The Origins Of Conflict (1450-59) Flashcards
Henry VI ends his minority
- at 16, Henry declared the end of his minority in Nov 1437
- youngest king to assume personal control
- he had none of the experience of his predecessors, and had never seen another monarch of England at work
- he was peace loving and remarkably merciful
- concerned with managing the feuds between leading members of the nobility
- deeply religious man with a keen interest in education (founded Eton college and King’s college, Cambridge)
- these interests were at the cost of his duties, he didn’t throw as much energy into governing as he should
- his uncontrolled distribution of titles, offices, lands and pensions to his friends, which developed a ‘court party’ which controlled access to the king
Causes of the WoR’s
5 main causes:
- baronial factions
- weakness of Henry VI
- collapse of English Power in France
- English economic matters
- Cade’s rebellion
long-term cause - deposition of Richard II by Henry IV set a precedent that usurping was ok
Henry VI’s economic policy
- in the 1450’s government was bankrupt
- a trade depression reducing government income to under £33,000 a year
- England had debt of £372,000
- unable to get credit and couldn’t pay for anything
- much of the debt result of Henry’s generosity to his friends
Weakness of Henry VI
- his frequent interventions in foreign policy before 1450 had disastrous results
- his uncontrolled distribution of titles, offices, lands and pensions to his friends developed a ‘court party’ that controlled access to the king
- he was committed to peace after 1445, secretly surrendered Anjou and Maine to France, his decision to pursue peace was in the end disastrous
Collapse of English power in France
War with France led to increased factional rivalry:
- rivalry sparked from loss of Normandy between Duke of York and Duke of Somerset
- Somerset’s behaviour as lieutenant and governor-general of France between 1447-49 angered York
- Somerset surrender Rouen on 1449
- he paid a ransom for the release of himself, his family, and his retinue but left hostages behind
- he retreated to Caen and surrendered the town on 1450 again leaving hostages
War increased financial difficulty:
- the longer the war continued, the greater the burden of taxes
- crown in debt, owed £372,000 and Richard, Duke of York owed £38,000
- regular annual income fell from £120,000 (reign of HIV) to £45,000
- defeat denied the opportunity to reward loyalty with grants of land in France
- death of Duke of Bedford (general in France) in 1435
- Treaty of Tours (1444) - Henry to marry Anjou
- complete loss of Normandy in 1450
Baronial factions
Neville - Percy dispute:
- shared duty of protecting Scottish border
- 1453-54 erupted into private war, throwing Yorkshire into chaos
- Thomas Percy and sir John Neville at centre of dispute
- through marriage some Percy lands now in hands of Nevilles, Percy’s attacked Neville wedding
- 1453 Nevilles associated with Warwick
- Warwick in conflict with Somerset
- Percy’s sided with King + Somerset
- Nevilles joined forces with York as he was rivals with Somerset at this time
York’s feud with Somerset:
- York served twice as lieutenant of France, but replaced by Somerset
- suspected Somerset to have ‘kingly ambitions’ (grandson of John of Gaunt)
- **York was owed £38,000 by crown, wanted money or a role, was appointed lieutenant of Ireland but debts remained unpaid
Cade’s rebellion (1450)
Causes:
- discontent with Govt
- situation in France
- economic crisis
- Duke of Suffolk + Lord Saye singled out for blame
- Bishop of Chichester murdered by mob
- Suffolk accused of treason and sent to tower of London on 28th Jan 1450
- king intervened and banished him for 5 years
- as he was leaving he was captured by privateers and beheaded 2nd May 1450
Events:
11th Jun - rebels made camp on Blackheath
18th Jun - king sent Sir Humphrey Stafford to meet them in Blackheath but they had left once arrived so followed them into Kent
- kings men ambushed and Stafford killed
19th Jun - this frightened those around king and they asked him to arrest Lord Saye and others named by rebels which he did and then left London
3rd Jul - rebels entered London looting what they could
5th Jul - Londoners fought back and rebels forced out
7th Jul - royal pardon issued for rebels accept Jack Cade
12th Jul - Jack Cade captured on died of his wounds
Outcome: Henry shown himself to be weak and indecisive
The loss of Normandy
- the death of John, Duke of Bedford in 1435 and the defection of the Duke of Burgundy to the French side made conquering France no longer realistic
- Henry VI showed little interest in France, and as a result came the Treaty of Tours in 1444 which betrothed Henry to Margaret of Anjou
- by 1450 England had completely lost Normandy
Influence of Richard, Duke of York
Yorks grievances:
- £38,000 was owed to him by the crown
- he was heir presumptive and the closest male relative to Henry but not in the kings court
- he was replaced as lieutenant of France by Duke of Somerset
- suspected Somerset of having kingly ambitions
