unit 3 - the war of the barons 1459 - 1461 Flashcards
what was the parliament of devils - nov 1459
in november, queen margaret persuaded henry to call a parliament in coventry in order to disgrace york and his supporters publicly. margaret wanted to destroy york and his heirs and they were attained - Act of attainder
what was the act of attainder?
branded york, salisbury and warwick traitors - most severe punishment possible: - sentenced to death, if caught would be executed; lands and goods forfeited and seized by the crown - all heirs would be disinherited = not only impoverishes family but violated long held traditional custom
what was the response to the parliament of devils?
disinheriting heirs was considered too extreme a punishment even for treason nobility felt margaret was going too far and felt a dangerous precedent had been set hence why it was called parliament of devils
what was the significance of the parliament of devils?
seemed like a success for margaret - gets what she wants and has york removed shock nobles - some turn against the crown york cause ‘resuscitated’ by harshness of parliament york left with nothing to lose - henrys placement? margaret may have turned york into the enemy she had styled him as - left with no choice but to fight back?
what was the significance of the Nevilles during 1459 - 1461?
- importance of the calais garrison: provided a skilled and experienced military, economic importance, use as a place of refuge - warwick secured their loyalty through piracy making their fiercely loyal to him
what were the aims of the yorkist invasion?
warwick left ireland to discuss campaign lord fauconberg led a raid which secured the port for yorkist invasion propoganda campaign - blamed evil counsellors 26 june 1460 = the yorkist forces, army of 2000, led by warwick, salisbury and edward (iv) landed in sandwich and marched triumphantly to london, recruiting supporters 2 july 1460 - yorkist forces arrive in london and are greeted as heroes. henry summoned supporters to southampton
10 July 1460
the battle of northampton
The battle of Northampton
disastrous for the lancastrians - defeated in 30 minutes - 300-400 men were killed - defection of lord grey aided the yorkists, turning the battle into a rout - lancastrian guns were bogged down, unable to cope with wet conditions - three of henrys leading supports - buckingham, shrewsbury, egremont - all killed - henry captured and taken to london - continue to proclaim loyalty - queen margaret and prince edward fled 10 july 1460
richards return - september 1460
richard moved to press his claim based on the illegitimacy of the lancastrian line landed in north wales - entered monarchy with ceremony reserved for a monarch parliament assembled, expected london to encourage him to take for himself - stunned silence announced his claim to the throne lords were stunned, even warwick and salisbury, were shocked. they had no desire to overthrow henry at this stage. their ambition was still remove bad advisers - york always more radical
act of accord - october 1460
the day after richard staked his claim, york produced detailed genealogies to support his claim based on the descent of Lionel of Antwerp parliament agreed to consider the matter and understood the claim was better - voted henry should remain as king a compromise was struck - act of accord recognized york as henrys successor disinheriting henrys son edward york accepted this compromise as it was the best on offer, also made protector of the realm and able to govern in henrys name margaret ordered out of london with prince edward proved unacceptable to lancastrains who formed a large army in the north
what was the problem with the act of accord
shows how much nobility to avoid any further warfare unworkable compromise, never had any real chance of preventing war margaret was certain to protect her sons claim to the throne
what was the Lancastrian revival - 1460
Margarets support had reduced following the battle of Northampton however, she soon began to raise more troops in the north with the help of percy, somerset and others loyal to the lancastrian family The fight was now for the crown
30 December 1460
The battle of Wakefield
The battle of wakefield
30 dec 1460 york, although outnumbered decided to come out of his castle at Sandal, the reasons are unknown York was killed = along with Warwicks father, Salisbury and the earl of rutland he was taunted with a paper crown and put their heads on spikes in york they were under siege by Margarets troops result of the act of accord worsens blood feud further
2 February 2461
Battle of Mortimers Cross
Battle of mortimers cross 2 feb 1461 edward, the new duke of york, aimed to intercept a lancastrian army led by Japer Tudor marching to Hereford Edward won the battle Owen tudor was executed yorkist victory Edward used it as a propoganda stunt, three suns were seen to be rising = convinced troops it represented the holy trinity and therefore God was on his side Sun in Splendour
17 February 1461
Second battle of St albans
Second battle of st Albans
17th feb 1461 after her victory at wakefield, margaret marched south aiming to regain possession of henry vi who was in the custody of warwick queen margaret allowed her troops to pillage and loot villages warwick failed to track margaret and was taken by surprise and fled queen margaret was victorious she regained possession of henry vi lancastrians were denied entry to london out of fear and decided to march north the decision not to take london was a tactical error as it gave edward time to regroup and march on london, which he did arriving on 26th feb
28 March 1461
Battle of Ferrybridge
Battle of Ferrybridge
28 March 1461 edward marched to london where he was welcomed due to fear of Margarets army provided funds for his campaign reflecting the pro-yorkist stance of londoners able to recruit men from kent and east anglia edward was proclaimed king by a small faction of nobles, better claim no parliament and it broke the act of accord so edward would have to march north to confront the queen skirmish that took place before the battle of towton a small lancastrian force led by clifford aimed to stop york from using a river cross lord clifford killed and lancastrians fled warwick was wounded but victorious
29 march 1461
The battle of towton
why did the battle of towton take place?
edward aimed to neutralise the lancastrian threat and confirm his claim to the throne of england
key features of the battle of towton
both sides were evenly matched with about 50,000 troops on each side lancastrians were lined up on the high ground weather played a key role - fought in a snowstorm, blowing in lancastrians faces making them unable to see edward used this to his advantahe - fired archers then stepped back, lancastrians fired blindly - picked up the arrows and reused then failed to note the arrival of the duke of norfolk - final blow broke the bridge at Tadcaster - trapped fleeing troops 28,000 could cross a river on a bridge of bodies bloodiest battle on british soil
what were the consequences, outcomes and significance of the battle of towton
dead - northumberland, devon, wiltshire replaced heads on spikes edward had proved himself an effective leader, provided a kingly leadership - instrumental in the triumph of the yorkists edward was crowned king of england 28 june 1461 had not resolved all the issues - margaret, henry and edward still a threat still many lancastrian supporters take edward several years to quash this famillies still had blood feuds not ended potential for further outbreaks of violence
