1450-1455: York V Lancaster

Question 1

1450-

York Returns

Answer 1

Reasons:

• End Corruption: this might link him to rebellion.
• Protect His Position
• Remove Somerset
• Take Throne

Returns with an army of 3000 men, makes nobility distrust him, King wary, claims it was because of poor reception in Wales.

Question 2

1452-

Attempted Coup Against Somerset

Answer 2

Wants to remove Somerset from his position. Sends out open letters to gain support, London doesn’t let him in and Kent doesn’t rise up to support him. King is waiting for him at Dartford with an army. York surrenders and swears loyalty to King.

Question 3

1454-

King becomes ill

Answer 3

York becomes protector because there aren’t many other senior male relatives, believed he can resolve issues of feuding etc.

What did he do?

• York reduces no. Of household staff.
• Reduces expenditure from £24,000 (1450) to £5,000 (1455).

-Persuades wool merchants to
continue giving loans to Crown.

-Begins to make arrangements to help protect Calais.

Question 4

1455-

York’s Protectorate Ends

Answer 4

Kings gets better,
Recognises his son as heir- York loses title of ‘heir presumptive’, Somerset let out of the tower, Margaret holds court at Coventry (her Powerbase)