1455 The first battle of St.Albans.

1455 The First Battle of St Albans.May22nd, The First Battle of St Albans was the first battle of the Wars of the Roses and was fought in the town of St Albans 22 miles, north of London. Richard, Duke of York and his ally, Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, defeated the Lancastrians under Edmund, Duke of Somerset, who was killed. Richard Duke of York was also captured Henry VI and had himself appointed Constable of England. The Lancastrian army of 2,500 troops arrived at St Albans first, and proceeded to defend it by placing troops along the Tonman Ditch, and at the bars in Sopwell Lane, and Shropshire Lane.The 3,000 strong Yorkist army arrived and camped in Keyfield to the east. Lengthy negotiations ensued with heralds moving back and forth between the rival commanders. After several hours, Richard Duke of York, despairing of a peaceful solution, decided to attack. The bulk of Henry VI's forces were surprised by the speed of Richard Duke of York's attack; most of the army was expecting a peaceful resolution. (similar to the one at Blackheath in 1452) However, two frontal assaults down the narrow streets against the barricades made no headway and resulted in heavy casualties for the Yorkists. Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick took his reserve troops through an unguarded part of the town's defenses, through back lanes and gardens. Suddenly Richard Neville, Earl Of Warwick appeared in the Market Square, where the main body of Henry V1's troops were talking and resting.There is evidence they were not yet expecting to be involved in the fighting, as many were not even wearing their helmets. Richard Neville Earl of Warwick charged instantly with his force, routing the Lancastrians and killing Edmund the Duke of Somerset. Richard Neville Earl of Warwick then ordered his archers to shoot at the men around King Henry V1, killing several and injuring King Henry and Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke Buckingham. The Lancastrians manning the barricades realized the Yorkists had outflanked them, and fearing an attack from behind abandoned their positions and fled the town The First Battle of St Albans was relatively minor in military terms, but politically was complete victory for Richard Duke of York: he had captured King Henry V1 and returned himself to complete power;his rival Edmund Duke of Somerset was dead; and Richard Neville Earl of Warwick's arch-enemies;Henry Percy,2nd Earl of Northumberland and Lord de Clifford both fell during the rout. Several prominent Lancastrians were killed but their heirs remained at feud with Richard Duke of York although peace was temporarily restored,the Lancastrians were inspired by Queen Consort Margaret of Anjou, to contest Yorks influence.