What was the Act of Accord of 1460?

The Act of Accord of 1460 was a significant political settlement during the Wars of the Roses that addressed the disputed succession to the English throne.1

Following the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Northampton in 1460, the Duke of York formally claimed the throne, asserting that his hereditary right—derived from his descent through the senior female line from Edward III—was superior to the Lancastrian title held by Henry VI.21

The resulting Act of Accord recognized the validity of York's claim and designated him as the heir to the throne, effectively disinheriting Henry VI’s son, Edward of Lancaster. However, this settlement was met with fierce resistance from the Lancastrian party. The conflict escalated when the Duke of York was killed while attempting to enforce the agreement at the Battle of Wakefield in December 1460. The act was ultimately superseded after York's son, Edward IV, defeated the Lancastrians and assumed the crown in 1461.12