Mortimer’s Cross
February 2, 1461
Queen Margaret was not present at Wakefield, but accompanied the Lancastrian army on its destructive march south to St. Albans. Warwick arrived in London at the beginning of February. On learning of York’s death he appears to have made no effort to get in touch with the Earl of March who was then on the Welsh Marsh. But Edward, although only nineteen years old, had proven himself a capable soldier after defeating a Lancastrian force at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross.
Edward, Earl of March was at Shrewsbury with an army of about 10,000 men, raised in Wales and the Marches, when he received news of the death of his father and brother at Wakefield. He was also told that another Lancastrian army of about 8,000 men was marching out of South Wales behind him commanded by the Earl of Pembroke, the Earl of Wiltshire and Owen Tudor. Edward quickly headed south and deployed his army in three battles straddling the road from Hereford at Mortimer's Cross. The Lancastrians advanced from the south in three battles. The left under Wiltshire contained a large number of lightly armed Irish, Breton and French mercenaries and in the ensuing melee these troops were quickly routed. The Lancastrian centre and right wing was then outflanked and crushed on the banks of the River Lugg. Some 4,000 Lancastrians were killed, although Pembroke and Wiltshire escaped.
On the morning of the battle, through an unusual atmospheric condition, three suns were said to be visible. Edward took this as a propitious omen and after his victory added the sun to his banner.
Yorkists Lancastrians
James Baskerville
James Butler, Earl of Wiltshire, escaped
Sir Richard Croft
Hopkin Davy of Carmarthen
Sir Walter Devereaux
Thomas Fitzharry
John Dwnn
Owen ap Griffith, escaped
Lord FitzWater
Thomas ap Griffith, escaped
Lord Grey of Wilton
Rheinallt Gwynnedd of Harlech
Henry ap Griffith
David Lloyd, executed
Richard Hakluyt
Philip Mansel, escaped
Mr. Harper of Wellington
Griffth ap Nicholas, killed in battle
Sir William Hastings
Sir Thomas Perot of Haverfordwest, escaped
Richard Herbert
Lewis Powys of Powysland
Sir William Herbert of Raglan
Morgan ap Rhydderch, executed
Sir William Knylle
Hopkin ap Rhys of Gower, escaped
John Lingen
Lewis ap Rhys of Carmarthen
Sir John Lynell
Sir Harry Skydmore
John Milewater
James Skydmore
Thomas Monington
Sir John Skydmore, escaped
Walter Mytton
Sir William Skydmore
Edward Plantagenet, Earl of March
Sir John Throckmorton, executed
Sir Humphrey Stafford
Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, escaped
John Tuchet, Lord Audley
Owen Tudor, executed
William Thomas
Philip Vaughan
Sir Roger Vaughan
Thomas Vaughan
Sir John Wenlock
©The Richard III Foundation, Inc.
