Lancastrian Archer, The Retinue of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, The Battle of Bosworth Field, 1485, The Wars of the Roses—single figure

THE WARS OF THE ROSES 1455-1487
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic wars for the throne of England.  They were fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet, the houses of Lancaster and York.  They were fought in several sporadic episodes between 1455 and 1487, although there was related fighting before and after this period.  The conflict resulted from social and financial troubles that followed the Hundred Years' War, combined with the mental infirmity and weak rule of Henry VI, which revived interest in the alternative claim to the throne of Richard, Duke of York.

The final victory went to a claimant of the Lancastrian party, Henry Tudor, who defeated the last Yorkistking, Richard III, at the Battle of Bosworth Field.  After assuming the throne as Henry VII, Henry Tudor married Elizabeth of York, the eldest daughter and heiress of Edward IV, thereby uniting the two claims. The House of Tudor ruled England and Wales until 1603.

THE BATTLE OF BOSWORTH FIELD, 1485
The Battle of Bosworth (or Bosworth Field) was the last significant battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the Houses of Lancaster and York that raged across England in the latter half of the15th century.  Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians.  Their leader Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, by his victory became the first English monarch of the Tudor dynasty.  His opponent, Richard III, the last king of the House of York, was killed in the battle.  Historians considerBosworth Field to mark the end of the Plantagenet dynasty, making it a defining moment of English and Welsh history.

Liveries and Badges

By the time of the Wars Of The Roses, badges were of considerable importance.  These along with the Livery Colours were closely associated with what was then known as Livery and Retaining (Bastard Feudalism).

The badges were rarely worn by their owners, for they were marks of ownership.  They were, however, worn by his servants, house-hold men, retainers, and probably temporarily by the adherents to his cause.

So great and extensive was the use of these badges, that they were far more generally employed than the coat of arms.  For where a man’s badge would be common knowledge and bear some repute throughout the kingdom, few people would know what his coat of arms looked like.

The Lancastrian Army
Having not fought in any battles, Henry Tudor was not regarded as much of a warrior.  Chroniclers of the period found him more interested in commerce and finance.  Having spent the first fourteen years of his life in Wales and the next fourteen in Brittany and France, Henry Tudor was therefore unfamiliar with the arts of war and a stranger to the land he was trying to conquer.  But he was known as being strong and decisive.

Henry recruited several experienced veterans on whom he could rely for military advice and the command of his armies, most notably John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford, who was Henry's principal military commander.

Henry Tudor decided to commit most of his small force into one single large division or “battle” and place it under the command of the Earl of Oxford.

Archers were armed with the Longbow, which were often made of yew imported from Italy or elm.  Sheafs of 24 arrows were carried in a bag.  Archers carried these tucked in their belt or stuck them in the ground for fast re-loading.

Info: Lancastrian Archer, The Retinue of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, The Battle of Bosworth Field, 1485, The Wars of the Roses—single figure