Why did Suffolk fall from power? (1450)

Question 1

Main reasons for Suffolk’s fall from power

Answer 1

Suffolk’s Unpopular Control of Court;
Suffolk’s Failure to Substitute for Henry VI;
Collapsing English Position in France;
Desire for ‘Scapegoat’ in the Nobility

Question 2

What happened in Suffolk’s fall?

Answer 2

28 Jan 1450 - Suffolk arrested, impeached and imprisoned in the Tower of London
Feb-Mar 1450 - Commons repeatedly bring charges to Suffolk
1 May 1450 - King (basically forced) exiles Suffolk for 5 years in an attempt to save his life
2 May 1450 - the ship ‘Nicholas of the Tower’ intercepts Suffolk on the way to France, and after a mock trial he is beheaded. His body is thrown onto a beach near Dover

Question 3

Suffolk’s Unpopular Control of Court

Answer 3

• Dominated an unpopular government: due to corruption and losses in France,
  associated with similarly hated Cardinal Beaufort
• Was a ‘hated favourite’ of Henry VI: attracted jealousy from nobility,
  isolated King from other advisors,
  purged court rivals despite no formal office

CA: dismisses influence of Henry VI and other hated favourites, e.g. Lord Saye, Somerset

Question 4

Suffolk’s Failure to Substitute for Henry VI

Answer 4

• Henry VI was a poor leader but a King is irreplaceable: a King must militarily responsible and able to give patronage (which is impossible for a noble)
• a King must be impartial, which was impossible for a noble with influence to protect (e.g. effective control of the Duchy of Lancaster created private interests)

CA: not Suffolk’s fault, no-one can substitute for a weak King. Must be Henry’s fault

Question 5

Collapsing English Position in France

Answer 5

• Seen as traitor and saboteur: part of peace party,
  negotiated unpopular marriage of Henry VI to French Margaret of Anjou,
  allegedly surrendered Maine in 1448,
  didn’t financially support Normandy defences
• Seen as reason for losses: territorial losses = loss of national pride in nobility and lower classes,
  losses threatened livelihood of colonial class in France,
  responsible for failed attack on Fougeres in Mar 1449 which caused Breton Duke Francis I to switch allegiances and ally with Charles VII of France and ultimately losing N France

CA: dismisses involvement of King Henry VI in marriage and war, or Somerset since he was Lieutenant of France and in France at the time (unlike Suffolk)

Question 6

Desire for ‘Scapegoat’ in the Nobility

Answer 6

• Bishop Adam Moleyns killed on 9 Jan 1450 in Portsmouth by soliders and brewing instability at home: need to appease mobs at home and Suffolk’s protected exile would calm mobs, since most blame was on him
• Nobles were happy to rewrite history to throw Suffolk under the bus: John Popham (Y) blamed Suffolk as early as Nov 1449

CA: why choose Suffolk to blame? Why not Lord Saye, Somerset or Crowmer?