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The Castle in the Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses is one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods in medieval history. Much has been written about the leading personalities, bitter dynastic rivalries, political intrigues, and the rapid change of fortune on the battlefields of England and Wales. However, there is one aspect that has been often overlooked, the role of castles in the conflict.
Dan Spencer’s original study traces their use from the outbreak of civil war in the reign of Henry VI in the 1450s to the triumph of Henry VII some thirty years later. Using a wide range of narrative, architectural, financial and administrative sources, he sheds new light on the place of castles within the conflict, demonstrating their importance as strategic and logistical centres, bases for marshalling troops, and as fortresses
Dan Spencer’s book provides a fascinating contribution to the literature on the Wars of the Roses and to the study of siege warfare in the Middle Ages.
Dan Spencer’s original study traces their use from the outbreak of civil war in the reign of Henry VI in the 1450s to the triumph of Henry VII some thirty years later. Using a wide range of narrative, architectural, financial and administrative sources, he sheds new light on the place of castles within the conflict, demonstrating their importance as strategic and logistical centres, bases for marshalling troops, and as fortresses
Dan Spencer’s book provides a fascinating contribution to the literature on the Wars of the Roses and to the study of siege warfare in the Middle Ages.
264 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2023
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December 19, 2020Essential reading for anyone who has a serious interest in the Wars of the Roses (including academic historians and general readers). You can read my review here: https://davidsantiuste.com/2020/12/19...
September 4, 2020
The Wars of the Roses is one of the most fascinating periods of British history and I've been interested in it for a few years now. Despite my interest I had never really given much thought to how the castles were used during this time.
Dr Dan Spencer provides not only details of transfers of castles throughout the period but also how they were manned, details of artillery and even wages earned by those employed at the properties.
The castles were used for strategic purposes but also as rewards for loyalty, punishments for those deemed disloyal and possibly bribes to change someone's loyalty and ensure specific areas were protected from and prepared for rebellions. Those granted castles would be responsible for defending them often at their own cost but would also provide wealth and could often be a status symbol.
The battles of the Wars of the Roses are discussed but with reference to the importance of the castles nearby and sieges places on them. The occupancy of castles was an indication of where those loyal to York or Lancaster could flock to if required.
It is a really interesting read and provided me with a lot more knowledge about the Wars of the Roses, an area I am particularly interested in.
This is clearly the result of meticulous research and I would think would be of great interest to anyone interested in the Wars of the Roses.
Dr Dan Spencer provides not only details of transfers of castles throughout the period but also how they were manned, details of artillery and even wages earned by those employed at the properties.
The castles were used for strategic purposes but also as rewards for loyalty, punishments for those deemed disloyal and possibly bribes to change someone's loyalty and ensure specific areas were protected from and prepared for rebellions. Those granted castles would be responsible for defending them often at their own cost but would also provide wealth and could often be a status symbol.
The battles of the Wars of the Roses are discussed but with reference to the importance of the castles nearby and sieges places on them. The occupancy of castles was an indication of where those loyal to York or Lancaster could flock to if required.
It is a really interesting read and provided me with a lot more knowledge about the Wars of the Roses, an area I am particularly interested in.
This is clearly the result of meticulous research and I would think would be of great interest to anyone interested in the Wars of the Roses.
May 22, 2021
2.5
I mean, you'd think I'd learn: I've been burned by Pen and Sword books before. Don't they even have editors? I really shouldn't find grammatical and spelling mistakes in a published book.
The information is there, but there are huge sections where the narrative doesn't flow. If I wanted a list, I could compile one myself. At the end there, the author just seemed to want to be done with the book; that made two of us.
I mean, you'd think I'd learn: I've been burned by Pen and Sword books before. Don't they even have editors? I really shouldn't find grammatical and spelling mistakes in a published book.
The information is there, but there are huge sections where the narrative doesn't flow. If I wanted a list, I could compile one myself. At the end there, the author just seemed to want to be done with the book; that made two of us.
September 1, 2020
When one thinks about Medieval Europe and buildings, we tend to focus on the luxurious castles with their impenetrable walls. It is a rather glamorous image, but the problem is it is not accurate. Castles were used for defensive measures to protect the kingdom from attacks, either from outsiders or, in some cases, from within. Medieval warfare and castles go hand in hand, but one conflict where we tend to forget that castles play a significant role is in the civil war between the Yorks and the Lancasters, which we refer to today as The Wars of the Roses. Dr. Dan Spencer has scoured the resources that are available to find out the true role of these fortresses, both in England and in Wales, in this complex family drama that threw England into chaos. His research has been compiled in his latest book, “The Castle in the Wars of the Roses”.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. I enjoy studying the Wars of the Roses and when I heard that this book was coming out soon, I knew that I wanted to read it.
To understand this transition that castles and the roles they played during this tumultuous time undertook, Spencer takes us on a journey from the Norman Conquest to the 1450s. It was informative to see how castles transformed to fulfill different roles over distinct periods.
Spencer’s book shares some similarities with previous books that I have read about the Wars of the Roses in the fact that it does highlight the main battles and the main people who were vital in this conflict. However, Spencer’s book dives a bit deeper into the military aspects of the wars to show what makes this conflict so unique. What makes the Wars of the Roses so fascinating is that, compared to other famous medieval wars, castles were not the central focus for battles. Instead, castles during this period were used for garrisons, headquarters for military commanders, and as tools to show political favor for whoever was on the throne.
The true strength of this particular book is Spencer’s meticulous research and his scrupulous attention to detail. He was able to combine narrative, administrative, financial, military, and architectural records to create an illuminating manuscript that gives an extra layer of depth to the Wars of the Roses. It did take me a while to get used to all of the minor characters and the castles that I had never heard of before, but once I did, it was absorbing. We tend to focus on the major characters during the 15th century, but they would not be as legendary as they are today without the help of countless men who have been forgotten for centuries. The one problem that I did have with this book is a minor issue and that was when he said Henry VII married Elizabeth Woodville, not Elizabeth of York.
Overall, I found this book extremely enlightening. I thought that I knew quite a bit about the Wars of the Roses, but Spencer was able to surprise me with the amount of new information that he included in this tome. It opened a new aspect of this conflict that I never considered before. If you are someone who enjoys studying the Wars of the Roses and medieval castles, “The Castle in the Wars of the Roses” by Dan Spencer is a book that you should include in your collection.
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. I enjoy studying the Wars of the Roses and when I heard that this book was coming out soon, I knew that I wanted to read it.
To understand this transition that castles and the roles they played during this tumultuous time undertook, Spencer takes us on a journey from the Norman Conquest to the 1450s. It was informative to see how castles transformed to fulfill different roles over distinct periods.
Spencer’s book shares some similarities with previous books that I have read about the Wars of the Roses in the fact that it does highlight the main battles and the main people who were vital in this conflict. However, Spencer’s book dives a bit deeper into the military aspects of the wars to show what makes this conflict so unique. What makes the Wars of the Roses so fascinating is that, compared to other famous medieval wars, castles were not the central focus for battles. Instead, castles during this period were used for garrisons, headquarters for military commanders, and as tools to show political favor for whoever was on the throne.
The true strength of this particular book is Spencer’s meticulous research and his scrupulous attention to detail. He was able to combine narrative, administrative, financial, military, and architectural records to create an illuminating manuscript that gives an extra layer of depth to the Wars of the Roses. It did take me a while to get used to all of the minor characters and the castles that I had never heard of before, but once I did, it was absorbing. We tend to focus on the major characters during the 15th century, but they would not be as legendary as they are today without the help of countless men who have been forgotten for centuries. The one problem that I did have with this book is a minor issue and that was when he said Henry VII married Elizabeth Woodville, not Elizabeth of York.
Overall, I found this book extremely enlightening. I thought that I knew quite a bit about the Wars of the Roses, but Spencer was able to surprise me with the amount of new information that he included in this tome. It opened a new aspect of this conflict that I never considered before. If you are someone who enjoys studying the Wars of the Roses and medieval castles, “The Castle in the Wars of the Roses” by Dan Spencer is a book that you should include in your collection.
