Battle of Mortimer's Cross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Mortimer's Cross
Part of the Wars of the Roses
Date 2 February 1461 Location Kingsland in Herefordshire, England 52°15′32″N 2°50′17″W / 52.259°N 2.838°W / 52.259; -2.838 Result Yorkist victory
Belligerents
House of York	House of Lancaster
Commanders and leaders
Duke of York William Herbert Lord Ferrers of Chartley	Owen Tudor  Earl of Pembroke Earl of Wiltshire
Strength
5,000	unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown	4,000

The Battle of Mortimer's Cross was an important fight during the Wars of the Roses. This war was a series of battles for the English throne. It happened on February 2, 1461, near Kingsland, England.

The battle was fought between two main groups. One side was led by Edward, Earl of March. He was a leader of the House of York. The other side was led by Jasper Tudor and his father, Owen Tudor. They were loyal to King Henry VI and the House of Lancaster.

Why the Battle Happened

The Wars of the Roses were a big fight between two powerful families. These families were the House of York (who used a white rose as their symbol) and the House of Lancaster (who used a red rose). They both wanted to control the throne of England.

In 1460, Richard, Duke of York tried to become king. He was Edward of March's father. He made an agreement that he would become king after Henry VI died. This meant Henry's son, Prince Edward, would not inherit the throne.

Queen Margaret of Anjou, Henry VI's wife, was very upset by this. She started gathering armies to fight against the Yorkists. Richard of York went north to fight. But he was killed in a battle called the Battle of Wakefield on December 30, 1460.

After his father's death, Edward of March became the new Duke of York. He was only 18 years old. Edward needed to stop the Lancastrian armies from joining forces. One of these armies was led by Owen Tudor and his son Jasper. They were powerful in Wales. Edward moved his army of about 5,000 men north to Mortimer's Cross to block them.

The Three Suns

Just before the battle, something amazing happened. As the sun rose, people saw three suns in the sky! This is a natural event called a parhelion, or "sun dog." It happens when ice crystals in the air reflect sunlight.

At first, Edward's soldiers were scared by this sight. But Edward told them it was a sign from God. He said it meant God was on their side, like the Holy Trinity. This made his troops feel brave. Later, Edward used this image of "three suns" as his special symbol. He called it the "Sun in splendour."

This event was even written about by William Shakespeare in his play King Henry VI, Part 3.

How the Battle Was Fought

Edward's army had about 5,000 soldiers. Owen and Jasper Tudor's army was smaller. It included soldiers from Wales, France, and Ireland.

A local lord, Sir Richard Croft, advised Edward. He suggested putting archers at a crossroads. This would help stop the Lancastrian army.

The Lancastrians attacked first. One part of their army pushed back Edward's right side. But Edward's main group held strong against Jasper Tudor. The most important moment came when Owen Tudor tried to go around Edward's left side. His attack failed, and his soldiers ran away.

Once Owen Tudor's group was defeated, the rest of the Lancastrian army broke apart. Edward's side won the battle. Owen Tudor was captured and later executed.

What Happened Next

After the victory at Mortimer's Cross, Edward of March continued his fight. Meanwhile, another Yorkist leader, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, tried to stop Queen Margaret's army from reaching London. He lost a battle near St Albans.

Even though Margaret's army could have marched to London, they didn't. The people of London were afraid of the Lancastrian army. They had a reputation for stealing and causing trouble. Also, the news of Edward's victory at Mortimer's Cross made Margaret hesitate.

Edward of March and Warwick entered London on March 2. Soon after, Edward was declared King Edward IV. He secured his rule with another big victory at the Battle of Towton a few weeks later.

The Battle in Plays

The strange sight of the three suns was so famous that William Shakespeare included it in his play Henry VI, Part 3. He wrote:

Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun;

Not separated with the racking clouds,

But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky.

See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss,

As if they vow'd some league inviolable:

Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun.

In this the heaven figures some event.

Shakespeare did not describe the battle itself in his play, but he highlighted the amazing natural event that happened before it.