Henry VI of England and Edward IV of England reigned during the turbulent period of English history in the fifteenth century known as the Wars of the Roses. The Wars of the Roses were a series of English civil wars for control of the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet. The House of Lancaster, associated with a red rose was led by Henry VI, and the House of York, whose symbol was a white rose, was led by Edward IV. Each King reigned for two periods between 1422 and 1483 as follows: 31 August 1422 – 4 March 1461 Henry VI Earl Rivers