The correct spelling of the historical conflict is "Wars of the Roses." The word "wars" is spelled with a "w" and "s" at the end, and "roses" is spelled with an "e" and "s" at the end. The IPA phonetic transcription for "wars" is /wɔːrz/ and for "roses" is /ˈrəʊzɪz/. The name "Wars of the Roses" refers to the battles fought between the houses of Lancaster and York in England from 1455-1487, which are symbolized by the red and white roses.
The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil conflicts which took place in England between 1455 and 1487. This term refers to the power struggle between two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the House of Lancaster, symbolized by a red rose, and the House of York, symbolized by a white rose. This bitter dispute arose due to conflicting claims to the English throne, setting the stage for more than thirty years of political and military conflict.
At its core, the Wars of the Roses were a dynastic struggle, primarily fought by nobles and their armies. Factions supporting the Lancastrians and Yorkists fought in a series of battles, with the first significant confrontation being the Battle of St Albans in 1455. Over the years, several key clashes ensued, including the Battles of Towton, Barnet, and Bosworth, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Yorkists and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty under King Henry VII.
The Wars of the Roses left a lasting impact on English history and society. They contributed to a period of instability and political uncertainty, resulting in significant loss of life and property. The wars also severely weakened the power of the nobility, helped shape the emergence of a stronger centralized monarchy, and had a profound influence on the subsequent reigns of Tudor monarchs, notably Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
In Eng. hist., the long and bloody fueds between the houses of York and Lancaster for the possession of the Eng. crown-the white rose being the badge of the house of York, and the red rose that of the houes of Lancaster.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.