September 16, 2020
First of all, allow me to appreciate authors, publishers, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review the eARC of the book.
Secondly, want to point out the impossible amount of research this book required, the impossible number of historical characters, the huge number of castles, and geographical locations discussed in this book. The number of characters and castles reviews is the strongest aspect of the book, and, unfortunately for me, also the weakest aspect. Allow me to elaborate. The author is undoubtedly is an expert in the field of medieval history and military history, however, due to the number of people discussed, it was very easy to lose the silver lining during reading. Certainly, the author knew what was being discussed, but it seems that the author and publisher expect the reader to have some level of advancement in medieval history and historical characters, to appropriately appreciate this wonderful work of non-fiction.
The book perfectly represents all the functions castles were playing from the 11th to 16th centuries, the transition of functions with the transition of a political and social atmosphere, and the lifestyle of royals. aristocrats and military elite, from being a symbol of wealth to the representation of architectural taste to military operations headquarters to jail...
And most importantly, the military elite and royals using castles as operational and strategic tools, ways of representing powers, and keeping allies close.
The work is an amazing overview of medieval military history and as the name suggests, mainly the important role of castles, from symbolic to strategical roles and functions of castles during the War of Roses.
We were discussing so many characters at the same time, on the same page, we may see up to 10 different people discussed and it was very easy to completely confuse what we were discussing and who are we discussing at last.
We were jumping so much from person to person. I wish by the names we would have identifiers to which party a person belonged to, as (Y) for York to Lancaster(L). Knowing medieval England history, I am not export by any means, and it was very hard yo keep up with all the people discussed in the book.
Also, I wish we had more images ( considering this was an eARC and the final version may have better visualization), just to understand what exactly are we talking about.
Overall, the writing vas accessible, my personal issue was information amount and organization.
Considering the amount went into this work, I really feel bad for rating as a 4-star read, but I was really lost during the reading.
Secondly, want to point out the impossible amount of research this book required, the impossible number of historical characters, the huge number of castles, and geographical locations discussed in this book. The number of characters and castles reviews is the strongest aspect of the book, and, unfortunately for me, also the weakest aspect. Allow me to elaborate. The author is undoubtedly is an expert in the field of medieval history and military history, however, due to the number of people discussed, it was very easy to lose the silver lining during reading. Certainly, the author knew what was being discussed, but it seems that the author and publisher expect the reader to have some level of advancement in medieval history and historical characters, to appropriately appreciate this wonderful work of non-fiction.
The book perfectly represents all the functions castles were playing from the 11th to 16th centuries, the transition of functions with the transition of a political and social atmosphere, and the lifestyle of royals. aristocrats and military elite, from being a symbol of wealth to the representation of architectural taste to military operations headquarters to jail...
And most importantly, the military elite and royals using castles as operational and strategic tools, ways of representing powers, and keeping allies close.
The work is an amazing overview of medieval military history and as the name suggests, mainly the important role of castles, from symbolic to strategical roles and functions of castles during the War of Roses.
We were discussing so many characters at the same time, on the same page, we may see up to 10 different people discussed and it was very easy to completely confuse what we were discussing and who are we discussing at last.
We were jumping so much from person to person. I wish by the names we would have identifiers to which party a person belonged to, as (Y) for York to Lancaster(L). Knowing medieval England history, I am not export by any means, and it was very hard yo keep up with all the people discussed in the book.
Also, I wish we had more images ( considering this was an eARC and the final version may have better visualization), just to understand what exactly are we talking about.
Overall, the writing vas accessible, my personal issue was information amount and organization.
Considering the amount went into this work, I really feel bad for rating as a 4-star read, but I was really lost during the reading.
