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Towton 1461: The Anatomy of a Battle
The definitive account of this medieval battle
Palm Sunday 1461 was the date of a ruthless and bitterly contested battle, fought by two massive medieval armies on an exposed Yorkshire plateau for the prize of the crown of England. This singular engagement of the Wars of the Roses has acquired the auspicious title of the longest, biggest and bloodiest battle ever fought on British soil. But what drove the contending armies of York and Lancaster to fight at Towton and what is the truth behind the legends about this terrible encounter, where contemporaries record that the rivers ran red with blood? Andrew Boardman answers these questions and many more in the new updated edition of his classic account of Towton which provides a fascinating insight into the reality of the battlefield.
Palm Sunday 1461 was the date of a ruthless and bitterly contested battle, fought by two massive medieval armies on an exposed Yorkshire plateau for the prize of the crown of England. This singular engagement of the Wars of the Roses has acquired the auspicious title of the longest, biggest and bloodiest battle ever fought on British soil. But what drove the contending armies of York and Lancaster to fight at Towton and what is the truth behind the legends about this terrible encounter, where contemporaries record that the rivers ran red with blood? Andrew Boardman answers these questions and many more in the new updated edition of his classic account of Towton which provides a fascinating insight into the reality of the battlefield.
288 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 22, 2024
Reading the book in conjuction with "walking the ground" i.e. visiting the battlefield and the Battlefield Trail, gives the whole story an extra resonance. Although I already knew a bit about the battle from other works, 'Towton 1461' gives a lot of context, background information and a riviting, well-researched account of what happened on Palm Sunday, 29 March 1461.
August 29, 2024
It WAS a Bloody Battle
A little while ago I finished A.W. Boardman's well researched book ( 4th ed., 2022) of what is said to be the bloodiest battle in Britain. (And it most certainly was).
The forerunners of this well documented battle were the encounters at Wakefield, Mortimers Cross, and the second battle of St. Albans.
The encounter which took place at Ferrybridge, prior to Towton, is highly relevant as it casts light on the later outcome of the battle.
However, the author begins with the origins of what lead to Towton on Palm Sunday: what originally sat in motion the long row of clashes between Henry IV and ( the later) Edward IV?
Mr. Boardman brings into focus two themes: a military strategy and he 0bserves a very fine balance when working with the numerous sources to the battle itself.
A book with a horrendous contents but highly readable.
pol/DK-3700 Rønne
A little while ago I finished A.W. Boardman's well researched book ( 4th ed., 2022) of what is said to be the bloodiest battle in Britain. (And it most certainly was).
The forerunners of this well documented battle were the encounters at Wakefield, Mortimers Cross, and the second battle of St. Albans.
The encounter which took place at Ferrybridge, prior to Towton, is highly relevant as it casts light on the later outcome of the battle.
However, the author begins with the origins of what lead to Towton on Palm Sunday: what originally sat in motion the long row of clashes between Henry IV and ( the later) Edward IV?
Mr. Boardman brings into focus two themes: a military strategy and he 0bserves a very fine balance when working with the numerous sources to the battle itself.
A book with a horrendous contents but highly readable.
pol/DK-3700 Rønne
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews