BattlefieldsSkirmish at Rothwell 1460 — Lancastrian Advance to Wakefield
Medieval

Skirmish at Rothwell 1460 — Lancastrian Advance to Wakefield

1460
West Riding, England
Also known as: Rothwell skirmish 1460 · Lancastrian approach to Sandal
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
West Riding, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Yorkist foragers
Forces
c. 300–600 Yorkist foragers (ambush)
VS
Victor
Lancastrians
Forces
c. 2,000–4,000 Lancastrians
Outcome
Lancastrian van under Clifford ambushed Yorkist foraging parties near Rothwell; York's men confined to Sandal
The Battle

History & Significance

As the Lancastrian army closed on Sandal Castle in December 1460, skirmishes and ambushes cut off the Yorkist garrison's ability to forage. Accounts suggest that Clifford's forces harried the countryside around the castle, provoking Yorkshire into the sortie that led to his destruction. Whether these preliminary skirmishes or an offer of false truce were the primary cause of York's fatal decision to leave Sandal's safety remains debated.

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