Henry Roos facts for kids

Sir Henry Roos (died 1504) was an English knight. He was known as the Lord of West Grinstead. Sir Henry served as a leader at Roxburgh Castle in Scotland from 1458 to 1460. He also worked as the Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey in England during 1477 and 1483. Sir Henry first fought for the Lancastrian side in the War of the Roses, but he was later forgiven.

Sir Henry's Early Life and Roles

Sir Henry Roos was the oldest son of Robert Roos, who was the Lord of Moor End, and Anne Halsham. When his father passed away in 1448, Henry took over as the Keeper of Rockingham Forests. This meant he was in charge of managing these important royal forests.

In 1458, Henry was given a big job. He became the Constable of Roxburgh Castle in Scotland. A constable was like a military commander in charge of a castle. He held this position until 1460.

Fighting in the War of the Roses

Sir Henry Roos was involved in the War of the Roses. This was a long series of battles fought between two powerful English families, the House of Lancaster and the House of York. They were fighting to decide who would be the King of England.

Henry fought for King Henry VI and the House of Lancaster. He took part in several major battles:

• The Battle of Wakefield on December 30, 1460.
• The Battle of Mortimer's Cross on February 2, 1461.
• The Second Battle of St Albans on February 17, 1461.
• The Battle of Towton on March 29, 1461.

After the Battle of Towton, the Lancastrian army lost. Sir Henry had to escape to Scotland with Queen Margaret of Anjou. From Scotland, they traveled together to France.

Later Life and Forgiveness

Sir Henry Roos continued to fight for the Lancastrian cause. He was part of the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4, 1471. In this battle, the Lancastrian army was defeated again. After the battle, Henry found safety in Tewkesbury Abbey. Seeking "sanctuary" meant he was protected by the church from being captured or harmed.

Later, Sir Henry was pardoned. This means he was officially forgiven for fighting against the winning side. After being pardoned, he was appointed as the Sheriff of Sussex and Surrey. A sheriff was an important local official, like a chief law enforcement officer. He held this role in 1477 and again in 1483. In 1491, Henry also became a Member of Parliament for Sussex. This meant he represented the people of Sussex in the English government.

Sir Henry Roos passed away in 1504. He was buried in the Church of West Grinstead.

Family Life

Sir Henry Roos was married two times. His first wife was Margaret Berkeley, who was also known as Lady Powys. She died in 1481. Later, he married Maud. She had been married before to John Harbard and Richard Georges.