House of Lancaster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

English Royalty
House of Lancaster
Armorial of Plantagenet
Henry IV
Henry V
John, Duke of Bedford
Thomas, Duke of Clarence
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
Henry V
Henry VI
Henry VI
Edward, Princes of Wales

The House of Lancaster was a branch of the English royal House of Plantagenet, English kings. It was one of the opposing factions involved in the Wars of the Roses, an intermittent civil war which affected England and Wales during the 15th century. The House is named Lancaster, because its members were all descended from Edward III's son John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster; their symbol was a red rose.

The opponents of the House of Lancaster were the House of York. The rivalry between Lancaster and York, in the form of the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, has continued into the present day, on a more "friendly" basis. Most notably with the annual sporting competition between Lancaster University and the University of York, named The Roses Tournament.

The House of Tudor descends from the Lancasters by way of Margaret Beaufort, great granddaughter of John of Gaunt, who married Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond, and was the mother of Henry VII of England.

Kings of the House of Lancaster:

• Henry IV of England, r.1399-1413
• Henry V of England, r.1413-1422
• Henry VI of England, r.1422-1461 and 1470-1471

[edit] External links

• http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page51.asp - Official British Royal Site on the House of Lancaster

Listen to this article · (info)

This audio file was created from an article revision dated 2005-05-04, and may not reflect subsequent edits to the article. (Audio help)

More spoken articles