The Origins of Conflict, 1450-1459 Flashcards
Dates of previous kings
Following the usurption of Richard II in 1399, Henry IV became king
Henry IV died in 1413, Henry V took over
Henry V died in 1422, his son Henry VI was a baby aged 9 months
Traditional view of the Wars of the Roses
Dynastic conflict stemming from rival claims to the English throne of the descendtants of Edward III’s sons (Duke of Clarence) and John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster)
Edward III’s son Richard II was childless, and favoured the Mortimer line, descended of the Duke of Clarence to succeed.
Henry IV (son of Gaunt) usurped the throne (despite Mortimer having stronger claim)
Subsequent attempts were made to put the Mortimers on the throne.
Edmund Mortimer
Potential heir, Earl of March.
Distanced himself from attempts to crown him, right up until he died in 1425
However, this did not stop people trying to rebel in his name
Cade’s rebels in 1450 and Edmund’s son Richard of York launched challenges in the Mortimer name
English hierachy and effects
Only a few aristocrats were responsible for the security of England; they inherrited hereditary rights and society depended on their abilities, especially at advising the king, who was the head of the rigid heirachy.
Interconnection of society
All levels relied on loyalty and service from each other.
The nobles owed their position to the king, the gentry to the nobles, etc.
Any instability at any level would have effects on the other levels
Urban and Church Elites
Development of towns meant an urban elite, some of whom commanded great wealth and authority.
Church was wealthy and significant, owning vast tracts of land. Similar to the urban elite, the Church elite controlled considerable person wealth
Society was nort a pyramid, but a complex system
Magnate
Another term for a nobleman with great wealth
Women in society
Their definition was in relation to their husband or father. Their stability was connected to his position or choices
Only a few acted independently, usch as businesswomen in towns, but even wealthy widows were beholden to governing men
They were not featured in medieval sources as much as they perhaps could be
Opinions on Henry VI
Changed over time, beginning with contemoraries and Tudors. All have some truth to them, and must be understood for the development in the history of his reign
Tudors saw the beginning of the feuds as 1399 with the usuption of the crown by Henry IV. They finished with Henry VII ascending in 1485.
Shakespeare presented Henry VI as a guiless saint, but also drew attention ot the ambition of the leading magnates
19th century onward: More objective, varying degrees of ctiticism
Polydore Vergil’s opinions on Henry
Tudor 1470-1555
a simpleton, easily led and dominated by an evil council
Vergil had been employed by Henry VII to write his histories. Tried to present a Lancastrain and Yorkist view, but mainly used the London chronicles for his source
William Stubbs’s opinions on Henry VI
19th Century
‘perhaps the most unfortunate king who ever reigned’, putting it down to the ambitions of the nobles, costly war in France, and poor health.
K B MacFarlane’s opinions on Henry VI
20th Century
‘Henry VI’s head was too small for his father’s crown’
His mindlessness was the root of the civil wars, and he was unwilling and incapable of fulfilling his duties
Charles Ross’ opinions on Henry VI
Following KB MacFarlane
Henry VI’s royal inheritance, if somewhat tarnished was still largely intact in 1437. Had he been half the man his father was, the disasters which followed his assumption of power might readily have been avoided’
Bertram Wolffe’s opinions on Henry VI
Modern
His ‘Perverse willfulness’ regarding the war with France and his meddling with the conflict, aiming for peace at all costs, had disastrous consequences.
Therefore, despite being inadequate in domestic affairs, he did have an impact
John Watts’s opions on Henry VI
Modern
Henry VI failed to play any effective role in government at all, and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, orchastrated both domestic and foreign policy to the cost of the king and the country.
Henry VI ends his minority
Aged 16, November 1437, Henry declares his minority over – youngest king to do so
Had never seen another monarch of England at work
Unexperienced, and made more daunting by also being King of France
Powers of the English King
England a monarchy despite parliament
King personally involved in direction of policy
* especially foreign
King could bestow royal patronage
Royal patronage
The power to bestow offices (church noble, military, or wardships) on people,
Very lucrative for receivor
Dutchy of Lancaster became a source of royal patronage
Henry VI’s attitudes toward peace, education, and government
Peace-loving, merciful man who was deeply religious.
Keenly interested in education, he founded two colleges; an expensive interest
He did not pay much attention to governing, yet when he did, it has been argued, it was with worse effect than when he did not.
Henry VI’s use of royal patronage
Uncontrolled distribution of titles to his friends, creating a ‘court party’ that controlled access to the king.
Consistant; rewarded those who were loyal and the House of Lancaster
Contemporary views on Henry VI
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An English Chrocinle ofthe reigns of Richard ii, Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI written before 1471
The king was ‘simple and led by covetous councel’; he was in debt and had given away all his possessions and lordships. ‘The hearts of the people were turned away’ from the governors -
A chronicle of the First Thriteen Years of the Reign of King Edward the Fourth
The king was surrounded by ‘mischievous people’ and for this the people grudged him because of the ‘false lords, and never of him’
Was Henry VI repsonsible for the loss of France?
Debated by historians
Was it his fault, or was the peace-policy created by his advisors.
Henry was certainly committed to peace after 1445, secretly offering to surrender two towns to the French, against the policy of defending England’s French gains carried by his nobles
Whoever’s fault, Henry’s decision to pursue peace was disasterous
The bankrupcy of the English government
Due to Henry VI’s excessive generosity, the government was bankrupt in 1450.
A trade depression reduced income to £33,000 a year, and with debts of £372,000 the government could not get credit.
The ‘madness’ of Henry VI
After 1450, he was a political pawn of his advisors and wife.
In 1453 he succumbed to a nervous breakdown, he could no longer govern; York was made Protector of England.
Henry had no character, easily manipulated by anyone.
