1: The Mad King

Question 1

What are the 2 houses in the Wars of the Roses?

Answer 1

Lancaster / York

Question 2

Who is the ‘mad king’ and how is he supported prior to the riots of 1450?

Riots outcome?

Answer 2

Henry VI - ‘the mad king’ - Shallow, pious, foolish
(Duke Suffolk ‘papers the cracks’, dies)
1450 - riots … King hands over treasurer! (Lord ‘Say’)
Mob are killing nobles!

Question 3

Who was the wife of ‘the mad king’ and what were her goals?

Answer 3

French Margaret of Anjou takes control … teenage bride seeks to protect throne and Henry VI

Question 4

Who is the cousin and opponent of ‘the mad king’?

Answer 4

Richard Duke of York (Henry VI’s cousin and heir as they are childless) came to sort out rebels, asking to be appointed in charge of country.

Question 5

What was Henry VI’s response to RoY’s request to run country following the period of turbulence?

Answer 5

‘No, England will be managed by Lord Somerset.’ (Who had just run away in France … wartime failure believed by many to be not worthy!)

Question 6

What does RoY ask Parliament to do after hearing Somerset will be in charge? What is their response? What happens next..?

Answer 6

Make him Protector instead. Parliament rejects, RoY gathers troops near Dartford. Richard demands trial of Somerset. Mad King agrees!
… But it’s a trap!

Question 7

Who is humiliated at St Pauls and how?

Answer 7

Somerset keeps job of Protector. RoY humiliated at St Paul’s: kneels and swears oath of allegiance to Henry.

Question 8

Who is the closest ally of Margaret? Irony?

Answer 8

Lord Somerset - this places her on collision course with Richard of York
Both Margaret and RoY want best for country, but have diametrically opposed solutions.

Question 9

Name Margaret and Henry VI’s child.

Answer 9

Margaret’s boy child: Edward (dies at 17)

Question 10

What events lead to royal and imperial collapses?

Answer 10

Plantagenet dynasty collapses in France. Henry collapses with it.

Question 11

Who does Margaret call on for support when Henry collapses? What is the outcome?

Answer 11

Margaret calls nobles for support, but RoY attends and commits Somerset to Tower.
Margaret isolated, demands powers of a king. Denied.

Question 12

Who is made ‘Protector’ when Henry collapses and what are the initial outcomes? How end?

Answer 12

RoY made ‘Protector’, initially brings stability.
But Henry wakes up. Somerset released.

Question 13

How does RoY respond to the King waking?

Answer 13

RoY raises army and heads to London - meeting Somerset at St Albans (with King).

Question 14

What is outcome of the first battle of Wars of Roses? Where? When?

Answer 14

RoY and Warwick attack, capturing king. Somerset killed with other lords. RoY victorious. 30 year blood feud begins. So much for RoY and stability! St Albans. 1455

Question 15

What does RoY do after battle of St Albans?

Answer 15

RoY, Warwick and Salisbury demand to be king’s advisers - Henry is ‘puppet king’. Clique.
King NOT incapacitated.

Question 16

How do nobles respond to RoY’s tax increase in 1456? What does he do? Who steps up?

Answer 16

Nobles reject taxation demands in Parliament.
RoY resigns Protectorate. Queen running things.

Question 17

What does Margaret do after RoY resigns?

Answer 17

Gathers an army to hunt him down.
He flees.
She gets Parliament to strip them of titles.

Question 18

What happens at Northampton after Margaret strips RoY of titles?

Answer 18

Warwick attacks, Margaret escapes, King captured and returned to London. RoY returns, claiming crown.

Question 19

Explain Richard of York’s claim to the throne (made in 1460)

Answer 19

1460 - RoY storms Parliament, says Henry’s claim illegitimate.
Because … Henry on throne because grandfather snatched it.
RoY’s claim otherwise as strong as Henry’s (both descended Edward III)

Question 20

How does Parliament respond to RoY storming and demanding to be new king?

Answer 20

After two weeks, Parliament gives Lord Protectorate to RoY and promises succession to throne.

Question 21

How is RoY mocked when he dies? When is this?

Answer 21

RoY heads north to capture Margaret with just 6000, misjudges and gets beheaded. Bloodied paper crown. 1460

Question 22

Answer 22

Margaret of Anjou (French: Marguerite; 23 March 1430 – 25 August 1482) was the Queen of England and nominally Queen of France by marriage to King Henry VI from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471. Born in the Duchy of Lorraine into the House of Valois-Anjou, Margaret was the second eldest daughter of René, King of Naples, and Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine.

Question 23

Answer 23

Henry VI was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453.