Yorkist

[ yawr-kist ]

noun

1. an adherent or member of the royal family of York, especially in the Wars of the Roses.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the English royal family of York.
2. of or relating to the Yorkists.

Yorkist

/ ˈjɔːkɪst /

noun

1. a member or adherent of the royal house of York, esp during the Wars of the Roses

adjective

1. of, belonging to, or relating to the supporters or members of the house of York

Word History and Origins

Origin of Yorkist¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; York + -ist

Example Sentences

"If he was going to write a piece about a Yorkist king, who would die in battle against Elizabeth I’s grandfather, it would benefit him politically to display the Tudor claim to the throne as flatteringly as possible. Hence Shakespeare plays up Richard’s war crimes, his hypocrisy in regards to religion, his constant backstabbing and emotional manipulation — all this is meant to turn the audience against York and legitimize Henry Tudor’s uprising against him, which in turn legitimizes the Tudor claim."

From Salon

Yet the Yorkist regime was riven between the old aristocracy, led by Richard, and the upstart Woodville family of Edward IV’s beautiful widow, Queen Elizabeth.

From Wall Street Journal

Among the guests at Thursday's service, where many arrived wearing badges of the Yorkist emblem of a white rose, were 200 members of the public selected from thousands by ballot.

From Reuters

Many in the crowds threw white roses onto Richard’s coffin, emblematic of the white rose that was the symbol of the Yorkist house whose principal champion Richard became in the last stages of the Wars of the Roses, which ended with Richard’s defeat at Bosworth.

From New York Times

Fotheringhay Castle was a Yorkist palace during the 15th Century and St Mary and All Saints' Church is the burial place of four members of the dynasty.

From BBC