Battle of Towton

Timeline

1. 1461Battlefield of Towton · YorkshireAfter the Battle of Ferrybridge, the Lancastrian army formed up near Towton; the Yorkist Edward arrived with the main force. That day brought strong winds and a blizzard; the Lancastrian archers, shooting against the wind, had limited range, and the Yorkists seized the opportunity to launch an attack, plunging both sides into fierce hand-to-hand combat.
2. 1461Battlefield of Towton · YorkshireThe Duke of Norfolk arrived with Yorkist reinforcements, outflanking the Lancastrian lines; the Lancastrian army collapsed entirely, and fleeing troops were pursued and slaughtered at Towton, Cocksmoor, and elsewhere, with extremely heavy casualties. The balance of the Wars of the Roses tipped decisively toward the Yorkists.
3. 1461Yorkshire · YorkshireAfter the battle, many Lancastrian nobles were killed or captured and executed; Henry VI and Queen Margaret fled to Scotland; the Yorkists controlled northern England, and Edward subsequently entered London, creating the decisive conditions for his coronation.