- suspected Anjou of favouring Somerset
- was appointed lieutenant of Ireland (lesser position)
return of York:
- he left Ireland without permission and presented to king with a list of grievances:
- first bill: addressed his position as heir, his debt and his advice being ignored
- second bill: addressed evil councillors (Somerset) his connections to Cade rebellion
- Henry chose to ignore the demands as soon as the Parliament had been dissolved so York resorted to force
Dartford coup:
- Feb 1452 Yorks army met the kings forces at Dartford
- York was outnumbered and forced to submit
- compelled to make a public apology and took a solemn oath to remain faithful to
first protectorate:
- Aug 1453 Henry lapsed into a catatonic state
- 13th Oct Prince Edward born but due to catatonic state, Henry did not recognise his as heir
- council attempted to sideline York but by Nov 1453 he was in London with a retinue to protect his interest
- 23rd Nov Somerset was arrested and interned in the Tower of London
- Anjou made plans to become regent, this appalled the council, who were now more willing to support York
- 27th March 1454 York was made protector
- York put his own supporters into key positions:
- Salisbury appointed chancellor
- Thomas Bouchier became Archbishop of Canterbury
- York took back position as Captain of Calais from Somerset
- ordered Anjou to be removed to Windsor
- however, he was also a fair and conscientious protector as he:
- reduced expenditure at court
- introduced expenditure of royal household
- started to restore order in the North
- Henry VI recovered 25th Dec and within a month York was sidelined again
- Henry undid all York achieved, releasing Somerset and restoring his captaincy of Calais and dismissed Salisbury as chancellor
- 21st April 1455 Henry summoned a council meeting at Leicester and York and Nevilles were summoned and told to disband their retinues but they did not attend
second protectorate:
- was protector Nov 1455 - Feb 1456
- after St Albans, main offices were claimed by Yorkists and the July 1455 Parliament was packed with Yorkists, which is why York was made protector a 2nd time
- he ordered an ordinate to limit the size of the royal household Nov1454
- this provoked huge opposition from Anjou and also the House of Lords, and York seemed to be aware he was about to be dismissed so he resigned himself
The 1st battle of St Albans (22nd May 1455)
causes:
- Yorkists causes:
- Dartford coup
- not attending Leicester council
- belief York was plotting downfall of Henry
- Lancastrian causes:
- Henry undoing Yorkshire changes during protectorship
- Somerset still in powerful position
- York still feeling sidelined
events:
- forces met at St Albans 22nd May 1455
- Royalists took position in town and final attempt at negotiation
- Yorkists breached royalist defences
- Yorkists intent on forcing way up town, but outcome decided by Nevilles; Warwick cut through gates and backs of house to flank
- caused Royalists to flee and Somerset, Northumberland and Clifford killed, Henry also wounded with an arrow
- York and Nevilles led Henry into St Albans Abbey where they knelt and begged for forgiveness showing they were still loyal
outcomes:
- Somerset, Clifford etc killed, creating future blood feuds
- first battle of the WoR starting the wars off
- Yorkists started to claim important offices of state: York = constable of England, Warwick = Captain of Calais
The uneasy peace
York and Anjou rivalry:
- she became Yorks main opposition of Somersets death
- Anjou could not longer count on Henry so she had to exert her own authority
- Anjou moved her family to Coventry and established a court their, and once their, she was surrounded by close allies
civil unrest:
- country wasn’t at war, but tension was never far bellow everyday life
- occasional riots in London (e.g. one against Italian merchants who were thought to be undermining wool market in Flanders)
- anarchy was overtaking the country and neither Henry nor Anjou were capable of doing anything
Warwick:
- he was building up strength in Calais and encouraged his captains to engage in piracy
- he opened communications with French court and Duke of Burgundy
- was excluded from power and council meetings in August
Warwick and Anjou rivalry:
- Anjou complained to Henry about Warwicks behaviour
- council summoned him and he crossed channel with armed retinue and marched into London
- kitchen worker almost stabbed him with a split and he insisted it was an attempt at his life but Anjou denied it
- fights between Warwicks men and royal guard broke out
- Anjou encouraged council to arrest him
’love day’:
- 24th March 1458 Henry attempted to gain peace in a parade
- feast of annunciation turned into colourful piece of political theatre
- the king walked ahead with crown, and York walked hand in hand with Anjou, followed by Salisbury and Somerset
preparations for war:
- Anjou was hoarding arms, removed 3,000 bows and arrows from Tower of London to Coventry
- meeting summoned on 24th June, York and Nevilles didnt attend for safety
