The Battle of Towton | Was It Really the Bloodiest in English History?

The Battle of Towton in 1461 has long held the distinction of being the largest and bloodiest battle on English soil. A decisive moment in the Wars of the Roses, it saw the Yorkist Edward IV defeat his Lancastrian rival Henry VI and claim the English throne. But are claims that the number of deaths exceeded 28,000 exaggerated? What really happened when the fleeing Lancastrians found themselves trapped in the 'Bloody Meadow'?

In this two-part series, medieval historian Matt Lewis is turning battlefield detective to find out what really happened on that fateful day. In the first episode, he joins Chris Berendt, Chairman of the Towton Battlefield Society, to walk the site of the battle and learn about the key tactical decisions that swung the result. We use animated maps of the battlefield to show you exactly how the fighting unfolded.

In the second episode, Matt gets a taste of what the battle was like for an ordinary soldier. He gets up close with the real victims of Towton, analysing terrifying wounds on skeletons found in a mass grave on the battlefield, and handling some of the medieval weapons used on the day.

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[kingmaker]

Did a reenactment at Towton once and camped on the battlefield for the night as part of it. The place has a very strange, sad atmosphere around it.. even now.

[piper]

I've visited the Towton battlefield many times over the past 40 years. It always has a unique 'atmosphere'.

[gazzyoftheguard]

I re enacted this era of history, this and Tewkesbury are by far huge battles that so many don't know of today, fighting in armour in the summer when it's 30 Celsius is enough for me to realise how hard it must have been I can't imagine doing it in a snow storm

[samright]

I’m American but British history fascinates me. The wars of the Roses in Particular. It amazes me that Brits can go visit Battlefields and Buildings from the Middle Ages. The Oldest buildings I have visited was from the 18th Century.

[kathyastrom]

One of my 17th great grandfathers, Lionel de Welles, was killed at Towton. He was a Lancastrian, in fact, his wife at the time of the battle was the mother of Margaret Beaufort. His son and son-in-law led the Welles Uprising against Edward IV in 1470 and were executed for it.

[bremnersghost]

Worth mentioning that Long before The War of the Roses, The Towton Battlefield was a part of the Brigante's Frontline against the Romans and the Kingdom of Elmet's Frontline against the Anglo Saxons.

[vr]

I remember when The History Channel once told these. This is well done

[RstewDstew]

I'm sure both armies would've know the river was there, nearest water source and all that.. horses and men need a water source! Great video though.. a truly fascinating battle that never fails to spark the imagination of what it was like..to see all those men and horses, to have felt the cold sting of the wind blown snow in your face, then the arrows fly.. truly brutal and bloody. 563 years ago this March 29th. What incredible history we have, albeit fighting and bloodshed most of the time!

[Richard-fvrq]

Must of been absolutely horrific fighting in those times, hand to hand with bladed weapons. Big respect to both sides.

[unbearifiedbear]

I will *never* not be grateful I was born in the modern age! Imagine being "raised" away from your farm and family, from everything and everyone you know, to wield a pike in a frozen field against your neighbour, for a King that considers you peasant chattle 😪

Incredible stuff

[robbieg]

This was so well done. Thank you very much to all involved.

[wellingtonsboots]

Thank you. This is one of my favourite times in English history - thank you Dan Jones!! All battles must be terrifying, but Towton seems particularly brutal

[HarryFlashmanVC]

Fauconberg was the outstanding strategist for the Yorkists. John Neville was also a key commander. The Lancastrian commanders don't seem to have been as competent. And of course Edward IV was an outstanding warrior: 6'4 tall hugely skilled and at arms.

[biker]

I've cycled with friends to Towton Moor a few times, there is (or was) a monument to the battle by the roadside, and a small church where some of the dead leaders were taken. We stopped for lunch and a few beers at The Crooked Billet pub. As we pedalled over the hill Trevor (RIP) would shout out "Damn thee Towton Moor".

[alexmontgomery]

Fighting hand to hand with bladed weapons takes guts on a level that is hard to comprehend. I’ve seen demonstrations of such weapons on animal carcasses. The wounds that they inflict is horrifying.

[jimjoelliejack]

What’s amazing is the beck is a tiny little river today, I was working on its banks a few years back and my dog was playing in it, it was like a small ditch.

[Fred-rjer]

Local legend plus Edmund Bog I think, has it that the Yorkists losed their arrows with the snow behind them. Then the took 2 paces back and waited for the return volley. The Lancastrians, firing blindly into the snow, their arrows fell short and were of little use. Then the Yorkists stepped forward again, noted the angle of the Lancastrian arrows that had landed in the ground, and let lose another volley. Then again stepped back.

[alancoe]

Shortest answer to spare you: no. End of winter battle done in haste by Edward IV at speed through country already passed twice by the Lancastrians. They would have to bring fodder and ale and food, for the area was foraged out. Edward probably had no artillery, but logistics rule against the titanic battle that wasn't. Towton's size is legend based on one letter by the Kingmaker's bishop brother to a papal ⚖ that's it. It was a very important high casualty battle, but probably fewer troops than at Bosworth. Alway look at the time of year and the logistical restrictions thereof.
My thanks to Matt Lewis and Chris Barendt for challenging the standard exaggerated numbers.
The actual commander of Norfolk's troops was John Howard, Norfolk's cousin, who would eventually be made Duke of Norfolk by Richard III. Howard received a message from Edward to leave the baggage train behind and to race up the Great North Road as quickly as possible, so less of an accident than first appears. Thank you. Cheers to you all.

[josephcollins]

Wonderful! You look great, Matt, and this is your cup of tea; it suits you. Thanks so much for your scholarship.

[Only-Me-Again]

What attracts knights in shining armor even more than damsels in distress?



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