History glossary
Plantagenet
the royal family whose rival Lancastrian and Yorkist branches contested England’s crown.
- Category
- Dynasty
- Region
- England
- Date range
- 1453–1487
What it means
Plantagenet is the conventional name for the English royal dynasty descending from Henry II. Both Lancaster and York belonged to its extended family; Henry Tudor’s victory brought a new ruling dynasty.
Stories using this term
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.
