First Battle at St. Albans

Image: Assembly of re-enactors for the First Battle of St. Albans  http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_Battle_of_St_Albans_assembly.jpg  http://warsoftheroses.com/WRBattleShell.cfm?bid=1 OverviewFirst Saint Albans was the opening battle in the Wars of the Roses. Richard of York led a force of about 3,000 on a march toward London. Henry VI moved from London to intercept the Yorkist army. Henry halted his march in the town of Saint Albans and waited. Richard attacked and defeated Henry inflicting about 300 casualties. The Queen and her young son Edward fled into exile.
Key Points
Date of Battle:	May 22, 1455
Victor:	Yorkists
York Leadership:	Richard of York Richard Neville, earl of Warwick Richard Neville, earl of Salisbury
Lancaster Leadership:	King Henry VI Queen Margaret Edmund Beaufort, duke of Somerset Humphrey Stafford, duke of Buckingham
Size of forces:	Yorkists - 3,000 Lancastrians - 2,500
Notable deaths	Edmund Beaufort,duke of Somerset; Thomas de Clifford; Henry Percy, 2nd earl of Northumberland