BattlefieldsBattle of Wakefield (1460 AD)
Medieval

Battle of Wakefield (1460 AD)

1460
West Riding, England
Also known as: Wakefield 1460 · Death of Duke of York
Era
Medieval
Battle Type
Pitched Battle
Location
West Riding, England
Status
Registered · BOE31
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Yorkists (Duke of York)
Forces
c.18,000 Lancastrians; York killed
VS
Victor
Lancastrians (Somerset / Clifford)
Forces
c.5,000 Yorkists (Duke of York)
Outcome
Duke of York killed; Earl of Rutland killed; Yorkist army destroyed
The Battle

History & Significance

Richard Duke of York sallied from Sandal Castle into a superior Lancastrian force and was killed with his seventeen-year-old son the Earl of Rutland. Lord Clifford ('the Butcher') killed Rutland after quarter had been promised. York's head was placed on the gates of the city bearing a paper crown. The defeat galvanised his son Edward, who avenged his father three months later at Towton. The battle is one of the most dramatic Yorkshire engagements of the Wars of the Roses.

Casualties & Losses

Duke of York, Earl of Rutland, and 2,500+ Yorkists killed

Registered Historic Battlefield

This battlefield is listed on the Register of Historic Battlefields — a national designation identifying Britain's most significant battle sites for protection and further research. Reference: BOE31.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

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