Battle of Hexham in Its Place

The Battle of Hexham took place on 15th May 1464. Although not the bloodiest or best known of engagements, it was nonetheless a decisive event in the series of complex medieval conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses. This book sets the battle, along with that of Hedgeley Moor, in the wider context of the bitter struggle of which it was a part and sheds light on the social, constitutional, dynastic, and military matters of the time. The War in the North ended very shortly afterwards when Bamburgh Castle was finally taken following the only major artillery bombardment of the Wars of the Roses.The book has an informative 'battlefield tour' which takes you from Newcastle upon Tyne north to Berwick upon Tweed and then back south to Hexham via all of the most interesting places mentioned in the text, fully illustrated with contemporary photographs. Written by renowned local historian John Sadler with historical educationalist Alex Speirs, this is an important and fascinating addition to the library of books about Northumbrian History. It is filled with original line drawings, historical illustrations, and contemporary photographs.

Table of Contents:
Dramatis PersonaeThe major players in this historyGenealogical TablesThe Houses of Lancaster and YorkPart One: Being IntroductoryWars of the Roses * the purpose of this book.Part Two: The Wars of the Roses as HistoryThe Wars as perceived by contemporary monarchs and by historians from Tudor times until today.Part Three: The Art of War in the Fifteenth CenturyThe reality (rather than the romance) of late medieval/early modern warfare. Knights * weaponry * fortresses and sieges * naval architecture * battle strategies * liveries * the melee * injury * womenPart Four: The French Wars and the House of LancasterThe French Wars (The Hundred years War) as a cause of the Wars of the Roses. The rise of the House of Lancaster.Part Five: The Unquiet PeaceThe Percy v Neville feud * Decline of mental health of Henry VI and birth of his son * York becomes Protector * Battles of 1st St Albans, Blore Heath, Ludford Bridge, Northampton, Wakefield, 2nd St Albans, Mortimer's Cross and Towton * Edward Duke of York put forward as Edward IV by Warwick the Kingmaker. England has two kings.Part Six: The War in the NorthThe arena of war moves northwards into Northumberland * the Border Reivers * the castles of Northumberland * Queen Margaret in Scotland * Yorkists v Lancastrians in Northumberland * Queen Margaret in FrancePart Seven: Hedgeley Moor and Hexham 1464Edward IV attempts conciliation * magnanimity breeds contempt * Henry VI has 'court' in Bamburgh * Battle of Hedgeley Moor and the death of Ralph Percy * Henry VI at Bywell in Tynedale * the Battle of Hexham * executions in the Market Place * capitulation of castles of Alnwick and Dunstanburgh; siege bombardment of Bamburgh * end of War in the NorthPart Eight: The LegacyEdward IV marries Elizabeth Woodville * Warwick and Clarence * 'Lose-cote Field' * Edward IV flees to France * Re-adeption of Henry V1 * Battle of Barnet and the death of Warwick * Battle of Tewkesbury and death of Prince Edward * death of Henry VI in Tower * Death of Edward IV * Richard or Gloucester usurps the crown to become Richard III * Defeat of Richard at Bosworth * Henry VII becomes the first Tudor king.Part Nine: The Battlefield TourSuggested journey embracing all of the major sites mentioned in this book.

About the Author :
John Sadler is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. A military historian working in mid-Northumberland, he is married with two teenage daughters. He has published extensively on the border wars and the border reivers and his military history of the Wars of the Roses will be published by Longmans in 2008. Visit www.johnsadler.netAlex Speirs read Archaeology at Liverpool University before entering museum education, working in a number of venues across the north east of England for several years. She now works as a freelance museum educationalist, passionate about sharing her love of history with other people. This is her first formal attempt to do this using the written word.