The Wars of the Roses ( 1455 - 1487 ) was a series of civil wars fought over the throne of England between supporters of the House of Lancaster and supporters of the House of York . Both houses were branches of the Plantagenet royal house , tracing their descent from King Edward III . The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet : the houses of Lancaster and York ( the `` red '' and the `` white '' rose , respectively ) .