Battle of Northampton

The battles of Northampton is held the July 10th 1460, in England, with Northampton, in the Northamptonshire, during the Guerre of the Two-Pinks.

Context

the cause of York seems lost after the disaster of Ludford Bridge. Some of the chiefs yorkists, Richard Neville father, known as Salisbury and wire, known as Warwick , as well as the future Edouard IV reach Calais the November 2nd 1459 where they find William Neville, Lord Fauconberg, while Richard of York and its son Edmund, count de Rutland, was withdrawn in Ireland.

In metropolis, the party of Lancaster hastens to exploit the escape of Yorkistes; the Count de Wiltshire is named Lord lieutenant d' Irlande in substitution of Richard of York, and Henri Beaufort, 3rd Duc of Somerset becomes captain of Calais . None of both occupies nevertheless its new functions since the Parliament of Ireland refuses the forfeiture of the duke of York and the doors of Calais remain obstinately closed with its new captain .

Lancastriens equip Henri Beaufort with a fleet to take Calais. In order to cross the Handle, a fleet is put in building site at Sandwich in the Kent. Hardly the construction of the ships completed, Warwick organizes a forwarding on Sandwich and steals them. In May, Warwick crosses the English Channel again and destroys the new fleet in the course of construction. It leaves in Sandwich his uncle William Neville with a small troop of Yorkistes like head of bridge for the invasion of England.

The battle

June 26th, Warwick , Salisbury and Edouard unload in Sandwich with 2.000 men-at-arms. The king and the queen are with Coventry with their small army. Warwick enters London on July 2nd with a troop of partisans estimated between 20.000 and 30.000 people.

The royal forces give an opinion with Northampton, on the grounds of the Abbaye of Delapré, leant with the river Nene and protected by a ditch filled with water and a palisade. The army is made up from 10.000 to 15.000 men, primarily of the men-at-arms, and also has field artillery.

Whereas it approaches, Warwick sends a representative to the king to speak on his behalf. The chief of the troops lancastriennes, the Duke of Buckingham, answers that the count de Warwick will not present himself in front of the king and if it does it, it will die . During time that Warwick approach of Northampton, one will prohibit to him twice by the access to the king. Once in position, it sends the following message: At 2 a.m., I will speak to the king or I will die .

At 2 a.m., Yorkistes are started. The men advance in columns and the strong rain which whips their face somewhat the obstacle. Whereas they arrive close to Lancastriens, Warwick must undergo a violent rain of arrows; on the other hand, the rain fortunately made inoperative the guns of Lancaster.

It is when Warwick reached the right side of Lancastriens, ordered by Lord Grey off Ruthin, that the félonie appears. Grey orders with its men to lower their weapons and makes it possible Yorkistes to easily reach the royal camp. The blow is fatal for Lancaster: the battle which follows lasts hardly 30 minutes. The defenders, incompetents to operate inside the fortifications, give up the battle field as soon as their lines are inserted by Yorkistes.

The duke of Buckingham, the count de Shrewsbury as well as the Lords Engremont and Beaumont die while trying to save Henri VI of Yorkistes which encircle its tent.

300 Lancastriens fell to the battle field, the king is captured and becomes again a puppet between the hands of the party of York.

Source

Translates article on anglophone Wikipédia.

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