What role did Margaret of Anjou play? (1450-59)

Question 1

What role did Margaret play before 1453?

• before Henry’s illness (Aug 1453)
• before birth of Edward, Prince of Wales (Oct 1453)

Answer 1

Didn’t like York:
- saw him as a dynastic threat as heir presumptive
- opposed his pro-war stance

Associated with Suffolk + Somerset to isolate York:
- aligned with pro-peace stance
- (allegedly) influenced replacement of York with Somerset in France, 1447
- granted Somerset 100 mark/yr from Nov 1451 onwards

As a woman, diplomatic:
- sent gifts to Yorkist supporters to discourage support to Yorkists
- Cecily Neville (York’s wife) wrote to Margaret after Dartford to improve his position
- used informal influence on Henry to affect favourites

As a French woman restricted:
- French, unpopular with many English
- childless, highly restrictive
- Had to act through men e.g. Somerset

Question 2

What role did Margaret play 1453-54 (attempted regency)?

• Henry goes into a catatonic stupor (Aug 1453)
• Edward of Wales born (Oct 1453)

Answer 2

Raised Edward of Wales:
- born 13th Oct 1453
- solved succession, York is no longer heir presumptive
- travelled to Windsor in Dec 1453 to wake Henry with new son, failed

Attempted to take regency during madness:
- in name of Edward of Wales
- made claim in Jan-Feb 1454
- only supported by Viscount Beaumont, failed

Limited by medieval beliefs on gender:
- in England, women couldn’t hold role in government. Only diplomacy on King’s behalf
- couldn’t distribute patronage
- couldn’t lead military

Question 3

What role did Margaret play before 1454-56 (York’s dominance and reaction after it)?

• gradually undermined York
• after end of Second Protectorate, took control of government

Answer 3

Focus on Edward of Wales:
- invested Edward as Prince of Wales and heir (9th June 1454)
- less focus on Henry, more on Ed

More active resistance to York:
- attempt to reduce Queen’s spending to 10,000 marks/yr seen as personal attack
- saw St. Albans as attack on dynasty and permanence of Lancastrians

After 2nd Protectorate removed Yorkist control and replaced with her favourites:
- removed Yorkist-sympathising Bourchiers from government
- appointed Lawrence Booth as Keeper of the Privy Seal on 24th Sept 1456
- replaced Viscount Bourchier with Shrewsbury as Treasurer on 5th Oct 1456
- replaced Thomas Bourchier with William Waynflete as Chancellor on 11th Oct 1456
- all Yorkists removed by Oct 1456

Question 4

What role did Margaret play before 1457-59 (Margaret’s dominance)?

Answer 4

Informal influence:
- still used informal influence on Henry to affect favourites
- built informal relations with families of dead at St. Albans (Beauforts, Percies, Cliffords) who wanted revenge against York

Marriages create Lancastrian powerbase:
- Margaret’s cousin, Marie + Devon’s heir in 1457
- Margaret Beaufort + Henry Stafford in Jan 1458
- Buckingham’s daughter + Shrewsbury’s son in July 1458

Power in government:
- moved court to Coventry in April 1456
- created Prince’s Council in Jan 1457 to control land in NW England and N Wales for Edward. Made appointments on 28th Jan
- brought charges against Yorkists in Wales in April 1457, Camarthen + Aberystwyth given to Jasper Tudor
- hijacked Loveday plans in March 1458 reinforced anti-Yorkist sentiment
- summoned Warwick to answer to piracy charges in Nov 1458. Potential assassination attempt?
- didn’t invite Yorkists to Great Council in June 1459, sparked conflict
- key role in calling Parliament of Devils, Nov-Dec 1459, attainted 27 Yorkists