December 28, 2021
The Wars of the Roses were noteworthy for their colourful cast of characters competing for the English crown, savage battles decided by close combat, and crumbling codes of medieval chivalry when loyalty and treachery clashed. Castles seem to be conspicuously missing from the scene, treated as an anachronism by many contemporary and modern chroniclers. Dan Spencer is here to address that neglect and return castles to their rightful place in the Wars of the Roses tapestry.
Spencer begins with a helpful overview of castle development from William the Conqueror to the 15th Century, demonstrating their multifunctional purpose at the heart of English military, political, and economic life. He complements that with the background story leading into the Wars of the Roses in which besieged castles play their part. And that is how Spencer proceeds, weaving a mostly familiar narrative between unfamiliar locations and events. In following him, we visit castles the length and breadth of England and Wales – having lived in Northumberland, I found the stories of those castles particularly interesting. We also find out how sieges were conducted in war – thirty-six of them apparently – and how castles were built and modified in peace. Spencer concludes that castles played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, though in some places and times more than others. He adds appendices on notable characters, recorded and possible sieges, and recorded garrisons. It is also worth noting that Spencer includes an excellent set of notes to accompany his text and a proper bibliography.
In some ways, this is a straightforward retelling of the Wars of the Roses narrative. But it’s as if Spencer has travelled down a different road to get there. He has written an engaging text full of those little side stories that make the Wars of the Roses so interesting outside of the more obvious dynastic powerplays. A collection of diagrams and colour plates of castles helps his cause. Readers of the Wars of the Roses and castles will enjoy this book and appreciate Spencer’s contribution to both fields.
Spencer begins with a helpful overview of castle development from William the Conqueror to the 15th Century, demonstrating their multifunctional purpose at the heart of English military, political, and economic life. He complements that with the background story leading into the Wars of the Roses in which besieged castles play their part. And that is how Spencer proceeds, weaving a mostly familiar narrative between unfamiliar locations and events. In following him, we visit castles the length and breadth of England and Wales – having lived in Northumberland, I found the stories of those castles particularly interesting. We also find out how sieges were conducted in war – thirty-six of them apparently – and how castles were built and modified in peace. Spencer concludes that castles played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses, though in some places and times more than others. He adds appendices on notable characters, recorded and possible sieges, and recorded garrisons. It is also worth noting that Spencer includes an excellent set of notes to accompany his text and a proper bibliography.
In some ways, this is a straightforward retelling of the Wars of the Roses narrative. But it’s as if Spencer has travelled down a different road to get there. He has written an engaging text full of those little side stories that make the Wars of the Roses so interesting outside of the more obvious dynastic powerplays. A collection of diagrams and colour plates of castles helps his cause. Readers of the Wars of the Roses and castles will enjoy this book and appreciate Spencer’s contribution to both fields.
September 13, 2020
The Castle in the Wars of the Roses by Dan Spencer is both an accessible and interesting read that fills in some gaps in the usual history of the conflict(s).
While this is not a dry history book like you might remember from university, this also is not an attempt to embellish the information with a lot of fictionalized historical accounts to liven it up. It is one of those books that is more about the information than the entertainment value. That isn't to say it is not entertaining. It depends on what one is expecting. If you want to learn some things but mostly want to be entertained it may seem dry. If you want to learn some things and gain most of your entertainment from that, this is not at all dry. It sits comfortably between typical pop history and purely academic history, which is a spot I find appealing.
In addition to the focus on the castle this is also very much a history of the Wars of the Roses. The who and why, the when and where. With a few previously overlooked or rarely discussed instances Spencer adds to the scholarship on the topic as well as offering a different perspective on the period.
I recommend this to readers who might already have some knowledge of the period and want to add both information and perspective to what they know. I also think this could easily serve as an introduction to the period for those curious. Those who prefer history books that might try to recreate events through fictional dialogue or being overly narrative to make it more like a story, this may or may not work for you. Spencer's purpose, it seems, is to share the information in an interesting manner. How entertaining one finds that is a function of the reader, not the book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
While this is not a dry history book like you might remember from university, this also is not an attempt to embellish the information with a lot of fictionalized historical accounts to liven it up. It is one of those books that is more about the information than the entertainment value. That isn't to say it is not entertaining. It depends on what one is expecting. If you want to learn some things but mostly want to be entertained it may seem dry. If you want to learn some things and gain most of your entertainment from that, this is not at all dry. It sits comfortably between typical pop history and purely academic history, which is a spot I find appealing.
