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The battle of Mortimer’s Cross was fought February 2nd 1461 and resulted in the decisive defeat of Owen and Edmund Tudor’s Welsh Lancastrian Army. Despite a slight numerical edge over the Lancastrian army, The York forces were initially hard pressed and were beginning to lose ground when Owen Tudor launched a flanking action on the right flank. Despite some initial success, Owen’s forces were soon routed resulting in Edmund’s position in the center becoming assaulted from the sides. The subsequent defeat for the Lancastrians resulted in their power in Wales becoming greatly weakened and provided the Yorkist cause a much needed boost of morale following the devastating defeat at Wakefield. The victory also granted Edward, Earl of March (OTL Edward IV) with some much needed prestige and legitimacy as leader of the Yorkist Cause. Edward’s army would take on increased importance when Warwick was defeated at the 2nd Battle of St. Albans and it was these same armies that eventually marched on London and helped Edward IV secure his throne.

What would be the long term and short effects of a swift Lancastrian victory in the War of the Roses? Would the various Yorkist Lords seek to continue the struggle or would 3 successive and decisive defeats effectively neuter Yorkist Resistance. How would government operate and develop under Margaret of Anjou and Henry Beaufort? Would they seek a foreign war in Ireland or Scotland as a way to “unify” the English Lord? Would this shorter War of the Roses inevitable result in a future Dynastic Civil War?
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