Outbreak of civil war (1455-1459) Flashcards
First battle of St Albans
22 May 1455 - First Battle of St Albans: This was more of a skirmish than a true battle, as possibly as few as 50 men were killed. The two sides met just north of London at St Albans, where York, Warwick and Salisbury were opposed by the King, Somerset, Buckingham and Northumberland.
- King Henry hit by an arrow. Supposedly an order was given to fire upon him but York then goes to pay fealty to him
- Fighting only lasts around 30 mins
- 7,000 Yorkists vs. 2,000 Lancastrians
- Preemptive strike/ambush
- Warwick’s great victory as he sneaked around the back, through the gardens and into the market square
Results: Somerset, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland and Lord Clifford (Warwick’s enemy) were killed. Henry VI was captured by York and taken back to London, but once there, York, Salisbury and Warwick all submitted themselves to him and pledged their loyalty.
Henry receiving the crown from York after 1st St Albans
25 May - Henry Received the Crown from York: In a symbolic display of power, York handed the crown back to Henry, and then appointed himself as the Constable of England, and appointed Warwick as the Captain of Calais. For the rest of the summer of 1455, York held the king prisoner, to be enthroned in Parliament in July. York’s position was enhanced when some of the nobility agreed to join his government, including Salisbury’s brother William Neville, Lord Fauconberg, who had served under York in France.
Parliament following the 1st battle of St Albans
9 July 1455 - Parliament was Summoned: The Yorkists were pardoned for their actions, and Somerset was blamed for the First Battle of St Albans.
York’s 2nd Protectorate
19 November 1455 - York’s Second Protectorate: Henry suffered a relapse, and York resumed his office of Protector. Although he surrendered it when the king recovered in February 1456, it seemed that this time Henry was willing to accept that York and his supporters would play a major part in the government of the realm.
Henry’s recovery in 1456
February 1456 - Henry Recovered: York’s Second Protectorate ended, but he stayed dominant on the council and the king went against his wife’s advice in leaving Warwick as Captain of Calais - Calais had vital strategic importance and held England’s largest standing army.
- Yorkists remain loyal to Henry 1456-58 as York and Salisbury were fighting in Scotland which Warwick was in Calais all in King’s service
Court moves to Coventry
April 1456 - The Court Moved to Coventry: Margaret moved the royal court to the Lancastrian heartlands in the Midlands, and took Prince Edward with her to Kenilworth Castle where they would be joined in August by Henry. She raised support for her husband through men like Henry Beaufort, the 3rd Duke of Somerset, Henry Percy, the new Earl of Northumberland and John Talbot, the new Earl of Shrewsbury. Margaret then exerted influence over the king to ensure that her supporters were appointed to royal offices, and it was clear all decisions were made by her. However, it must be said that the movement of court was dangerous as there were now two spheres of influence, a Yorkist one in London, and a more northern Lancastrian one. Margaret treated York with great suspicion as he was deemed the greatest threat to the inheritance of her son, Prince Edward.
Loveday Procession
24 March 1458 - Loveday Procession: Henry VI attempted to gain a reconciliation between the factions divided by the killings at St. Albans. At St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, there was a public show of harmony, where members of the rival factions walked arm-in-arm. Margaret walked with York, her sworn enemy. York, Warwick and Salisbury also promised to pay for a chantry at St Albans, where prayers could be said for the souls of those killed at the battle. They also agreed to pay compensation to the Percy and Clifford families, but this was proven to be a sham as lords eventually turned up to London with armed retenues.
Warwick in Calais in 1458
1458: Warwick in Calais: Margaret considered Warwick a threat and cut off all his supplies, then summoned him to come to court, which Warwick ignored. He faced an assassination attempt, and was found to be making deals with Charles VII of France and Philip the Good of Burgundy, as well as committing acts of piracy against the Castilian fleet.
Warwick summoned again to London in Oct. 1458
October 1458 - Warwick Summoned Again to London: He was asked to explain his actions before the king’s council but there was violence between his retinue and the royal household. He claimed that his life had been threatened and returned to Calais without permission or answering any charges. Margaret, who had just gained the support of Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, saw this as open defiance of Henry VI and after mustering the Lancastrian force at Leicester, she summoned a Great Council meeting to be held in Coventry.
Great Council at Coventry
24 June 1459 - Great Council at Coventry: Warwick, Salisbury and York were afraid they’d be arrested for treason so refused to attend. Yorkists agreed to meet at Ludlow. York was already at Ludlow with his son, Edward, Earl of March, Salisbury was at Middleham Castle in North Yorkshire, and Warwick was in Calais. They were quickly indicted for rebelling against the king, and this signalled the outbreak of civil war again
- Further evidence fo Lancastrians being responsible for the outbreak of war