In addition to the focus on the castle this is also very much a history of the Wars of the Roses. The who and why, the when and where. With a few previously overlooked or rarely discussed instances Spencer adds to the scholarship on the topic as well as offering a different perspective on the period.
I recommend this to readers who might already have some knowledge of the period and want to add both information and perspective to what they know. I also think this could easily serve as an introduction to the period for those curious. Those who prefer history books that might try to recreate events through fictional dialogue or being overly narrative to make it more like a story, this may or may not work for you. Spencer's purpose, it seems, is to share the information in an interesting manner. How entertaining one finds that is a function of the reader, not the book.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
September 17, 2020
Dr. Dan Spencer's expert knowledge is astounding! This gripping book has really been eye opening and improved my knowledge of the Wars of the Roses and the roles castles played during the 1450s to 1480s.
Castles have fascinated me all my life so to learn more about them (I've visited most discussed in the book) is truly enlightening. The Wars of the Roses certainly is a fascinating period in history and the detailed explanations of who was involved and why is super helpful. Castles are much more beyond fairytales and acted as protection and defense from foreigners as well as fellow countrymen, show of power, to control travel routes and to serve militarily. They were designed to keep people in and out.
The structural descriptions were fascinating but not as in depth as expected. However, that did not detract from the book. The maps, illustrations and photographs made the words really pop.
Vivid and intelligent descriptions certainly filled in the blanks which I wasn't even aware were missing! Extremely well researched, this book is a must for those interested in castles and/or the medieval era including the Wars of the Roses. You will learn more about those involved than you expect!
My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this captivating book.
Castles have fascinated me all my life so to learn more about them (I've visited most discussed in the book) is truly enlightening. The Wars of the Roses certainly is a fascinating period in history and the detailed explanations of who was involved and why is super helpful. Castles are much more beyond fairytales and acted as protection and defense from foreigners as well as fellow countrymen, show of power, to control travel routes and to serve militarily. They were designed to keep people in and out.
The structural descriptions were fascinating but not as in depth as expected. However, that did not detract from the book. The maps, illustrations and photographs made the words really pop.
Vivid and intelligent descriptions certainly filled in the blanks which I wasn't even aware were missing! Extremely well researched, this book is a must for those interested in castles and/or the medieval era including the Wars of the Roses. You will learn more about those involved than you expect!
My sincere thank you to Pen & Sword Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this captivating book.
October 25, 2020
If you're looking for an excuse to learn something new while also refreshing your memory about the Wars of the Roses, look no further. But beginners beware: this book will not hold your hands throughout the Wars. You'll have to either bring your own expertise or find a companion book so you can tell all the Nevilles and Edwards and Richards apart.
What the author does provide, however, is a great overview of castles' architecture and purposes from the Norman conquest onward. Once we reach the actual Wars of the Roses, the book flows chronologically (which is a huge help) and, every few sections, we get a basic blueprint of the castles at issue. In a perfect world, these would be accompanied by a little more background information on each location and the relevant historical figures. Maybe even a map or two? But in the age of the internet, it's easy to find this kind of supplementary information somewhere.
Recommended if you want to learn about the practical aspects of castle warfare and strategy along with some interesting background on the Wars of the Roses.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What the author does provide, however, is a great overview of castles' architecture and purposes from the Norman conquest onward. Once we reach the actual Wars of the Roses, the book flows chronologically (which is a huge help) and, every few sections, we get a basic blueprint of the castles at issue. In a perfect world, these would be accompanied by a little more background information on each location and the relevant historical figures. Maybe even a map or two? But in the age of the internet, it's easy to find this kind of supplementary information somewhere.
