The Battle of Wakefield took place on December 30, 1460, during the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars in England. This battle was fought between the forces of the Yorkists, led by Richard, Duke of York, and the Lancastrians, commanded by Queen Margaret. The Yorkists aimed to secure control of the English throne but were ultimately defeated. The battle resulted in a significant loss for the Yorkists, with Richard, Duke of York, killed in the fighting. This defeat weakened their position and led to further conflicts in the ongoing struggle for power between the two factions, the Yorkists and Lancastrians.