Sources: Role of Margaret of Anjou Flashcards
1
Q
She Wolf argument: Favouritism
A
- Convinced Henry to imprison York following Dartford in 1452
- Alleged affair with Somerset
- Recommended Somerset as Captain of Calais- April 1451
2
Q
Which view is the “She Wolf” view
A
Traditionalist view
3
Q
Her influence post-Henry’s collapse (She-wolf)
A
- Became more active late 1453
- Perceived York as the greatest threat to her son’s inheritance (Prince Edward, b. Oct 1453)
- Failed attempt to become regent in Jan 1454 (But, this was her only real action prior to 1455)
4
Q
She-wolf: Court in Coventry
A
- 24th June 1459: Great Council summoned
- York, Salisbury and Warwick feared they would be arrested for treason and refused to attend
- October 1459
- ‘Parliament of devils’
- Following the battle of Ludford Bridge on 12th October 1459
- York, Warwick and Salisbury are spread out at this point
- Yorkists attained, so they had little choice but to invade the following year
- When she moves the court to Coventry in 1456, she raises support for Henry and exerts her influence, ensuring her supporters were appointed royal offices
5
Q
She-wolf: Violence and alliances
A
- Accused of attempting to assassinate Warwick (Oct 1458)
- Her alliance to Humphrey Stafford, Duke of Buckingham (Oct 1458) lead directly to the outbreak of war
- Margaret’s northern army in 1461
6
Q
She-wolf: Truce of Tours
A
- Agreed marriage to Henry VI- 23rd April 1445
- Associated her with disastrous foreign policy
- She allegedly conspired with Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester
- Associated with Suffolk and Beaufort faction
7
Q
She-Wolf: Finance
A
- She and Henry as the royal household spent £25,000/year
- This drew criticism which was addressed by York in his first protectorate
8
Q
2 quotes from Maurer on Margaret
A
“A real bitch on wheels”
Margaret “set out to destroy the Yorkists”
9
Q
Misunderstood argument: Which view is this
A
Revisionist view
10
Q
Misunderstood argument: Woman in a male-dominated world
A
- her interventions were only to seek the King’s mercy
- Eager to assert power but contemporaries exaggerate her role as she challenged her assumed role as a woman
11
Q
Misunderstood argument:
A
- Only after the final failure at trying to maintain peace with the Loveday procession of 1458 did she judge York and his allies as incorrigible (beyond correction or reform)
- In Scotland at the time of Wakefield (30 Dec 1460)
- Figurehead for Yorkist propaganda
- In 1453, her emergence against York as the head of the court was slow and hesitant and following the collapse of her husband she had to put herself forward as regent to prevent a quarrel between Somerset and York
- Birth of her son in October 1453 had no proof of adultery and gave her a reason to fight against the usurpers
12
Q
Overall
A
- Acc. very few examples of her acting not to protect her son
- Definitely was a factor but only had influence after Henry goes mad
- The collapse of royal authority is more important
13
Q
Quote from Bagley
A
“Margaret was forced into active politics and government”
