The Battle of Losecoat Field, also known as the Battle of Empingham, took place on March 12, 1470. It was a significant battle during the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought in England during the 15th century. The battle was fought between the forces of King Edward IV and a rebel army led by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, and his ally, the Lancastrian Queen Margaret of Anjou.
The Cause of the Battle
The cause of the battle can be traced back to the year 1469 when King Edward IV's brother, George, Duke of Clarence, switched sides and joined Warwick's rebellion against the king. Warwick, also known as the Kingmaker, was a powerful noble who had helped Edward IV ascend to the throne in 1461 but became disillusioned with the king's policies and turned against him. Warwick's rebellion was backed by the Lancastrians, who sought to put King Henry VI back on the throne.
After a series of battles and political maneuverings, Warwick succeeded in capturing King Edward IV and putting him in captivity. However, the king managed to escape and fled to Flanders, where he raised an army and planned to return to England and reclaim his throne.
The Battle
King Edward IV's army landed in Yorkshire in early March 1470 and marched southwards to meet Warwick's forces, which were stationed near the town of Stamford. The two armies met on a field near Empingham, which later came to be known as Losecoat Field.
The battle began with an exchange of arrows and artillery fire, but soon turned into a hand-to-hand combat. Despite being outnumbered, King Edward IV's army managed to break through Warwick's center and cause a rout. The Lancastrians, who were stationed on the flanks, saw their allies fleeing and decided to withdraw as well. The battle lasted only a few hours, and the casualties were relatively low, with only a few hundred men killed or wounded.
The Aftermath
The Battle of Losecoat Field was a significant victory for King Edward IV, as it allowed him to reassert his authority and consolidate his power. Warwick and his ally, Queen Margaret of Anjou, fled to France, where they formed an alliance and planned to invade England once again. They succeeded in raising an army and landed in Devon in September 1470, but their campaign was short-lived, and they were defeated in the Battle of Tewkesbury in May 1471.
The Battle of Losecoat Field marked the end of Warwick's rebellion and the beginning of a period of relative stability in England. King Edward IV ruled until his death in 1483, and his successors continued the Tudor dynasty until the 17th century.
Conclusion
The Battle of Losecoat Field was a significant event in English history and marked a turning point in the Wars of the Roses. It was a victory for King Edward IV and allowed him to reassert his authority and consolidate his power. The battle was relatively short and resulted in relatively low casualties, but its impact was significant. The battle marked the end of Warwick's rebellion and the beginning of a period of relative stability in England.
