Battle of Northampton (1460) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Northampton
Part of the Wars of the Roses
Date 10 July 1460 Location Northampton, Northamptonshire, England Result Yorkist victory
Belligerents
House of York	House of Lancaster
Commanders and leaders
Earl of Warwick Earl of March Baron Fauconberg	Henry VI  Duke of Buckingham  † Earl of Shrewsbury  † Viscount Beaumont  † Baron Egremont  † Baron Grey (switched sides)
Strength
unknown	unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown	300 killed

The Battle of Northampton was a big fight during the Wars of the Roses. It happened on July 10, 1460, near the River Nene in Northamptonshire, England.

On one side were soldiers loyal to King Henry VI and his wife, Queen Margaret of Anjou. They were part of the House of Lancaster. On the other side was the army of Edward, Earl of March, and Warwick the Kingmaker. This battle was special because it was the first time cannons (artillery) were used in England.

Why the Battle Happened

Yorkist Leaders in Exile

After a battle called Ludford Bridge in 1459, the Yorkist army fell apart. Many of their leaders had to leave England. The Duke of York and his son, Edmund, went to Dublin.

Other important Yorkist leaders, like the Earl of Warwick and his father, the Earl of Salisbury, along with York's son Edward, Earl of March, went to Calais. Calais was a very important port controlled by England in France.

Lancastrians Try to Take Control

The Lancastrians, who supported King Henry VI, tried to take over the positions left empty by the Yorkists. They wanted to control Ireland and Calais. However, they failed. The people in Ireland supported the Duke of York. Also, the gates of Calais stayed closed to the new Lancastrian commander.

Raids on Sandwich

The Lancastrians decided to build a fleet of ships at Sandwich in Kent. They planned to use these ships to attack Calais. But the Earl of Warwick was smart. In January and May 1460, he raided Sandwich and stole their ships!

In June, the Yorkists attacked Sandwich again. They captured the port, along with soldiers and weapons. This attack secured a good base for the Yorkists to invade England.

The Battle Begins

Yorkist Army Marches

On June 26, Warwick, Salisbury, and Edward landed at Sandwich with 2,000 soldiers. King Henry VI and Queen Margaret were in Coventry with their smaller army.

Warwick marched his army to London. By July 2, he entered London with about 10,000 supporters.

Lancastrian Defenses

The King's forces set up their defenses at Northampton. They were in the grounds of Delapré Abbey, with the River Nene behind them. In front, they dug a water-filled ditch and put sharp stakes.

The defending army had about 5,000 soldiers. They also had some cannons, but the weather would soon make them useless.

Failed Negotiations

As Warwick's army got closer, he sent someone to talk to the King. But the Lancastrian commander, the Duke of Buckingham, refused. He said Warwick would not be allowed to see the King and would die if he tried.

Warwick was refused access two more times. Finally, he sent a message saying, "At 2 o'clock I will speak with the King or I will die."

The Fight and Treachery

At 2 o'clock, the Yorkists attacked. It was raining hard, and the wind blew the rain into their faces, making it difficult. As they got close, the Lancastrians shot many arrows. However, the rain made the Lancastrian cannons useless.

When Warwick's soldiers reached the left side of the Lancastrian army, something unexpected happened. The commander there, Lord Grey of Ruthin, betrayed his side. He told his men to put down their weapons and let the Yorkists into the camp.

Lord Grey had secretly agreed to switch sides if the Yorkists helped him in a land dispute. Warwick had even told his soldiers not to harm Lord Grey's men. After this betrayal, the battle lasted only about 30 minutes. The Lancastrian soldiers couldn't move well inside their defenses and ran away.

King Henry Captured

The Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lord Egremont, and Lord Beaumont all died trying to protect King Henry VI. About 300 other Lancastrian soldiers were killed.

King Henry VI was captured by an archer named Henry Mountfort.

After the Battle

Warwick, March, and Fauconberg found King Henry in his tent. They treated him with respect and took him to Delapré Abbey, then to Northampton, and finally to London. The soldiers guarding the Tower of London surrendered soon after.

Images for kids

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  Ramsey's 1892 map of the Battle of Northampton

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  Estimated positions of the Yorkist and Lancastrian armies at Northampton, 10 July 1460

See also

In Spanish: Batalla de Northampton para niños