The first Battle of St Albans occurred on the 22nd of May 1455, during the Wars of the Roses between the Duke of York and King Henry VI, at St Albans where the king's forces awaited the Duke of York and his forces who were marching against them. The King had with him the Dukes of Somerset and Buckingham, LordPembroke, LordNorthumberland and LordDevon and about 2000 men. The Lancastrians attempted to hold the town behind two barriers in Hollywell and St Peter's Streets against Yorkist attacks from the east. Two frontal attacks made no headway, but Warwick infiltrated his troops through an unguarded part of the town's defence spreading out took both barricades in the flank. The whole action lasted only half an hour and no more than 150 Lancastrians were killed; but the battle cost the lives of a number of senior officers including Somerset, Northumberland and Clifford killed; Buckingham's son died of wounds and Buckingham himself was wounded. Research Battle of St Albans
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Warfare
Research Battle of St Albans
