Siege of the Tower of London (1460) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Siege of the Tower of London (1460) |
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| Part of the Wars of the Roses | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 House of York |
 House of Lancaster |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
The siege of the Tower of London happened during the Wars of the Roses. This was a time when two powerful families, the Lancasters and the Yorks, fought for control of England. In June 1460, some Yorkist leaders, who had fled to Calais after a failed uprising, came back to England. They landed at Sandwich and found many people in Kent and London supported them. These people were unhappy with King Henry VI's government. When the Yorkists entered London on July 2, large crowds cheered them on.
The Lancastrian soldiers inside the Tower of London, led by Lord Scales, started firing cannons and "wildfire" (a type of fire weapon) into the streets. This caused many deaths and injuries. Most of the Yorkist army then marched north to fight the King's army. But 2,000 men stayed behind with the Earl of Salisbury to surround the Tower. They got help from London's leaders and armed citizens. These citizens used large cannons called "bombards" to break down part of the Tower's walls. They also blocked the Tower so no supplies could get in.
On July 10, the Yorkists won the Battle of Northampton and captured King Henry. They treated him with respect for a while. On July 19, the soldiers in the Tower of London ran out of food and surrendered. Lord Scales tried to escape in disguise by boat. But he was recognized and killed by a crowd of people.
Contents
Why the War Started
King Henry VI of England, from the House of Lancaster, was not a strong ruler. He struggled to control the powerful nobles in his government and sometimes had periods of mental illness. In the 1440s, two important nobles, Richard, Duke of York and Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, began to argue. Both had claims to the throne if King Henry had no direct heir. York believed Somerset had poorly managed the Hundred Years War against France. He also felt unfairly left out of the King's council. York supported those who complained about lawlessness and unfair actions by the King's advisors.
In 1453, King Henry became very ill after England lost its last lands in France. York became the country's leader, called "Protector," for about a year. But when Henry got better, he gave power back to Somerset.
The First Battles
In 1455, York and his main supporters, the Nevilles, rebelled. The Nevilles included the Earl of Salisbury (York's brother-in-law) and Salisbury's son, the Earl of Warwick, who was later known as the "Kingmaker." Somerset and other King's supporters were killed at the First Battle of St Albans. After this battle, York said he was still loyal to the King and became Protector again.
However, King Henry's wife, Queen Margaret of Anjou, strongly disliked York. She worried York wanted to take the throne from her newborn son, Edward of Westminster. Also, the families of the nobles killed at Saint Albans remained angry with York and the Nevilles. Many people also disliked the Nevilles' wealth and power.
Fighting Breaks Out Again
In 1459, fighting started once more. York and the Nevilles gathered their armies at Ludlow. But they were greatly outnumbered by the Lancastrian army, which King Henry himself led. At the Battle of Ludford Bridge, some of York's soldiers lost hope and switched sides. York, his two oldest sons, and the Nevilles quickly left their army and ran away. The next day, the Yorkist army, without its leaders, surrendered to the King. The Lancastrian army then looted Ludlow, taking everything. Some of the King's soldiers also caused trouble for the citizens.
In November, a special meeting of Parliament was held at Coventry. Everyone there had to promise loyalty to the King, Queen, and Prince Edward. This Parliament then passed harsh laws against York and his supporters, taking away their lands and titles. These severe actions worried many nobles and towns that had tried to stay neutral. They now feared what the Lancastrians might do.
Meanwhile, York and his second son Edmund of Rutland sailed to Ireland. The Nevilles and York's eldest son Edward of March planned to go there too. But strong winds forced them to Devonshire. A supporter, Sir John Dynham, told them that the Duke of Somerset, who was supposed to take over Calais from Warwick, had not yet left. Dynham found a ship, allowing the Nevilles and March to reach Calais just hours before Somerset. Somerset landed nearby but could not capture Calais itself. The Lancastrians also failed to regain control of Ireland.
Warwick's Plans
The Lancastrians were trying to build an army and a fleet at Sandwich. Their goal was to send help to Somerset. On January 15, 1460, Dynham and Sir John Wenlock surprised them. They captured Earl Rivers, his wife, son, 300 soldiers, and several ships. All the captives and ships were taken back to Calais.
In March, Warwick sailed to Ireland to make plans with the Duke of York. The Lancastrians had another fleet ready at Sandwich, led by the Duke of Exeter. This fleet was meant to help Somerset. Exeter tried to stop Warwick's ships off Cornwall on his way back. But Exeter's sailors were not paid well and had little food. They refused to fight Warwick's ships.
Yorkists Prepare to Invade
The Yorkists got ready to invade Kent. First, they spread messages to gain support. They complained about lawlessness, unfair actions by Lancastrian officials, and the harsh laws passed the year before. As they had done for years, the Yorkists said they were loyal to the King. They claimed they only wanted to free him from his "bad advisors." However, they also suggested that Prince Edward was not the King's true son.
These messages gained a lot of support in Kent, where people had rebelled before. London merchants also supported them because trade was suffering. Exports of wool and cloth, and imports of wine, were much lower than before 1459. This was partly because the King's side tried to stop the Yorkists in Calais from getting money and supplies.
In early June 1460, Yorkists from Calais, led by Lord Fauconberg (Salisbury's younger brother), captured Sandwich again. This time, they held onto it. On June 26, Warwick, Salisbury, and March landed at Sandwich and marched to Canterbury. No one tried to stop them. The Lancastrian fleet had rebelled again. Faced with possible invasions from both Calais and Ireland, the King and his army stayed in the Midlands, near Coventry. Even the Duke of Buckingham, who was in charge of areas like Sandwich, was not there. He was with the King's army.
