The main cause of the Wars of the Roses in England, which spanned from 1455 to 1487, was the struggle for control of the English throne between the rival houses of Lancaster and York. Following the decline of the Plantagenet dynasty, England faced a power vacuum, leading to a fierce contest for legitimacy and rule. The conflict intensified as each house claimed rights to the throne based on lineage, with the Lancastrians supporting King Henry VI and the Yorkists backing Richard, Duke of York. The battles fought during this period resulted in shifts of power, numerous casualties, and ultimately the rise of the Tudor dynasty, reshaping England's monarchy and governance.