to the Lancastrian force of approximately 2,000.
Claiming the battle immediately started a continuous war.
Put it right: Clarify that it was followed by an 'uneasy peace' rather than uninterrupted military conflict.
Exam tips
- Use the deaths of Somerset, Northumberland and Clifford to explain the emergence of blood feuds that made future reconciliation impossible.
- When discussing the balance of power, contrast the nominal authority of the King's army with the practical tactical superiority and larger numbers of the Neville-Yorkist forces.
- Link the outbreak of war directly to the failure of the political system to resolve the York-Somerset rivalry peacefully.
Try the lesson
The start of the 2B The Wars of the Roses, 1450–1499 – The origins of conflict, 1450–1459: The outbreak of war: the first Battle of St Albans and the balance of military power in 1455 lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which of the following best describes the immediate shift in the balance of military and political power following the First Battle of St Albans in 1455?
Listen
The outbreak of armed conflict in 1455 marked a critical escalation in the Wars of the Roses, culminating in the First Battle of St Albans on 22 May. Richard, Duke of York, alongside his Neville allies, commanded a larger, highly motivated force of around 3,000 men. In contrast, the Lancastrian royal army, led by Somerset and Henry VI, was smaller (around 2,000 men), caught unprepared and lacked cohesive leadership despite having the nominal authority of the Crown. The Yorkist victory, achieved through Warwick's flanking manoeuvre through the town's gardens, resulted in Somerset's death and York's reinstatement as Protector, fundamentally altering the military balance. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the immediate causes of the First Battle of St Albans, including York's exclusion from power following Henry VI's recovery. Analyse the balance of military power in 1455, contrasting the Yorkist Neville alliance's numerical advantage (approx. 3,000 men) and tactical readiness with the Lancastrian lack of preparation and smaller force (approx. 2,000 men). Evaluate the significance of the deaths of key Lancastrian leaders (Somerset, Northumberland, Clifford) in creating blood feuds. Assess the political consequences of the battle, specifically York's second Protectorate and the capture of Henry VI. A common slip: Assuming the Lancastrians had a larger army because they represented the King. Instead, noting the Yorkists actually held the numerical advantage with around 3,000 men compared to the Lancastrian force of approximately 2,000. Exam tip: Use the deaths of Somerset, Northumberland and Clifford to explain the emergence of blood feuds that made future reconciliation impossible.
Key words
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Military conflict and tactics
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Noble feuds and factionalism
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Royal authority and weakness
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The role of the nobility
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See every definition
- Military conflict and tactics
- Armed conflict at the First Battle of St Albans was shaped by the balance of military power, with Warwick's flanking manoeuvre through the town's gardens securing the Yorkist victory.
- Noble feuds and factionalism
- The deaths of key Lancastrian leaders created blood feuds that made future reconciliation impossible, while the York-Somerset rivalry showed the political system's failure to resolve disputes peacefully.
- Royal authority and weakness
- The Lancastrian royal army had the nominal authority of the Crown but lacked cohesive leadership, was caught unprepared and was smaller than the Yorkist force.
- The role of the nobility
- Richard, Duke of York, alongside his Neville allies, commanded a larger, highly motivated force, and his reinstatement as Protector fundamentally altered the military balance.
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