Recommended if you want to learn about the practical aspects of castle warfare and strategy along with some interesting background on the Wars of the Roses.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for granting me a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2020
I received The Castle in the Wars of the Roses as part of a NetGalley giveaway
I'm not sure what I expected here, but what I got was a rather dry recounting of the Wars of the Roses with a special emphasis on battles taking place in or near castles, and/or the circumstances of those nobles who were given castles. I think I expected there to be more emphasis on the architecture, use, and social meaning of castles during this period rather than a straight and exclusive military history, which may very well be on me. Still, I'm not sure who exactly this book was for--the history of the Wars of the Roses that's recounted is done so in a very elementary way, as if the reader is unfamiliar with its circumstances and major players, but it goes into extraordinary detail--like, scholarly-level detail--when discussing individual battles. It made for a book that was alternately too easy and too difficult to read (at least, too difficult to keep my attention). I think if you're big into medieval military history, you may enjoy this, as it does explore castle-based battle of the period very deeply but glosses over a lot of the political and social workings.
I'm not sure what I expected here, but what I got was a rather dry recounting of the Wars of the Roses with a special emphasis on battles taking place in or near castles, and/or the circumstances of those nobles who were given castles. I think I expected there to be more emphasis on the architecture, use, and social meaning of castles during this period rather than a straight and exclusive military history, which may very well be on me. Still, I'm not sure who exactly this book was for--the history of the Wars of the Roses that's recounted is done so in a very elementary way, as if the reader is unfamiliar with its circumstances and major players, but it goes into extraordinary detail--like, scholarly-level detail--when discussing individual battles. It made for a book that was alternately too easy and too difficult to read (at least, too difficult to keep my attention). I think if you're big into medieval military history, you may enjoy this, as it does explore castle-based battle of the period very deeply but glosses over a lot of the political and social workings.
November 1, 2020
Based on the description of this book, I was expecting an analysis of the roles that castles played in the Wars of the Roses: their architecture, possible social roles in the community, how they handled sieges, etc. There is no doubt that "The Castle in the Wars of the Roses" is meticulously researched. But for me, the book was less about the role of the castle in particular and more a general overview of the wars with specific lists of battles and sieges that occurred near castles, as well as listing every person who won or lost control of those castles. As a history of the Wars of the Roses it is a decent, if dry, summary with no attempt to analyze people, politics, or social actions- just a presentation of known facts. The idea of the castle seemed almost secondary instead of the focus I was expecting, which was rather disappointing.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
January 30, 2021
The Castles in the War of the Roses was a different book to me. This is about the castle and surrounding castles during this period of time when these wars were going on. It gives you a view of the layout of castles and how they were go important in this period of time. You can tell so much research went into this book,I have read very many stories of this period of England's history but didn't realize about the castles as Dr. Dan Spencer wrote about. If your into history's of castles then we his is for you. A different kind of read for me but I found it really interesting ,more so than I thought I would be. Give this book a chance,I really think you will enjoy especially if your interested in this war,this time in history and the people who were all involved . Received from Net Gallery,I'm a little late with review ing this ingesting and informed book but I took my time in reading there's a lot to learn,well it was for me!
October 6, 2020
The role of the castle in the Wars of the Roses has been sadly neglected, according to Dr Dan Spencer. He studies how castles played a vital role in these long wars in this book. He explores the sieges, the non-military use of castles, and even disputes over castles among aristocratic families. I thought that he might list the actual castles, and then write about the part that each played, but he writes about the battles in chronological order. This is a very clearly written and well-researched book, but it is more of a textbook than a riveting read, because the writing is a bit dry. Pictures of the major castles would have been useful.
This is an interesting and useful book for lovers of medieval history.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This is an interesting and useful book for lovers of medieval history.
I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
December 25, 2021
Interesting new way to examine the War of the Roses through the lens of the part castles played in the war. People tend to think of castles being on the downswing at the end of the 15th century, but Spencer shows just how important they still were, even on the cusp of the end of the Middle Ages.
October 25, 2020
To me, this is a good analysis, a good description, and a detail of facts. A good selection of primary and secondary sources.
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