1460-61 (Yorkist Attack) Flashcards
1
Q
Situation after 1459
A
- Sept - Battle of Blore Heath
- Oct - Battle of Ludford Bridge (no fighting more of a stand off) - Yorkist lords flee England
- Nov Parliament of Devils
2
Q
What happens in Calais at the start of 1460?
A
- Jan - Somerset (son of killed at St Albans) appointed captain of Calais
- fails to dislodge Yorkists (Warwick or Fauconberg)
- Yorkist lords raid Sandwich recapturing ships
- they also capture Lord Rivers + his son Antony Woodville
3
Q
Where is York in 1460?
A
- March - Warwick sails to Ireland to meet York
- Yorkist invasion was clearly in the works
- June - Yorkist force sail from Calais to sandwich + begin their invasion
- July - Battle of Northumberland - York still in Ireland
4
Q
What was the Yorkist invasion propaganda?
A
- Salisbury, Warwick + March sail from Calais to sandwich - army March through Kent to London
- their invasion has propaganda claiming that they are loyal to the king, their lives are endangered by traitors about the king, they stand for justice + the commonweal
- the new ‘traitors’ appear to have been the earls of Shrewsbury, Wiltshire + viscount Beaumont - Suffolk + Somerset long gone
5
Q
What happened at the Battle of Northampton?
A
- Yorkist lords March north for London - their troops increased due to recruiting campaign in the south
- Lancastrian army led by the Duke of Buckingham + earl of Shrewsbury - certainly outnumbering the Yorkists
- Lord Grey betrays the Lancastrian army - Yorkist victory
- Henry VI is captured
- Margaret + Edward flee north
6
Q
When is the battle of Northampton?
A
10 July 1460
7
Q
When does York return?
A
- Salisbury, Warwick + March return to London with Henry VI after Battle of Northumberland
- taking control of government again - Warwick’s brother becomes chancellor, John Neville (another brother) becomes Chamberlain
- Sept 1460 - York returns
8
Q
How did York return?
A
- York approaches London like a king - a sword borne upright before him
- he adopted the royal arms
- arrives at Westminster + announces his claim to the throne
- this does not go down well with the nobility - even Warwick + Salisbury do not appear fully supportive
9
Q
What was the Act of Accord?
A
25 Oct 1460
- lords finding it difficult to find a solution - come up with a compromise
- Henry VI is to remain king, but on his death the crown will pass to York or to York’s heirs
- York accepts this - secured the crown for his heirs
- this act disinherits Prince Edward
10
Q
Lancastrian reaction to Act of Accord?
A
- forces grow in northern England - Margaret gets the support of the Scottish king by promising him the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Somerset returns + musters his affinity at Hull with other Lancastrian lords (earl of Devon, Northumberland etc.)
11
Q
When was the Battle of Wakefield?
A
30 Dec 1460
12
Q
What led to the Battle of Wakefield
A
- York + Salisbury lead troops north to meet the Lancastrian threat - officially claiming to be acting in the name of Henry VI to restore order + stability
- York’s troops base themselves in York’s castle at Sandal (near Wakefield)
13
Q
What happened at the Battle of Wakefield?
A
- York + Salisbury confronted by Lancastrian’s - heavily outnumbered
- York is killed, along with his son (Rutland) + Salisbury’s son
- Salisbury is captured + executed
- York’s head is staked with a paper crown placed on his head in mockery
14
Q
Impact of Wakefield?
A
- decisive - York dead
- not complete disaster - Warwick + York’s son (Edward) still alive - inheritance claim
15
Q
What happens in 1461?
A
- 2 Feb - Battle of Mortimer’s Cross led by Edward - Yorkist victory
- 17 Feb - Second Battle of St Albans - Warwick in London prepared to meet Lancastrian force - Yorkists defeated
- Lancastrians advance to London but not allowed in by city authorities
- late Feb - Edward + Warwick enter London - Accession of Edward IV
- 29 March - Battle of Towton
16
Q
What happens at the Battle of Mortimer’s cross?
A
- Edward raises troops from his father’s estate
- Lancastrian’s marching south + he confronts the Lancastrian’s at Mortimer’s cross
- Yorkist victory - Owen Tudor (Henry VI’s step father) captured + executed
- Pembroke + Wiltshire escape
17
Q
What leads to Second Battle of St Albans?
A
- Warwick guarding London + prepared to meet Lancastrian’s at St Albans
- there is serious noble support for Yorkists - Duke of Norfolk , earl of Suffolk + six other lords
- Warwick takes Henry with him to add legitimacy to his army - they are fighting in the name of the king
18
Q
Who’s in the Lancastrian army for 2nd battle of St Albans?
A
- Duke of Somerset + Exeter
- earls of Devon, Oxford, Shrewsbury, Northumberland etc.
- Prince Edward
19
Q
Why has Yorkist support grown?
A
- following Parliament of devils
- especially after York’s death - new figurehead (Edward) that has no political baggage - capable
20
Q
What happens at Second St Albans?
A
- Warwick takes up defensive position in St Albans (reversing roles of first st albans)
- Yorkists defeated - outnumbered
- Henry VI retaken by Lancastrian
21
Q
Why were the Lancastrian’s not let in London after Second St Albans?
A
- city authorities bar the gates + refused entry to Lancastrian’s
- reputation of the northern armies bruising the land + Margaret moving Parliament to Coventry
- Lancastrian withdraw to Yorkshire
22
Q
What do the Yorkists do after Second St Albans?
A
- Edward + Warwick enter London
- March - Accession of Edward IV - assembly held affirming that Edward should be king instead of Henry VI
- Yorkist legal argument is that Henry VI has forfeited the crown by breaking the Act of Accord when killing York
- makes Second St Albans loss less significant - possession of Henry VI not needed
- Edward was acclaimed as king but not crowned yet
23
Q
When was the Battle of Towton?
A
29 March 1461
24
Q
What happened at Battle of Towton?
A
- bloodiest battle ever fought on British soil
- Yorkist eventually prevail
- overall 28,000 men killed - two rival kings can both demand military service = huge armies
25
Q
Outcome of Battle of Towton?
A
- highly decisive
- Margaret, Prince Edward + Henry VI flee to Scotland but Lancastrian cause is destroyed
- Yorkist victory confirms Edward IV as king
- 28 June - crowned at Westminster
