History glossary
Lancastrian
connected with the royal house descended from John of Gaunt.
- Category
- Dynasty
- Region
- England
- Date range
- 1453–1487
What it means
The Lancastrian kings descended from John of Gaunt through Henry IV, who displaced Richard II in 1399. In these wars Henry VI and his son represented that royal line, although their supporters’ alliances changed.
Stories using this term
The Hundred Years War
From Edward III's claim to Joan of Arc, Agincourt and Castillon, the Hundred Years War reshaped England, France and medieval warfare.
The Tudor Dynasty
The Tudors strengthened royal power, drove religious change, and shaped early modern England.
The Wars of the Roses
From Henry VI’s failing government to Yorkist victories, the missing princes and Henry Tudor’s contested settlement, England’s crown changed hands through war and shifting loyalty.
