Page "History of England" Paragraph 68

When the Hundred Years ' War was lost in August 1453, Henry fell into a period of mental breakdown that lasted until Christmas 1454.

With his inability to control the feuding nobles, civil war began in 1455.

The conflicts are known as the Wars of the Roses ( 1455 – 1485 ), and although the fighting was very sporadic and small, there was a general breakdown in the authority and power of the Crown.

Henry's cousin, who deposed him in 1461 and became Edward IV, went a little way to restoring this power.

Edward defeated the Lancastrians at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross.

He was briefly expelled from the throne in 1470-1471 when Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, brought Henry back to power.

Six months later, Edward defeated and killed Warwick in battle and reclaimed the throne.

Henry was imprisoned in the Tower of London and died there.