Battle of Towton - 29 March 1461

Question 1

What date was the battle of Towton?

Answer 1

29 March 1461

Question 2

Who were the key participants in this battle?

Answer 2

Norfolk’s army
Edward of York
Duke of Somerset
Henry Holland (Duke of Exeter)
Yorkist/Lancastrian archers
Lord Fauconberg
Andrew Trollope

Question 3

What was the approximate force of each side?

Answer 3

Yorkist force - 25,000
Lancastrian force - 30,000

Question 4

What weather conditions meant that Norfolk’s forces would be delayed in joining up with the rest of the Yorkist forces?

Answer 4

Snow and strong winds

Question 5

What did Lord Fauconberg order all Yorkist archers to do?

Answer 5

Step forward and unleash their arrows at the Lancastrian forces

Question 6

How did weather conditions benefit the Lacastrian forces?

Answer 6

With the wind behind them, Yorkist missiles travelled farther than usual

Question 7

Why was the Lancastrian response to the Yorkist archers ineffective?

Answer 7

Because they had wind blowing in their face

Question 8

What was the Lamcastrain response to the Yorkist archers?

Answer 8

They had Lancastrain archers fire until they used up most of their arrows

Question 9

What did the Lancastrians move from their position to do?

Answer 9

Engage the Yorkists in close combat

Question 10

What did the Yorkists do in response to the Lancastrian attempt to engage with them on close combat?

Answer 10

Shot a few more volleys before retreating behind their ranks

Question 11

What did Lord Fauconberg order his forces to do once the Lancastrians had stopped shooting their arrows?

Answer 11

Step forward again and shoot as the plucked Lancastrian arrows off the ground

Question 12

Which flank did Edward of York have to take charge of?

Answer 12

The Yorkist left flank

Question 13

Why did Edward of York have to take charge of the Yorkist left flank?

Answer 13

Because they had attempted to flee

Question 14

Why had the Yorkist left-flank attempted to flee the battle?

Answer 14

The were being attacked by the horsemen from Castle Hill, mentioned by Waurin.

Question 15

How long did fighting continue for before Norfolk’d forced had arrived?

Answer 15

3 hours

Question 16

What relevamce did Norfolk’s forces play?

Answer 16

They launched a surprise attack on the Lancastrian left flank

Question 17

What did many Lancastrians remove from themselves in the attempt to run away faster?

Answer 17

Armour

Question 18

What happened as a result of the Lancastrians removing their armour?

Answer 18

They were cut down from behind

Question 19

Who was killed as a result of this battle?

Answer 19

Andrew Trollope

Question 20

How was Andrew Trollope killed in this battle?

Answer 20

Due to substantial bounties on his head

Question 21

What did Lancastrian soldiers attempt to cross in the hope to flee to saftey?

Answer 21

The river

Question 22

What happened to some of the Lancastrian soldiers attempting to cross the river to flee to saftey?

Answer 22

They were dragged down by the currents and drowned

Question 23

How did the Yorkist archers take advantage of the Lancastrians struggling to get across the river?

Answer 23

They rode to a high vantage point and shot at them

Question 24

Who won the Battle of Towton?

Answer 24

The Yorkist forces