People That Shaped Elizabeth’s Character Early Childhood Elizabeth had had a turbulent childhood. For the first three years of her life she was the Princess of the court. Then her mother, Anne Boleyn, had been executed for treason. Elizabeth was declared illegitimate after her parent’s marriage had been pronounced invalid. Although she had lived … Read more
In the fifteenth century, there was a power struggle between rival descendants of Edward III. The conflict between them is known as the Wars of the Roses.
The descendants of John of Gaunt were Lancastrians represented by a red rose.
The descendants of Edmund of Langley were Yorkists represented by a white rose.
The white rose was first used as an emblem by Edmund of Langley, son of King Edward III. Edmund had been created first duke of York in August 1385 and chose the emblem soon afterwards.
It is believed that it was chosen as a symbol of the Virgin Mary who was known as the Mystical Rose.
The red rose was first used as an emblem by Edmund, son of Henry III, in August 1265. He had been created the first earl of Lancaster by his father. It is believed that the species he chose was Rosa Gallica, a cultivated rose.