For three decades between 1455 and 1487, the House of Lancaster and the House of York vied for control of the English throne.

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Why Were They Called the Wars of the Roses?

World History

F or three decades between 1455 and 1487, the House of Lancaster and the House of York vied for control of the English throne. Centuries later, a romanticized vision of the dynastic struggle continues to influence literature, film, and television, including George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series and its wildly popular TV adaptation. The question is: How exactly did this tumultuous period in English history come to be named after a beautiful and sweet-smelling flower?

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