Yorkists Take London
The Yorkists marched through Dartford and Rochester towards London, gathering more and more people. The Archbishop of Canterbury and Francesco Coppini, a special messenger from the Pope, joined them from Canterbury. Coppini supported the Yorkists, which made their message even stronger. They also gained support from nobles nearby, like Viscount Bourchier and the Duke of Norfolk.
At first, London's leaders and council would not let the Yorkists into the city. But the merchants, many of whom strongly supported Warwick, convinced them to change their minds. Warwick had been in charge of Calais from 1455 to 1459. During that time, he had led his ships in attacks on Spanish and German ships. He did this partly to get money for his soldiers, but it also pleased the merchants by getting rid of their trade rivals.
As the Yorkists got close to London, the Lancastrian nobles in the city, including Lords Hungerford, Lovell, and de Vestri, and their families, took shelter in the Tower of London. The Duke of Exeter was officially in charge of the Tower, but he was away. So, Lord Scales was actually holding the Tower. On July 2, after the Yorkist leaders promised their soldiers would behave, London's city gates were opened. As the Yorkists crossed London Bridge, crowds rushed forward, and two men were accidentally killed. The Yorkist soldiers stayed for a short time in Smithfield.
Siege of the Tower of London
Lord Scales was a very loyal supporter of the House of Lancaster. He was also an experienced commander from the Hundred Years' War, known for being tough. As the Yorkists took over London, Scales began firing from the Tower into the nearby streets without caring who he hit. A record from that time said that "They that were within the Tower cast wildfire into the City, and shot in small guns, and burned and hurt men and women and children in the streets."
The day after entering London, the Yorkist leaders spoke at Saint Paul's cathedral. They promised again to respect the King. Two days later, Fauconberg left for the Midlands with 10,000 soldiers. Warwick and Edward of March followed him soon after.
Salisbury, Lord Cobham, and Wenlock stayed behind with 2,000 men to surround the Tower. They also had help from armed citizens who were very angry. Most men in the city who could afford it owned a padded leather jacket and a helmet. Many also had full armor, swords, daggers, and weapons like long poles with blades or longbows. Prominent citizens called Sheriffs led them. (Just two years before, in 1458, about 7,000 armed citizens had patrolled the city to prevent fights between nobles' groups.)
The city's council got several large cannons called "bombards" from a royal storage place. They set them up on the south bank of the River Thames, across from the Tower. Their firing broke down part of the Tower's outer walls. This also scared some of the noble families who had taken shelter inside. Lord Cobham, with some armed citizens, blocked the Tower from the city side. Sir John Wenlock, with more armed citizens led by a famous merchant named John Harowe, surrounded the Tower from the east. There were constant small fights between the soldiers in the Tower and those attacking it.
At one point, Scales and the Lancastrian nobles inside the Tower sent a letter to the city's council. They wanted to know why the council was fighting them. The council replied that Scales had started the fight by shooting into the city and harming people.
The Tower Surrenders
News arrived that on July 10, Warwick, March, and Fauconberg had defeated the King's army at the Battle of Northampton. Several Lancastrian nobles, including Buckingham, were dead. King Henry himself was now a prisoner of the Yorkists. On July 16, the Yorkist earls entered London with a big ceremony. King Henry stayed at the Bishop of London's palace.
By this time, the soldiers in the Tower were ready to give up. They were running out of food. There was no hope of anyone coming to help them. The noble ladies inside the Tower also begged them to surrender. Lord Hungerford finally surrendered the Tower on July 19. He was promised that his life and Scales's life would be spared.
However, Scales did not believe this promise. The next night, he tried to escape by boat to a safe place at Westminster Abbey. But a woman recognized him. His boat was surrounded by London boatmen, who pulled him out and killed him.
What Happened Next
Even though Lord Scales had attacked London, he was known as a hero from the Hundred Years War. Warwick said his killing was a sad event. Warwick and Edward of March even went to Scales's funeral. Scales's daughter later married Anthony Woodville, the son of Earl Rivers. Lord Hungerford was allowed to leave the country. Thomas Browne, who had tried to sneak food into the Tower during the siege, was later put to death.
The victorious Yorkists took over most of the government jobs. But they continued to rule in King Henry's name. The Duke of York did not arrive in England until late September. When he came to London on October 10, he tried to claim the throne for himself. This surprised and upset the other nobles. Even the Nevilles were not ready to support such a big step.
Eventually, York agreed to a deal called the Act of Accord. By this agreement, he was accepted as Henry's heir and allowed to continue leading the country as Protector. However, Queen Margaret and her son were still free. Many Lancastrian nobles were gathering armies in northern England. When the Duke of York marched north in December to fight them, he attacked them in an open battle. His army was defeated at the Battle of Wakefield, where York himself and Salisbury were killed.
Later, Queen Margaret defeated Warwick at the Second Battle of St Albans and got King Henry VI back. She threatened to take London with her army, which included many wild Scottish and border soldiers. But she changed her mind and went north. This was partly because many of her soldiers were leaving with their stolen goods. Also, London had closed its gates, and Edward, Earl of March, was marching to London after his victory at Mortimer's Cross. Warwick and Edward of March then re-entered the city. Edward was declared King on March 4, 1461. On March 29, 1461, he won a major victory at the Battle of Towton.
Images for kids
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The White Tower and part of the curtain wall, from the south bank of the Thames
