1461-65 (Lancastrian Resistance)

Question 1

What happens in 1461?

Answer 1

• Margaret of Anjou seeks Scottish support by handing Berwick-upon-tweed to the Scots + also promised them Carlisle = important trading points (coastal) = Lancastrian’s desperate?
• Warwick is appointed warden of the East + West Marches = reward for loyalty, had been pivotal in making Edward king
• accession of Louis XI of France = seemed more receptive to the Yorkists as his father had been sympathetic to the Lancastrian cause
• Alnwick, Bamburg + Dunstanburgh surrender to Warwick + his brother John Neville
• couple months later Alnwick is seized by the Lancastrians = power contained in Northumberland

Question 2

What support did the Lancastrians have in 1462?

Answer 2

• 24 June Agreement of Chinon = Margaret secures the (tentative) support of Louis XI in return for Calais
• However, the Duke Philip of Burgundy is opposed to this + Calais is therefore beyond the grasp of Louis
• therefore his support is limited + only provides a small contingent of 800 French mercenaries (for which Louis doesn’t even have to pay their wages)
• still helpful support

Question 3

Lancastrian resistance in 1462

Answer 3

• French supported Lancastrian force lands in Northumberland —> the gates of Bamburgh, Dustanburgh + Alnwick castles open to the invasion force = lancastrians effectively take back control
• Edward IV responds by gathering a substantial army in the south - 38 lords among his army compared to 11 at Towton = Yorkist support is strong
• Warwick + John Neville take a force north + besiege the three castles = Dunstanburgh + Bamburgh surrender on 27th December
• Margaret goes north to Berwick

Question 4

Success of Edward IV’s policy of reconciliation?

Answer 4

• Somerset surrenders Bamburgh to the Yorkists on 29th December
• sir Ralph Percy also surrenders Dunstanburgh + is reconciled with the Yorkist regime
• in the early 1463, Percy is given custody of Bamburgh + Dustanburgh
• Henry Beaufort (Somerset) participates in the siege of Alnwick on the Yorkist side! = result of Edward IV’s policy of reconciliation which allowed Lancastrians who recognised Edward IV as king to get their lands back
• Sir Ralph Gray is given Alnwick castle following its capture in 1463

Question 5

Lancastrian resistance in 1463 = failed?

Answer 5

• January Warwick temporarily lifts the siege of Alnwick castle
• March-April Margaret of Anjou invades Northumberland = supported by Scottish troops + backed by Louis XI
• Ralph Percy breaks policy of reconciliation which allowed+ immediately opens the gates of Bamburgh + Dustanburgh castles to Margaret, Gray opens to the gates to Alnwick
• Lancastrian + Scottish army besieges Northam Castle (Margaret + Prince Ed are present)
• Warwick leads a strong army north = Scott’s intimidated by Yorkist force —> Margaret + Prince Edward sail for Burgundy (there until 1471)

Question 6

What happens after Margaret flees to burgundy in 1463?

Answer 6

• summer 1463 = Anglo-French truce agreed - Margaret + Prince Edward take exile in France
• Edward IV negotiates truce with Scots to remain in place until October 1464 = Scots withdrew their support for the lancastrians
• Henry VI is returned to England + placed in Lancastrian held Bamburgh castle

Question 7

Failure of Edward IV’s policy of reconciliation

Answer 7

• Somerset betrays Edward + his oath—> heads north to join Lancastrian force + Henry VI in Bamburgh castle
• Somerset leads a campaign in Northumberland, successfully capturing Northam Castle
• supporting Somerset is Sir Ralph Percy + Sir Ralph Gray who had broken their oath in 1463

Question 8

Battle of Hedgeley Moor

Answer 8

• 25th April 1464
• Yorkist force led by John Neville (Montague)
• Lancastrians intercept Montagu at Hedgeley Moor with a force of 5000 men led by Somerset
• sir Ralph Percy is killed + the Lancastrian army breaks apart = Somerset, gray + other nobles escape
• not a decisive/successful battle for Lancastrians = montagu still alive

Question 9

What happens in between the battle of Hedgeley moor + battle of Hexham?

Answer 9

1 May 1464 = Edward IV marries Elizabeth Woodville in secret

Question 10

Battle of Hexham

Answer 10

• 15 May 1464
• Somerset + Percy raise a new Lancastrian force at Alnwick but are caught by surprise when Montagu attacks them at Hexham
• Somerset is captured + beheaded
• gray takes refuge in Bamburgh castle with Henry VI

Question 11

Result of the Battle of Hexham

Answer 11

• Edward IV rewards Montagu by making him earl of Northumberland - formally states the earldom is for executing Somerset
• June 1464 - Alnwick castle is surrendered to the Yorkists + Dustanburgh is surrendered the following day + Gray is beheaded at Doncaster

Question 12

What happens in 1465

Answer 12

• Henry VI is captured by the Yorkists
• Warwick parades him through London as a deliberate mockery of his kingship + is taken to the Tower of London
• LANCASTRIAN THREAT IS OFFICIALLY GONE