Battle of Ludford Bridge

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Battle of Ludford Bridge
Part of the Wars of the Roses
Date 12 October 1459 Location Ludford Bridge in Shropshire, England Result Lancastrian victory
Belligerents
House of Lancaster	House of York
Commanders
Henry VI	Richard, Duke of York
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown

v • d • e Wars of the Roses 1st St Albans – Blore Heath – Ludford Bridge – Northampton – Wakefield – Mortimer's Cross – 2nd St Albans – Ferrybridge – Towton – Hedgeley Moor – Hexham – Edgecote Moor – Losecoat Field – Barnet – Tewkesbury – Bosworth Field – Stoke Field

The Battle of Ludford Bridge was the worst disaster suffered by the Yorkists during the early years of the Wars of the Roses.

After the victory at the Battle of Blore Heath on the Shropshire / Staffordshire border, the Yorkists marched towards Worcester. They quickly fell back to a fortified position at Ludford Bridge in Shropshire after encountering a much larger Lancastrian force.

On 12 October 1459, Sir Andrew Trollope, who commanded the Calais contingent, defected to the King when offered a pardon, bringing with him his men and much information on York's army and plans. York was outnumbered by more than three to one. That evening York, his two sons, along with Warwick and Salisbury fled to Calais and Ireland from a battle that could not be won. Finding themselves leaderless next morning, the Yorkists disbanded leaving the Lancastrian army free to plunder the pro-York town of Ludlow, which lay just over the bridge.

v • d • e Wars of the Roses Red Rose of Lancaster · White Rose of York Key figures Monarchs of England Henry VI · Edward IV · Edward V · Richard III · Henry VII Lancastrian Margaret of Anjou, Queen of England · Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland · Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland · Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick · Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset · Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset · Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset · George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence Yorkist Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York · Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick · Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury · John Neville, 1st Marquess of Montagu · William Neville, 1st Earl of Kent · Thomas Neville Battles Lancastrian victories Battle of Ludford Bridge · Battle of Wakefield · Second Battle of St Albans · Battle of Ferrybridge (Indecisive) · Battle of Edgecote Moor · Battle of Bosworth Field · Battle of Stoke Field Yorkist victories First Battle of St Albans · Battle of Blore Heath · Battle of Sandwich · Battle of Northampton · Battle of Mortimer's Cross · Battle of Ferrybridge (Indecisive) · Battle of Towton · Battle of Hedgeley Moor · Battle of Hexham · Battle of Lose-coat Field · Battle of Barnet · Battle of Tewkesbury See also Act of Accord · Percy-Neville feud · Issue of Edward III of England

Coordinates: 52°21′49.5″N 2°43′8″W / 52.36375°N 2.71889°W / 52.36375; -2.71889