The Battle of Blore Heath

by Ben Johnson

During the 15th century Wars of the Roses, in the struggle for power between the rival houses of Lancaster and York, an army of 5,000 Yorkists under the command of the Earl of Salisbury were intercepted whilst marching south to join forces with Duke of York.

The newly recruited 10,000 strong Lancastrian force under the command of Lord Audley advanced, but were decimated as they crossed marshy ground.

Click here for a battlefield map.

Key Facts:

Date: 23rd September, 1459

War: Wars of the Roses

Location: Near Market Drayton, Shropshire

Belligerents: Lancastrians and Yorkists

Victors: Yorkists

Numbers: Lancastrians 10,000, Yorkists 5,000

Casualties: Lancastrians 2,000, Yorkists 1,000

Commanders: James Tuchet, the 5th Baron Audley (Lancastrians), Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury (Yorkists)

More Battles in the Wars of the Roses

The First Battle of St Albans 22 May, 1455
Battle of Blore Heath 23 September, 1459
Battle of Northampton (1460) 10 July, 1460
The Second Battle of St Albans 17 February, 1461
Battle of Towton 29 March, 1461
Battle of Barnet 14 April, 1471
Battle of Tewkesbury 4 May, 1471
Battle of Bosworth Field 22 August, 1485
Battle of Stoke Field 16 June, 1487
Background to the Wars of the Roses

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