Although York knew he had a better hereditary claim, he never made a move toward rebellion until Queen Margaret's faction began depriving him of his rights only because she feared his wealth and power would enable him to challenge them for control of England. In 1455 King Henry suddenly recovered from his catatonia and returned to Margaret's party.
The first battle of the Wars of the Roses was the Battle of Saint Alban's 22 May 1455. This battle resulted in a decisive victory for the Duke of York. The Duke, instead of deposing Henry, apologized for having raised arms against his sovereign and presented a list of grievances. They then established and uneasy truce between them that lasted for four years. In 1459, the Civil War was resumed. Both sides won victories and suffered defeats, but the Earl of Warwick decisively defeated the Lancastrian forces at Northampton. York attempted to claim the throne by marching up to it and laying his hand possessively on it. He was greeted by this gesture with a shocked silence. He kept Henry around because he knew he would lose support if he attempted to depose him. Margaret struggled against York and continued to gather her forces. In 1461, the Lancastrian army surprised York and killed him at Wakefield. Warwick was also defeated at this time, at the Second Battle of St. Alban's.
York's own son Edward was only eighteen and already a great military leader. He defeated the Lancastrians at Mortimer's Cross in 1461. He reached London before Margaret's forces could get there and claimed throne as Edward IV in March of 1461. His armies pursued Margaret and eventually defeated her at Towton. Henry, Margaret, and their son Edward escaped to Scotland.
In Edward's court, unity never prevailed. His brothers, Clarence and Warwick wanted France and wanted to get ride of Edward. The two stirred up trouble in the north, and Edward's troops were defeated and the king taken prisoner.