Spencer, Dan The Castle in the Wars of the Roses

The Wars of the Roses is one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods in medieval history. Much has been written about the leading personalities, bitter dynastic rivalries, political intrigues, and the rapid change of fortune on the battlefields of England and Wales. However, there is one aspect that has been often overlooked, the role of castles in the conflict. Dan Spencer's original study traces their use from the outbreak of civil war in the reign of Henry VI in the 1450s to the triumph of Henry VII some thirty years later. Using a wide range of narrative, architectural, financial and administrative sources, he sheds new light on the place of castles within the conflict, demonstrating their importance as strategic and logistical centers, bases for marshaling troops, and as fortresses. Dan Spencer's book provides a fascinating contribution to the literature on the Wars of the Roses and to the study of siege warfare in the Middle Ages.

Dan Spencer's study traces their use from the outbreak of civil war in the reign of Henry VI in the 1450s to the triumph of Henry VII some 30 years later. Drawing on a wide range of narrative, architectural, financial and administrative sources, he sheds new light on the role of castles within the Wars of the Roses, showing their importance as strategic and logistical centres, bases for the gathering of troops and as fortresses. Dan Spencer's book makes a fascinating contribution to the literature on the Wars of the Roses and to the study of siege warfare in the Middle Ages.