House of Lancaster

The House of Lancaster was a branch of the Plantagenet dynasty, a powerful English royal family. It originated from John of Gaunt, the Duke of Lancaster, son of King Edward III. The Lancastrians were key players in the Wars of the Roses, a series of dynastic conflicts for the English throne, primarily against the rival House of York. Prominent Lancastrian kings included Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI. The Lancaster line was known for its struggles for power and governance, with Henry VI's reign marked by mental health issues and political instability, leading to the eventual rise of the Tudors.