The First Battle of St. Albans (Revealing History

by Andrew W. Boardman

'I saw a man fall with his brains beaten out, another with his throat cut, and a third with a stab wound to his chest, while the whole street was strewn with corpses' - Abbot John Whethamstede, eyewitness to the battle fought on the streets of St Albans on 22 May 1455. Contrary to popular opinion, the first battle of St Albans was an extremely significant event in England's medieval history. Not only did it mark the vacillating beginning of the Wars of the Roses, but it also proclaimed the start of an intense family blood feud which fuelled the wars over many succeeding generations to come. Indeed, the great family vendetta pursued by the Neville's and Percy's in the second half of the fifteenth century was instigated in the streets of St Albans. What prompted Richard of York to take up arms in the first place? What remains of the medieval town today? Where did the main action take place? Andrew Boardman answers these tantalising questions and discusses other misinterpreted theories about the first battle of St a battle of the Wars of the Roses where the streets ran red with blood.

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

Reviews

[Mark Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written book, original source quotes were alittle distracting but a good book.