The War of the Roses, and The English Civil War

Visit Micklegate Bar and explore the wonders of this great struggle between the house of Lancaster (claiming descent from Edward III's 4th son) and house of York (claiming descent from his 3rd son). See just how misleading the term of the Wars is, since neither the Lancastrian red rose nor Yorkist white ever actually uniquely identified the houses; and in the 30 years from 1455 only about 60 weeks of active campaigning took place. Many 16th-century propagandists depicted the Tudor dynasty as restoring peace and prosperity after Yorkist usurpation.

Charles I always held the City of York in high regard and in 1640 he had his headquarters in York during a war against the Scots. In 1642 when Civil War broke out Charles once again came to York and Micklegate Bar played a vital role in the defence of the Royalist city. On July 2nd 1644 it was the scene of the tragic return of the defeated Royalist Army and on the 16th the Royalist army marched out of the city in order to surrender.