The Battle of Barnet ‘War of the Roses’, 550 years ago saw a decisive victory for the house of York. King Edward IV with est 10-12,000 men would face the Lancastrian Army, est 15,000, including the ‘KingMaker’ Earl of Warwick. Painting- Graham Turner, Studio 88

With Henry VI imprisoned in the Tower of London, his army would become engaged in battle at around 5am in the morning, a fog lay across the battlefield. The fog caused the two army’s not to see each other an line up with flanks open. The Lancastrians took advantage of this first

Oxford broke into the flank of Hastings Yorkist men who fled back towards Barnet with Oxford giving chase. King Edward facing Montagu in the centre, was turning into a bitter battle with neither getting the upper hand at this time.

On the eastern side, Richard Duke of Gloucester found the luck that Oxford had found against Hastings. Richard broke into the flank of the Duke of Exeter’s men. Montagu sent reserves across to steady this which worked. The two army’s now lined up opposite each other face on.

The Earl of Oxford returning after his pursuit of Hastings men came through the fog back to the battlefield, disorientated and no doubt confused on positions. They now approached towards the rear of the John Neville, Marquess of Montagu formation and line.

As they broke through the fog, word went up that King Edwards men had out flanked Montagu’s line. This was in fact a miss identification of Oxfords standards believing it to be Edwards ‘Sun in Splendour’. Montagu turned and fired volleys of arrows at Oxfords men.

John de Vere, Earl of Oxford and his men cried treachery; They began to strike back before a withdraw from the Battle. By now Montagu’s men were in disarray. The Earl of Warwick seeing this looked to escape from the battle fearing the worst.

Having allied themselves with the Earl of Oxford to help promote their own local interests, the Paston family had no alternative but follow him during the crisis of 1471, and Sir John Paston and his brother John, found themselves in the Earl's retinue at the battle.

Henry Holland, Duke of Exeter was then killed by men of the Duke of Gloucester. Word spread and this added to the struggling Montagu. He then was also killed possibly even by Lancastrian men. His brother the Earl of Warwick had seen this happen.

Edward sensed victory and sent in his reserves to finish the battle. He also despatched his men to capture the Earl of Warwick alive. He may have been of more value as a prisoner in the future! However he was killed in the rout of the Lancastrians.

The Battle of Barnet ended with estimates of between 1000 to 4000 deaths. The Neville brothers, Richard Earl of Warwick and John Marquess of Montagu body’s were displayed at St Paul’s Cathedral for three days.

A decisive engagement in the War of the Roses and the house of York. This also paved the way for a certain Duke to lay a claim to the throne in the coming two years and the road to the Bosworth was well underway.

If anybody is interested in the painting in this thread they are by Graham Turner, Studio 88. Please give there site a visit. https://www.studio88.co.uk/acatalog/Pastons_at_Barnet_painting.html