Battle of Mortimer's Cross
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Mortimer's Cross was fought on 2 February 1461 near Wigmore, Herefordshire
(between Leominster
and Leintwardine
, by the River Lugg
). It was part of the Wars of the Roses
.
Upon the death of the Duke of York
at Wakefield
the previous December, the Yorkists were led by his 18-year-old son Edward, Earl of March
(later Edward IV of England
). He sought to prevent Lancastrian forces from Wales, led by Owen Tudor
and his son Jasper
from joining up with the main body of Lancastrian forces. Edward had gathered troops from along the borders and there were also significant Welsh forces on the Yorkist side especially Sir William Herbert and his supporters.
The Yorkists were victorious, Jasper Tudor fled, while Owen Tudor was captured and executed and many other Welshmen were slain, possibly as many as 4,000 according to some accounts. The victory paved the way for Edward's crowning later in the year.
The battle is also remembered for the appearance of a complete sun dog
(also known as a 'parhelion') in the sky before the battle. The use of the Sun as a Yorkist symbol probably stems from this. William Shakespeare
described this phenomenon and its portentous symbolism in Act Two Scene One of Henry VI, Part 3
:
Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun;
Not separated with the racking clouds,
But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky.
See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss,
As if they vow'd some league inviolable:
Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun.
In this the heaven figures some event.
However, Shakespeare omits any mention of the following battle.
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
(between Leominster
Leominster
Leominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England, located approximately north of the city of Hereford and south of Ludlow, at...
and Leintwardine
Leintwardine
Leintwardine is a large village and civil parish in north Herefordshire, England, close to the border with Shropshire.- Roman Leintwardine :...
, by the River Lugg
River Lugg
The River Lugg , rises near Llangynllo, Powys. It flows through the border town of Presteigne, Wales then through Herefordshire, England, including the town of Leominster, south of which it is met by a tributary, the River Arrow, then to a confluence with the River Wye, which it joins at Mordiford,...
). It was part of the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
.
Upon the death of the Duke of York
Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York
Richard Plantagenêt, 3rd Duke of York, 6th Earl of March, 4th Earl of Cambridge, and 7th Earl of Ulster, conventionally called Richard of York was a leading English magnate, great-grandson of King Edward III...
at Wakefield
Battle of Wakefield
The Battle of Wakefield took place at Sandal Magna near Wakefield, in West Yorkshire in Northern England, on 30 December 1460. It was a major battle of the Wars of the Roses...
the previous December, the Yorkists were led by his 18-year-old son Edward, Earl of March
Earl of March
The title The Earl of March has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of England. The title derived from the "marches" or boundaries between England and either Wales or Scotland , and was held by several great feudal families which owned lands in those border...
(later Edward IV of England
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
). He sought to prevent Lancastrian forces from Wales, led by Owen Tudor
Owen Tudor
Sir Owen Meredith Tudor was a Welsh soldier and courtier, descended from a daughter of the Welsh prince Rhys ap Gruffudd, "Lord Rhys". However, Owen Tudor is particularly remembered for his role in founding England's Tudor dynasty – including his relationship with, and probable secret marriage to,...
and his son Jasper
Jasper Tudor, 1st Duke of Bedford
Jasper Tudor, 1st Duke of Bedford, 1st Earl of Pembroke, KG was the uncle of King Henry VII of England and the architect of his successful conquest of England and Wales in 1485...
from joining up with the main body of Lancastrian forces. Edward had gathered troops from along the borders and there were also significant Welsh forces on the Yorkist side especially Sir William Herbert and his supporters.
The Yorkists were victorious, Jasper Tudor fled, while Owen Tudor was captured and executed and many other Welshmen were slain, possibly as many as 4,000 according to some accounts. The victory paved the way for Edward's crowning later in the year.
The battle is also remembered for the appearance of a complete sun dog
Sun dog
A sun dog or sundog, scientific name parhelion ; , also called a mock sun or a phantom sun, is an atmospheric phenomenon that creates bright spots of light in the sky, often on a luminous ring or halo on either side of the sun.Sundogs may appear as a colored patch of light to the left or right of...
(also known as a 'parhelion') in the sky before the battle. The use of the Sun as a Yorkist symbol probably stems from this. William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
described this phenomenon and its portentous symbolism in Act Two Scene One of Henry VI, Part 3
Henry VI, part 3
Henry VI, Part 3 or The Third Part of Henry the Sixt is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1591, and set during the lifetime of King Henry VI of England...
:
Three glorious suns, each one a perfect sun;
Not separated with the racking clouds,
But sever'd in a pale clear-shining sky.
See, see! they join, embrace, and seem to kiss,
As if they vow'd some league inviolable:
Now are they but one lamp, one light, one sun.
In this the heaven figures some event.
However, Shakespeare omits any mention of the following battle.