Fatal colours : the battle of Towton, 1461 ; [England's most brutal battle

Gripping account of the Wars of the Roses battle of Towton - the most brutal day in English history. Palm Sunday, 1461: the battle of Towton and its immediate aftermath was the day that the greatest proportion of living Englishmen ever died in one day and in one place. However, the brutal reality of the most desperate day in medieval history is strangely forgotten. Fatal Colours marks the 550th anniversary of Towton and provides a fresh and lively interpretation of the battle and its pivotal place in the Wars of the Roses. It will be based on original documents and include new research. It places Towton in its full historical context, showing how the madness of a monarch and the collapse of his authority could lead to blood feud, barbarism and civil war. Fatal Colours grippingly describes the events leading up to the battle and introduces at the most pertinent points descriptions of the armies and their commanders; the different troops and weapons; the horrific conditions of the battle; and the different types of men who fought and died there. The narrative alternates between the action from the airless, listless and leaderless court of 1450 London to its culmination in blood-spattered snow and body-choked rivers at Towton, less than a dozen years later. With a substantive and sparkling introduction by David Starkey, Fatal Colours brings to vivid life one of the most doom-laden dates in English history.” British & Irish history: c 1000 to c 1500 "The Battle of Towton 1461 was unique in its ferocity and brutality, as the armies of two kings of England engaged with murderous weaponry and in appalling conditions to conclude the first War of the Roses. Variously described as the largest, longest and bloodiest battle on English soil, Towton was fought with little chance of escape and none of surrender. Yet, as if too ghastly to contemplate, the battle itself and the turbulent reign of Henry VI were neglected for centuries. Combining medieval sources and modern scholarship, George Goodwin expertly creates the backdrop of fifteenth-century England. From the death of Henry V, with his baby son's inheritance first of England, then of France, he chronicles the vicissitudes of the 100 Years War abroad and the vicious in-fighting at home. He brilliantly describes a decade of breakdown of both king and kingdom, as increasingly embittered factions struggle for supremacy that could only be secured after the carnage of Towton. Fatal Colours includes a cast of strong and compelling characters: a warrior Queen, a ruthless king-making Earl, even a Papal Legate who excommunicates an entire army. At its centre is the first full explanation for the crippling incapacity of Henry VI - founder of Eton and King's College, Cambridge - but forever child-like. Fatal Colours masterfully brings to life a vibrant and violent age."--Publisher's description A Gripping Account Of The Wars Of The Roses Battle Of Towton - The Most Brutal Day In English History. 'vivid, Humane And Superbly Researched' David Starkey 'the Story Has Never Been Told So Well Or So Excitingly' Desmond Seward The Battle Of Towton In 1461 Was Unique In Its Ferocity And Brutality, As The Armies Of Two Kings Of England Engaged With Murderous Weaponry And In Appalling Conditions To Conclude The First War Of The Roses. Variously Described As The Largest, Longest And Bloodiest Battle On English Soil, Towton Was Fought With Little Chance Of Escape And None Of Surrender. Fatal Colours Includes A Cast Of Strong And Compelling Characters: A Warrior Queen, A Ruthless King-making Earl, Even A Papal Legate Who Excommunicates An Entire Army. Combining Medieval Sources And Modern Scholarship, George Goodwin Colourfully Recreates The Atmosphere Of 15th Century England And Chronicles The Vicious In-fighting As The Increasingly Embittered Royal Factions Struggle For Supremacy. The Battle of Towton 1461 was unique in its ferocity and brutality, as the armies of two kings of England engaged with murderous weaponry and in appalling conditions to conclude the first War of the Roses. Variously described as the largest, longest and bloodiest battle on English soil, Towton was fought with little chance of escape and none of surrender. Yet, as if too ghastly to contemplate, the battle itself and the turbulent reign of Henry VI were neglected for centuries. Combining medieval sources and modern scholarship, George Goodwin expertly creates the backdrop of 15th-century England. From the death of Henry V, with his baby son's inheritance first of England, then of France, he chronicles the vicissitudes of the 100 Years War abroad and the vicious in-fighting at home. He brilliantly describes a decade of breakdown of both king and kingdom, as increasingly embittered factions struggle for supremacy that could only be secured after the carnage of Towton Introduction / by David Starkey -- Dramatis personae : -- England, 1422-1450 -- England, spring 1460 -- Prologue -- A step too far -- A great man's legacy : minority -- An absence of kingship : majority -- An absent-minded king -- A question of honour -- A queen transformed -- 'A Warwick' -- The sun in splendour -- A country at war : north vs south -- Towton; Palm Sunday 1461 -- In memoriam -- Dramatis personae : after Towton -- Wound man -- Family trees.