Fighting knights appear on stamps to mark 550 years since key conflict

Chain mail! Knights fighting bloody battles appear on stamps to mark 550 years since key conflict in the Wars of the Roses

  • Knights are seen attacking each other in furious battles on Royal Mail stamps depicting the Wars of the Roses
  • The illustrated commemorative stamps show some of the bloody clashes between rival camps over 30 years
  • King Henry VII married Elizabeth of York which united these two Houses together going into the Tudor era

Royal Mail has released a set of commemorative stamps to mark the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Tewkesbury.

They depict key battles in the Wars of the Roses between the House of Lancaster and the House of York as they fought for control of the English throne.

Each stamp depicts a vivid drawing of each key battle in the 15th century dispute between the two rival camps which lasted for 30 years.

King Richard III is seen with his men before his final charge in The Battle of Bosworth (depicted above). It was one of the last battles of the Wars of the Roses since Henry VII killed Richard III. King Henry VII married Elizabeth of York which united the two sides together going into the Tudor era

Supporters of the House of Lancaster are symoblised by a red rose and supporters of the House of York are symbolised by a white rose. 

The Battle of Tewkesbury took place in Gloucestershire on May 4th 1471 and was won by the House of York. The stamp shows Yorkist King Edward IV leading his men forward after an attack by soldiers supporting the House of Lancaster.  

Knights are seen attacking each other on another stamp at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460, won by the House of Lancaster.

One stamp shows soldiers doing battle in the show in the Battle of Towton in a chilly March 1461, won by the House of York amid a snowstorm.   

The Battle of Bosworth was one of the last battles of the Wars of the Roses since Henry VII from the House of Lancaster killed Richard III of the House of York.  King Richard III is depicted above on the same stamp.

The Yorkist King Edward IV is seen leading his men forward. Royal Mail released the set of commemorative stamps to mark the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Tewkesbury on May 4th 1471

Yorkist knight Sir Richard Herbert is seen fighting on the front line in the Battle of Edgecote Moor. The stamp set shows key battles in the Wars of the Roses between the House of Lancaster and the House of York as they fought for control of the English throne

But King Henry VII married Elizabeth of York which united these two sides together going into the Tudor era. Their eldest son, Henry, went on to become King and one of the most famous Tudors of all time, Henry VIII. 

The illustrations are by medieval and military artist Graham Turner and historian and researcher Dr David Grummitt also worked on the stamps for Royal Mail. 

David Gold from Royal Mail, said: ‘The Wars of the Roses fascinated both Shakespeare and historians alike. 

‘These striking illustrations bring to life a period of British history that was steeped in drama, betrayal and a quest for power that still enthrals today.’ 

The full set of eight stamps, available in a Presentation Pack, will sell for £12.40 and can be pre-ordered on the Royal Mail website.

Edward IV is depicted leading his army into battle during the Battle of Barnet in 1471. The battle was won by the House of York and Warwick the Kingmaker was killed

Knights are seen attacking each other at the Battle of Wakefield in 1460, won by the House of Lancaster. Other key battles include the Battle of Barnet, the Battle of Edgecote Moor and the Battle of Northampton

One of the stamps depicts Edward, the Earl of March, the future Edward IV, proclaiming his loyalty to Henry VI at the Battle of Northampton



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This stamp shows knights arriving into the city of St Albans (near London) amid the first battle there in May 1455, won by the House of York

One stamp shows soldiers doing battle in the show in the Battle of Towton in a chilly March 1461, won by the House of York amid a snowstorm

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