The Wars of the Roses in England paved the way for monumental changes in the English monarchy. It was a civil war in England which lasted thirty years, from 1455 to 1487. This war was more destructive than the Hundred Years' War. The Wars of the Roses was a struggle to claim the throne between two families, that of Edward III and Henry IV. Edward was of the Yorkist faction and Henry of Lancastrian. Roses were the symbols of the house. Shakespeare used the symbolism of roses and war to produce his historical plays and to express his opinion on the monarchy. Understanding where the Wars of the Roses began means starting with the demise of the Plantagenets, sudden shifts in power, and women in power. Edward III was crowned king at age fourteen and took over the government at age seventeen in 1330. At the start of the Hundred Years' War in 1337, Edward invaded France and claimed the French throne. He led the maritime victory at Slays in 1340 and invaded Brittany in 1342. Four years later, he landed in Normandy to defeat the French king Philip IV at the Battle of Crécy. His son Edward, the Black Prince, repeated his father's success at Poitiers in 1356. By 1360, Edward controlled more than a quarter of France. His success earned him the support of the nobles, a reduction in taxes, and improved relations with Parliament. However, its failures abroad have drawn criticism. The aging king withdrew from Windsor for the remainder of his reign. (History of the monarchy) Richard II, grandson of Edward III and son of the Black Prince, ascended the throne after the death of Edward III. His father, the Black Prince, also died, leaving him the rightful heir. He acceded to the throne at the age of ten. 1381, the peasants' revolt breaks out and Richard sets out to meet Elizabeth's successor. Elizabeth died in 1603, leaving the throne to James, who was descended from Henry VII's daughter Margaret. James I was also James VI of Scotland, so his reign joined two kingdoms. Notably, James commissioned a translation of the Bible, called the Authorized King James Version. He was often in conflict with parliaments that did not create good publicity. With the kingdom on the brink of war with Spain, James died in 1625. Shifts in power created unstable reigns and heightened sensitivity in England. Each monarch had difficulty maintaining good impressions of themselves. Complicated family ties created animosity and confusion among the royal families, leading to vengeance. The Wars of the Roses had a significant impact on the Lancastrian and Yorkist domains. Much of the history of the English monarchy influenced Shakespeare in his writings..