The Wars of the Roses were a series of civil wars fought in England during the 15th century, primarily between two rival branches of the Plantagenet family: the House of Lancaster and the House of York. The conflict began in 1455 and lasted until 1487, marked by a struggle for the English throne. The wars were named for the symbols of the two houses, a red rose for Lancaster and a white rose for York. The wars included several key battles, such as the Battle of Towton and the Battle of Bosworth Field, which ultimately led to the rise of the Tudor dynasty. In 1485, Henry Tudor, a Lancastrian, defeated the Yorkist king Richard III at Bosworth, ending the conflict and establishing the House of Tudor on the throne.