Battle of Mortimer's Cross

Battle of Mortimer's Cross

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Mortimer's Cross


caption=
partof=the Wars of the Roses
date=February 2, 1461
place= Wigmore in Herefordshire, England
result= Decisive Yorkist victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Edward, Earl of March
commander2=Owen Tudor†,
Jasper Tudor
strength1=Unknown
strength2=Unknown
casualties1=Unknown
casualties2=Unknown

The Battle of Mortimer's Cross was fought on February 2, 1461 near Wigmore, Herefordshire (between Leominster and Leintwardine, by the River Lugg). It was part of the Wars of the Roses.

Upon the death of the Duke of York at Wakefield the previous December, the Yorkists were led by his 18-year-old son Edward, Earl of March (later Edward IV of England). He sought to prevent Lancastrian forces from Wales, led by Owen Tudor and his son Jasper from joining up with the main body of Lancastrian forces. Edward had gathered troops from along the borders and there were also significant Welsh forces on the Yorkist side especially Sir William Herbert and his supporters.

The Yorkists were victorious, Jasper Tudor fled, while Owen Tudor was captured and executed and many other Welshmen were slain, possibly as many as 4000 according to some accounts. The victory paved the way for Edward's crowning later in the year.

The battle is also remembered for the appearance of a complete sun dog (also known as a 'parhelion') in the sky before the battle. The use of the Sun as a Yorkist symbol probably stems from this. William Shakespeare described this phenomenon and its portentous symbolism in Act Two Scene One of Henry VI, Part 3:

"Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun;
""Not separated with the racking clouds,
""But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky.
""See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss,
""As if they vow'd some league inviolable:
""Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun.
""In this the heaven figures some event.
"

However, Shakespeare omits any mention of the following battle.

External links

* [http://historymedren.about.com/library/prm/blthreesunsa.htm The Battle of the Three Suns: Mortimer's Cross]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mortimer's Cross — can refer to: Battle of Mortimer s Cross The title of a children s book by Joan Aiken This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led …   Wikipedia

  • Mortimer’s Cross, Battle of — (1461)    The Yorkist victory at the Battle of Mortimer’s Cross on 2 February 1461 boosted the confidence of Edward, earl of March (see Edward IV, King of England), then conducting his first independent command, and brightened the future of the… …   Encyclopedia of the Wars of the Roses

  • Battle of Towton — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Towton partof=the Wars of the Roses caption= date=29 March 1461 place= Near Towton in Yorkshire, England result= Decisive Yorkist victory combatant1= combatant2= commander1=Edward IV of England… …   Wikipedia

  • Second Battle of St Albans — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Second Battle of St Albans caption= partof=the Wars of the Roses date=February 17, 1461 place= St Albans in Hertfordshire, England result= Lancastrian indecisive victory combatant1= combatant2=… …   Wikipedia

  • Mortimer Wheeler — Born 10 September 1890 …   Wikipedia

  • Mortimer Jordan High School — is a public high school located in Kimberly, Alabama. It is a part of the Jefferson County Board of Education. The school was named after Captain Mortimer Harvie Jordan, a war hero who lost his life in World War I. He was a soldier, officer and… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Radcot Bridge — Radcot Bridge, Oxfordshire, England, was the scene of a battle (19 December 1387) between troops loyal to Richard II, led by court favourite Robert de Vere, and an army captained by Henry Bolingbroke, Earl of Derby. BackgroundThe previous year… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Stanhope Park — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Stanhope Park partof=First War of Scottish Independence caption= date=August 4, 1327 place=Stanhope Park, County Durham, England result=Scottish victory combatant1= combatant2= commander1=Sir James… …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Boroughbridge — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Boroughbridge partof= caption=Map of the battlefield. date=16 March 1322 place=Boroughbridge, Yorkshire result=Royal victory combatant1=Royal forces combatant2=Baronial forces commander1=Andrew Harclay …   Wikipedia

  • Battle of Bramham Moor — Infobox Military Conflict conflict=Battle of Bramham Moor partof=The Percy Rebellion date=19 February 1408 place=Bramham Moor, Yorkshire, England result=Royalist victory combatant1= Royalist forces combatant2=Percy Faction commander1=Sir Thomas… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”