Renewed crises and challenges, 1449-61

Question 1

why was henry vi doomed to fail as a monarch? (three reasons)

Answer 1

he was made king at just 9 months old
his father, henry v had left him a complex legacy as both kings of france and england
he had an almost impossible task of retaining captured territories in france

Question 2

what characteristics did henry show that were unking like? (4 characteristics)

Answer 2

militarily inept
easily influenced
poorly dressed
mentally weak

Question 3

what did henry’s unimpressive fashion sense reveal?

Answer 3

the crown was close to bankrupcy

Question 4

what early problems did henry face as king? (4 problems)

Answer 4

he had very high expectations from others because of his father
the treaty of troyes gave him a very complex legacy
he inherited an impossible financial situation
he never had a living example on how a monarch should act

Question 5

who were henry’s closest advisors?

Answer 5

dukes of somerset and suffolk

Question 6

who organised the treaty of tours (1444) and why was it controversial?

Answer 6

suffolk, because the terms were disadvantageous for england

Question 7

what were the terms of the treaty of tours? (3 terms)

Answer 7

agreed a 2 year truce
henry vi would marry margaret of anjou
england would surrender maine after the truce

Question 8

who in particular oppossed the treaty and why?

Answer 8

humphrey of gloucester, because he wanted to continue hostilities against france

Question 9

why was margaret met with hostility when she entered the english court?

Answer 9

because she was seen as a product of the treaty of tours

Question 10

who was richard, duke of york?

Answer 10

a powerful nobleman who was heir to the throne up until prince edwards birth in 1453

Question 11

why did margaret try to isolate york?

Answer 11

because she favoured his enemies in the court, somerset and suffolk

Question 12

why did henry’s mental collapse in 1453 cause challenges in the court?

Answer 12

because it created tension over who should govern in his place

Question 13

what was loveday?

Answer 13

an attempt by henry to reconcile the yorkists and lancastrians by walking together through london

Question 14

why was the duke of suffolk unpopular? (three reasons)

Answer 14

he was a key part of henry’s government
he oversaw massive defeats in france
he negotiated the treaty of tours

Question 15

how did suffolk die?

Answer 15

after being reluctantly banished by henry, he was killed by sailors on his boat to exile

Question 16

how did suffolks downfall undermine the authority of henry?

Answer 16

it was a clear example of an overmighty subject controlling an undermighty monarch

Question 17

what was cades rebellion?

Answer 17

a popular rebellion aimed at having the people’s’ greivances addressed

Question 18

what causes cades rebellion? (three causes)

Answer 18

suffolks body washing up on the shores of kent caused people to believe that the nobles there murdered suffolk
the unpopularity of henry’s government
high taxation to fund a losing war in france

Question 19

what did henry do to try and calm the rebels?

Answer 19

he sent a delegation led by archbishop stafford

Question 20

why did his attempts to calm the rebels fail?

Answer 20

stafford was killed in an ambush just days later

Question 21

where did henry flee to once the rebellion got out of hand?

Answer 21

Kenilworth castle

Question 22

why was the rebellions massive support so problematic?

Answer 22

some members were high ranking military officers which made organised attacks far more dangerous

Question 23

who eventually defeated the rebels?

Answer 23

londoners

Question 24

what were some of the rebels’ grievances? (three grievances)

Answer 24

York being alienated from government
the king’s evil councillors
the financial situation

Question 25

what was the most importance consequence of cades rebellion?

Answer 25

henry never faced the rebels personally which undermined him significantly

Question 26

what caused henry’s mental collapse?

Answer 26

english defeats at castillon which ended the 100 years war

Question 27

how was yorks power limited during his first protectorate?

Answer 27

his lack of support and distrust by the nobility

Question 28

how did york improve the nevilles’ powerbase?

Answer 28

by making the earl of salisbury chancellor

Question 29

who did york imprison in late 1454?

Answer 29

the duke of exeter?

Question 30

how did henry undermine york after he recovered from his mental collapse?

Answer 30

he undid all of his political changes and released any prisoners york took

Question 31

when was the first battle of st albans?

Answer 31

22nd may 1455

Question 32

what was the outcome of the first battle of st albans?

Answer 32

a yorkist victory - somerset is killed

Question 33

who rose to power during yorks second protectorate?

Answer 33

the earl of warwick

Question 34

what role was warwick rewarded with by york?

Answer 34

captain of calais

Question 35

what was the parliament of devils?

Answer 35

major yorkists were convicted of treason and sent to death

Question 36

why is the parliament of devils seen as a bad idea for the lancastrians?

Answer 36

it gave the yorkists nothing to lose for when they invaded

Question 37

what was agreed under the act of accord? (1460)

Answer 37

henry would be king for life, but his heirs would disinherited, going to york and his sons instead

Question 38

what happened at the battle of wakefield? (december 1460)

Answer 38

york was ambushed and killed

Question 39

when was the battle of towton?

Answer 39

29th march 1461

Question 40

what was the outcome at the battle of towton?

Answer 40

the lancastrian army was massacred and were defeated by the yorkists

Question 41

why was warwick so important for edwards victory at towton?

Answer 41

his massive wealth and power provided most of the yorkist army