Medieval, 15th Century History, Health and Medicine, Henry VII, Local History, Richard III, The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, Tudor

What might have been: The Sweating Sickness and the Representation of the County of Cornwall in Henry VII’s first Parliament of 1485-6

In today’s blog, Dr Hannes Kleineke, editor of our Commons 1461-1504 project, looks back to 1485, when a sudden epidemic impacted on the membership of Henry VII’s first parliament… By the time Henry VII overcame Richard III at the battle of Bosworth and claimed the English throne, changes of dynasty or even ruler followed an established pattern. Having successfully asserted a claim to the throne … Continue reading What might have been: The Sweating Sickness and the Representation of the County of Cornwall in Henry VII’s first Parliament of 1485-6

Hannes KleinekeMay 14, 2020October 3, 20242 Comments

The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Edward IV, Henry VI, Medieval, Military history

Was the battle of Towton as bloody as all that?

Today is the anniversary of the battle of Towton, a violent battle in 1461 which resulted in Edward IV claiming the throne from Henry VI. The battle is often thought to be the bloodiest ever fought on British soil, but is this really the case? Dr Simon Payling, Senior Research Fellow in our Commons 1461-1504 section explores… The battle of Towton on 29 March 1461 … Continue reading Was the battle of Towton as bloody as all that?

Simon PaylingMarch 29, 2020October 3, 20245 Comments

History of Parliament Trust, Conferences, Seminars and Events, Oral history

Review of the year 2019

The final year of the decade has been a busy one for the History of Parliament Trust. We’ve sent volumes to the publishers, been involved in regional and national engagement projects, started a YouTube channel and undergone many internal changes – here’s Sammy Sturgess with the highlights of 2019… During the final quarter of 2019 we’ve seen some significant changes to staffing at the History … Continue reading Review of the year 2019

History of ParliamentDecember 31, 2019October 22, 2024Leave a comment

Medieval, 15th Century History, Edward IV, Legal history, Richard II, The Commons in the Wars of the Roses

A turning-point in the Wars of the Roses: the attainders of the Coventry Parliament

In our latest blog Dr Simon Payling, Senior Research Fellow in our 1461-1504 project, discusses the short Lancastrian parliament of 1459 and an Act that would have a lasting impact in the Wars of the Roses… The brief Parliament, which met at Coventry between 20 November and 20 December, 1459, marked a determining moment in the Wars of the Roses. The Lancastrian regime, in the … Continue reading A turning-point in the Wars of the Roses: the attainders of the Coventry Parliament

Simon PaylingDecember 17, 2019October 22, 20245 Comments

The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Henry VI, Medieval, Parliamentary Life

Bats and Devils: Henry VI’s ‘seasonally-named’ parliaments

Rather appropriately for our Halloween blog offering, we hear from Dr Hannes Kleineke, editor of our House of Commons 1461-1504 project, on the fifteenth century Parliaments of Bats and Devils as part of our Named Parliaments series… The long reign of Henry VI was not short of high political drama, and so it is perhaps not surprising that is has also given us two of … Continue reading Bats and Devils: Henry VI’s ‘seasonally-named’ parliaments

Hannes KleinekeOctober 31, 2019October 22, 20244 Comments

The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Medieval, Military history

The battle of Ludford Bridge

Today on our new blog page The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, Dr Simon Payling, Senior Research Fellow for the Commons 1461-1504 project, details the Battle of Ludford Bridge which took place on 12 October 1459… In the autumn of 1459 years of uneasy truce between the factions of York and Lancaster ended in dramatic fashion. The Yorkist lords rose in rebellion, motivated either … Continue reading The battle of Ludford Bridge

Simon PaylingOctober 10, 2019October 22, 202410 Comments

Medieval, 15th Century History, Military history, Parliamentary Life

Medieval MP of the Month: John Howard, from the Battle of Castillon to the Battle of Bosworth

Our Medieval MP of the Month series continues with John Howard, one of the only two known soldiers to have been at the Battle of Castillon on this day in 1453. Here’s Dr Charles Moreton of our House of Commons 1422-1504 project with more… THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, … Continue reading Medieval MP of the Month: John Howard, from the Battle of Castillon to the Battle of Bosworth

History of ParliamentJuly 17, 2019October 17, 20242 Comments

Medieval, 15th Century History, Parliamentary Life

Medieval MP of the Month: George Ashby

For this month’s installment from our House of Commons 1422-1461 Section we hear from Dr Simon Payling about poet and long-time servant to the Lancastrians, George Ashby of Warwickshire… THE HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 1422-1461, edited by Linda Clark, is out now. For further details about the volumes, including purchasing information, visit the Cambridge University Press website, here. George Ashby, MP for Warwick in … Continue reading Medieval MP of the Month: George Ashby

Simon PaylingMay 16, 2019October 16, 2024Leave a comment

The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Medieval, Military history

After Agincourt: the life of Sir John Pennington

This past week we have been celebrating the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt (including the History of Parliament’s ‘A Band of Brothers’ booklet on Parliament and the battle). Dr Simon Payling, Senior Fellow of the Commons 1422-1504 section, explores what happened next for one Agincourt veteran during uncertain political times… Sir John Pennington (c.1393-1470) of Muncaster in Cumberland, from one of the richest … Continue reading After Agincourt: the life of Sir John Pennington

Simon PaylingOctober 29, 2015November 12, 2024Leave a comment

The History of Parliament

Articles and research from the History of Parliament Trust

Tag: Wars of the Roses