3. Suffolk Downfall 1450 Flashcards
duke of Suffolk real name
William de la Pole
What battles had Suffolk participated in 100 WAR
active as a soldier
in the Hundred Years War under Henry V. participating in the
Siege of Harfleur, the Battle of Agincourt and the Siege of Rouen.
In 1430, he made an advantageous marriage to
Alice Chaucer,
dowager countess of Salisbury who was related to the Beauforts.
By 1450, Suffolk was extremely unpopular, both with the duke of
York and among the population at large, why?
Negotiated Treaty of Tours 1444, 1449, he was a key advocate of the English attack on Fougères, which triggered Charles VI’s retaliatory attacks on Normandy and resulted in massive English defeats, He was a leading member of Henry VI’s government, which was in serious financial difficulty, manipulated king with patronage, arranged marriage
After Fougrères What did the loss of Normandy mean
a number of noble families in England lost valuable lands, including Richard of York.
It has been estimated that, by 1450, the crown owed around
£370,000, an amount equivalent to about £168 million today.
Why was the fact Suffolk was a leading member of the government cause unpopularity york
The crown’s continued failure to repay York for money he had expended on the country’s behalf in France was a major area of contention between the government and the duke and,
by the time he left for Ireland in 1449, Richard had been obliged
to sell some of his manors as well as one of his most precious
family jewels, a collar decorated with white roses (a symbol of
the House of York) regarded after the crown jewels as the most
valuable treasure in England.
What caused anger for York in regards to fact suffolk was leading member in govt
York was one of the crown’s main creditors, being owed more than £38,000 by this time (about £17 million today).
What showed that Suffolk was using his influence to ensure he was given the lion’s share of royal patronage
Suffolk gained valuable land in the form of the lordship of
Guînes (in northern France), was made great steward of
England in 1445 and gained other very valuable offices during
the 1440s, including the post of chamberlain of England in
1447.
Arranged marriage causing unpopularity
1449-50, Suffolk was accused by the Commons in parliament of arranging a marriage between his son and
Margaret Beaufort, Somerset’s niece, in order to strengthen his own family’s claim to the throne. Owing to the fact that Suffolk was descended from Edward III, this match would have
put Suffolk in a very powerful position indeed, allowing him
to use his son to challenge Richard of York for the throne. Maybe not true but damaged rep
Complaints against Suffolk therefore encapsulated
all that was
reprehensible about Henry Vl’s government
How did Suffolk get targetted by parliament
Given the loss of France, the national desire for a scapegoat and
Suffolk’s unpopularity, targeted in the
heated parliament of 1450, when he was imprisoned in the Tower
on a charge of treason. In order to save Suffolk from further reprisals, Henry agreed to banish the duke for five years, beginning on 1
May 1450.
Concern for de la Pole’s well-being was well founded,
as
on 19 March he had to be escorted from Westminster at night
for his own protection, because an angry mob threatened to lynch
him.
What happened after news of his released reached public
News of his release increased public hostility, as he remained
at his own manor of East Thorp, in Suffolk, for six weeks. During
his time, parliament reopened and there were continued calls for
he duke’s execution. In this atmosphere of hostility, Suffolk left for
The Low Countries with a small group of loyal retainers.
What happened when Suffolk left for the Low Countries that led to his death
He was
tercepted, however, by a privateering ship called the Nicholas of the Tower and was taken prisoner by its crew. A mock trial followed, the sailors claiming the right to act for the public good. Suffolk was beheaded on 2 May 1450.
