The House of Lancaster was a royal house in England that emerged in the 14th century. It was a branch of the Plantagenet dynasty and was founded by John of Gaunt, the third son of King Edward III. The house is best known for its role in the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars for control of the English throne. The emblem of the House of Lancaster was a red rose, symbolizing its claim to the throne. Key figures included Henry IV, the first Lancastrian king, and his grandson Henry VI, whose reign was marked by instability and conflict. The house ultimately lost power to the House of York after the wars.