Stoke 1487: The Last Battle of the Wars of the Roses

An in-depth look at a critical battle of the Wars of the Roses, which decisively ended the Yorkist cause and ensured the Tudor dominance that followed.

The Battle of Stoke is popularly considered to be the last battle of the Wars of the Roses. Less than two years previously, King Henry VII had been crowned on the battlefield following his victory over Richard III at Bosworth. Henry soon took steps to secure his crown, and made certain to keep control of any potential rivals. Despite these efforts, a plot soon emerged against his rule, which culminated in the crowning of a rival king in Ireland. Launching an invasion of England, the rebels had a number of early successes but failed to secure widespread support for their cause. Moving south, they met the hastily assembled but more numerous army of Henry VII outside the village of East Stoke, four miles south of Newark.

With stunning artwork and detailed maps, this expertly written title offers in-depth coverage of the battle that secured the new Tudor dynasty’s hold on the throne. It is one of the least well documented conflicts of the period, but remains highly interesting and significant, not only as the final decisive action in the bloody Wars of the Roses, but also due to the nature of the soldiers present on the battlefield. This book explores the role these various factions played and how that contributed to the final victory.

Dickon Whitewood has long held a passion for medieval history and the practice of warfare and has an MA in Medieval & Renaissance Studies from University College London. He is currently employed as a Research Assistant on the Norwich Castle: Gateway to Medieval England project.

Graham Turner is a leading historical artist, specializing in the medieval period. He has illustrated numerous titles for Osprey, covering a wide variety of subjects. Graham lives and works in Buckinghamshire, UK.