2. Margaret of Anjou

Question 1

Who was at the forefront of the movement towards peacr after 1444 defeats in France

Answer 1

duke of Somerset (Edmund Beaufot) and duke of Suffolk (William de la Pole)

Question 2

When did Suffolk arrange a two-year truce with France and what was this called?

Answer 2

1444 Treaty of Tours

Question 3

Key Terms of Treaty

Answer 3

Henry to marry Margaret of Anjou, no dowry and eng to pay for wedding (very substantial outlay) and Maine surrendered in secret

Question 4

Who did Maggie seek support from and what did this mean for her reputation?

Answer 4

Pro-pesce factoon, Somerset and Suffolk because Gloucester saw treaty as highly dishonourable and unpatriotic. Confirmed her rep as a queen who promoted factionalism and who interfered in politics.

Question 5

What is the long-standing image of Margaret as a vicious, strident snd domineering woman partly a result of?

Answer 5

The prejudices of medieval English chriniclers, extremely hostile due to her nationality and sex. Misogynists

Question 6

What shows that the image of Margaret as a She-wolf likely encapsulates some of the reality of her personality and behaviour

Answer 6

She actively opposed York and clearly sought to control the king, seeking the regency for herself. Margaret also encourages her husband to agree to vengeful acts like the complete disinheriting of heirs of York, Salisbury and Warwick.

Question 7

What shows York was not seeking to replace the young prince in the line of succession

Answer 7

He agreed to make a number of submissions and oaths of loyalty to the child

Question 8

According to some historians, why did Margaret use her influence to have York removed from his post as military commander in France in favour of Somerset and what backs this up?

Answer 8

Due to her desire to discourage English attacks on France, in favour of Somerset. The fact that he went on to preside over a series of devastating defeats for Eng in 100war gives weight to this widespread suspicion that she was excluding York to further pro-French policy in govt.

Question 9

When did Margaret’s popularity suffer

Answer 9

As news of defeats in France continued 1450-1453.

Question 10

Whatbhaopened 1453

Answer 10

Maggie fell preggers and male heir Prince Edward

Question 11

What happened during Henry’s mental incapacity

Answer 11

Queen argued she should be made regent but rejected by parliament and York appointed instead March 1454

Question 12

What did York do during his period as Protector and Defender of the Realm that isolated the Queen

Answer 12

Placed Somerset in prison

Question 13

When did Henry recover and what happened in terms of factions

Answer 13

during Christmas 1454. In February 1455, Richard of York was formally relieved of his duties as Protector of the Realm. Quickly, the factions allied to Somerset and the queen were rejuvenated

Question 14

When did the first blows of civil war come

Answer 14

May 1955 at the First Battle of St Albans where York and Nevilles took up arms against Henry VI, Somerset and the Percies

Question 15

Who bon First Battle of St Albans

Answer 15

Yorkists, Somerset killed. King captured and escorted to London.

Question 16

What was Richard and supporters eager to emphasise

Answer 16

ThT the Yorkists were loyal subjects who only wished to rid the king of ‘evil councillors’

Question 17

What took place on 25 May at St Paul’s Cathedral

Answer 17

A carefully stage-managed
ceremony took place on 25 May at St Paul’s Cathedral, whereby
Henry was reinstated as king and the Yorkists took vows of loyalty
to him, but clear that Richard’s supporters now intended to
control the feeble monarch. Therefore, key political appointments
were given to supporters of Richard, including the significant
military role of Captain of Calais being granted to Richard
Neville, earl of Warwick.

Question 18

Who were supportive of Yorkist measures at St Paul’s Cathedral and what did this mean

Answer 18

The parliament of July. Meant that by Nov 1455, as Henry’s health again deteriorated, York was reinstated aa Protector of the Realm

Question 19

What were Margaret’s continued hostilities towards York aided by

Answer 19

Richard lacked determination in his actions; as the historian
Anthony Pollard has pointed out, during his periods of political
ascendancy York often failed to consolidate his position entirely
and in 1455 he did not completely rid the royal government of
the queen’s Lancastrian supporters. By February 1456, this
group ensured that Richard of York was removed from his role as
Protector of the Realm.

Question 20

When was there an attempt

at reconciliation between the two sides?

Answer 20

in 1458, a public ceremony of reconciliation was organised in London, called ‘Loveday’. queen walking arm-in-arm with York and
the earl of Salisbury walking with the new duke of Somerset.
The participants then attended a religious ceremony at St Paul’s in
an attempt to show contrition and a love of peace.

Question 21

What do historians say about Loveday that is critical of Henry VI

Answer 21

a reflection of his spiritual, unworldly and rather impractical outlook on medieval politics.

Question 22

Where did the king’s forces march against York after Loveday and wee they successful?

Answer 22

Ludford Bridge (Shropshire) Oct 1459. Yes- York fled after learning of the size of their army and went into exile

Question 23

Limitations of interpretations of Margaret- no influence in govt policy

Answer 23

It can be argued that it is highly unlikely that Margaret alone
could have affected any key change in government policy, as she herself did not command military support. Instead, she provided a useful focal point for those who wished to oppose York.

Question 24

Limitations of interpretations of Margaret- peacemaker

Answer 24

There is some historical debate about whether she genuinely
wished to make peace with Richard. Traditionally, they have
been regarded as sworn enemies, but more recent research
has suggested that she in fact tried to present herself in the
traditional female role of peacemaker to gain support and
that the 1458 ‘Loveday’ processions in fact took place at her instigation as much as Henry’s.

Question 25

What happened after Ludford Bridge

Answer 25

the subsequent parliament at Coventry, packed
with Lancastrian supporters, was vicious in its revenge against York, Warwick and Salisbury. Named the ‘Parliament of Devils’ which condemned the leading Yorkists to death in their absence and completely disinherited them and their heirs. The session also
included all the lords recognising Prince Edward as Henry VI’s
heir and taking a solemn oath of loyalty to him.

Question 26

historians such as John A. Wagner view the parliament of devils as

Answer 26

Her act of personal vengeance BUT this can be undermined as she had support from large following

Question 27

How did the severity of the action at Coventry backfire?

Answer 27

Made Yorkists eager to regain control in England. York gained
considerable military support in Ireland and made plans for a
coordinated attack on England with his eldest son, Edward of
March and the earl of Warwick.

Question 28

When did Warwick and Edward invade after the Parliament of Devils and what was the Battle called?

Answer 28

June 1460, landing in Kent, and were highly successful, defeating
Lancastrian forces marshalled by Prince Edward and the queen
at the Battle of Northampton on 10 July.

Question 29

What did the Yorkists reinforce after the Battle

Answer 29

They professed loyalty

to Henry and claimed only to wish to rid him of evil councillors.

Question 30

What did Parliament agree to when York underwent negotiations with Parliament to claim throne for himself

Answer 30

an Act of Accord 1460- disinherited pronce and made Richard the king’s heir instead.

Question 31

What did the Lancastrian forces do in response to this Act?

Answer 31

Surprised the d of York at Sandal Castle and killed him 30 Dec . To mock his claims to the throne, they cut off his head and displayed it on the walls of York, wearing a paper crown

Question 32

Why was the queen’s victory regarding Sandal Castle short-lived?

Answer 32

Yorkist forces were now led by the determined son and heir to Richard, Edward of March.

Question 33

When did the decisive victory for the Yorkists come?

Answer 33

Series of battles 1461 but At the Battle of Towton 29 March. This led to Edward of March being declared King Edward IV, while Henry VI, Margaret of Anjou and Prince Edward were forced to flee to Scotland