Who were the main participants in the Wars of the Roses?

The main participants in the Wars of the Roses were indeed the houses of Lancaster and York. This series of civil wars took place in England during the late 15th century, primarily from 1455 to 1487, and revolved around the struggle for control of the English throne. The Lancastrians, represented by the red rose, and the Yorkists, symbolized by the white rose, were two rival branches of the Plantagenet family.

The conflicts were characterized by a series of battles, political intrigue, and shifting alliances, ultimately leading to the decline of feudalism and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty following Henry Tudor's victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. This dynastic struggle not only shaped the political landscape of England but also left lasting impacts on its society and culture.

The other options relate to different historical contexts and conflicts, which do not pertain to the Wars of the Roses. The mention of the Spanish and French crowns refers to broader European power struggles, while the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy were embroiled in their own historical disputes, and the Venetians and the Ottoman Empire engaged in maritime and territorial battles, none of which involve the Lancaster and York rivalry for the English throne