Wars of Roses

The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars (1455 -1487) between supporters of the rival houses of Lancaster and York. The war ended with the victory of the Lancastrian Henry Tudor, who founded the House of Tudor, killing in 1485 Richard III in the battle of Bosworth.
The coronation of Henry VII was the start of a strong monarchical system because the nobles saw their influence considerably reduced while the merchant class and the landowners obtained more participation in government affairs. The name "'Wars of the Roses" has its origins in the badges associated with the two royal houses, the 'White Rose of York and the Red Rose of Lancaster’.

Henry VII made a strong monarchy and reduced the power of the barons (he suppressed the great families’ custom of keeping bands of private soldiers). He tried to consolidate his position through: a treaty with France, giving him recognition, a trade treaty with the Netherlands,the dynastic marriage in 1501 between his son Arthur and the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon. The nobles lost influence. The use of gunpowder accelerated the end of the feudal system. He used the services of the middle class (the gentry or country gentlemen, the yeomen or minor landowners and the merchant) that became more important. He also laid the foundations of English naval power by increasing spending on shipbuilding in order to give England its own merchant fleet and extend its military power. Moreover, he tried to increase the importance of England in Europe and built the Royal Fleet, a fighting fleet.