Why did the Lancastrians lose the throne in 1461

Question 1

what are the 4 main theories for why the Lancastrians lost the throne in 1461?

Answer 1

• Long-Term Lancastrian Errors
• Lancastrian Errors 1460-61
• Actions of the Nevilles
• Actions of Edward IV

Question 2

what are some limitations to the theory that it was long-term lancastrian errors that cost them the throne in 1461?

Answer 2

• Margaret gathered large noble support (e.g. Beaufort, Percy, Clifford, Talbot and Stafford)​​
• The Lancastrian army was larger than the Yorkist at Towton and the battle was decisive. ​

Question 3

what are some limitations to the theory that is was Lancastrian failures 1460-61 that cost them the throne?

Answer 3

• Margaret was not in a strong enough position to challenge the Yorkists immediately after Northampton; only after York’s death at Wakefield did she felt strong enough to advance south.​
• The ‘northern’ force was, in reality, from all over England, including the Midlands and South West. ​
• Towton: The strength and direction of the wind and the snow severely hampered the Lancastrians at Towton; this was out of their control.​

Question 4

what is a limitation to the theory that it was the Actions of the Nevilles which caused the Lancastrians to lose the throne in 1461?

Answer 4

Warwick had been defeated and lost possession of Henry VI at the Second Battle of St Albans (17 February 1461).​

Question 5

what is a limitation to the theory that it was the actions of Edward of York which caused the Lancastrians to lose the throne in 1461?

Answer 5

Towton: The late arrival of the Duke of Norfolk (John de Mowbray) arguably saved Edward IV at Towton but was not a part of his strategy. ​

Question 6

what are the 3 main ways the actions of Edward of York helped him claim the throne in 1461?

Answer 6

• he had proved his military skill at Northampton (10 July 1460), and again at Mortimer’s Cross (2 February 1461).
• he was not just a puppet of Warwick; he had his own forceful personality.
• he was quick to exploit the Lancastrian retreat and rapidly took possession of London.​

Question 7

how was Edward of York’s victory at Mortimer’s Cross important in helping him claim the throne?

Answer 7

His victory at Mortimer’s Cross (in which he exploited the parhelion for morale) prevented the Lancastrians from gaining important Welsh reinforcements from the Tudors.​

Question 8

what evidence is there that Edward of York was not just a puppet of Warwick, suggesting his actions were a major reason for why he gained the throne in 1461?

Answer 8

• Although Edward used forces raised by the Nevilles, ultimately his power to claim the throne and to fight the Lancastrians came from an army he had raised from the Welsh and Marcher estates of his own family.
• Edward had secured the loyalty of those who had long supported his father; they had no loyalty to the Nevilles (e.g. William Hastings and William Herbert)

Question 9

how was Edward of York instrumental in the Yorkist victory at Towton, suggesting his actions were a major reason for why he gained the throne in 1461?

Answer 9

• Edward directly participated in the battle at Towton, in stark contrast to Henry VI
• Edward took command of the left wing of his army at Towton when it was in major disarray.
• Edward allegedly killed his horse to demonstrate that he was not going to flee the battle - this raised morale. ​

Question 10

how was Edward of York’s actions in preparation for Towton, instrumental in the Yorkist victory there, suggesting his actions were a major reason for why he gained the throne in 1461?

Answer 10

• he moved quickly to assemble his force that departed from London on 13 March 1461.
• He slowed his advance when he reached Pontefract in Yorkshire (27 March) to allow recruits to join so that he soon had a massive army at Towton. ​

Question 11

how was Lord Fauconberg instrumental in the Yorkist victory at Towton, suggesting Neville actions were a major reason for why Edward gained the throne in 1461?

Answer 11

• William Neville (Lord Fauconberg, Warwick’s uncle) led the Yorkist vanguard from London on 11 March 1461. Warwick fought and was injured at Ferrybridge. ​
• Lord Fauconberg directed the Yorkist archers at Towton effectively, to take advantage of the wind and to re-use the Lancastrian arrows. ​

Question 12

how was George Neville instrumental in helping Edward gain the throne in 1461,suggesting Neville actions were a major reason for the Lancastrians lost the throne?

Answer 12

• he seems to have been the organiser of Edward’s successful entry into London in March 1461.​
• He first mentioned Edward’s title to the throne in a sermon on 1 March 1461​ where he detailed the offenses of HVI, particularly how he had reneged upon the Act of Accord by joining the Lancastrians, and how Ed’s superior title should now take effect
• He repeated this in another sermon on 4 March and refuted possible objections​

Question 13

how was Warwick instrumental in helping Edward gain the throne in 1461, suggesting Neville actions were a major reason for the Lancastrians lost the throne?

Answer 13

• he raised forces in the midlands whilst Edward IV was securing his title in London.
• he successfully dealt with the challenge of the bastard of Exeter who was trying to raise forces for the Lancastrians.

Question 14

how was Warwick’s defeat of the bastard of exeter helpful for the Yorkists in their attempt on the throne 1461?

Answer 14

• bastard of exeter was representative of the lancastrian court that had previously centred on Coventry and Kenilworht
• The bastard of Exeter was executed by Warwick at Coventry
• Coventry sent 40 men to support Edward IV even though it had traditionally been the centre of Lancastrian power.​

Question 15

what evidence is there that Warwick was instrumental in the Lancastrian loss of the throne 1461?

Answer 15

• Francesco Coppini was present in London and remarked that Warwick had made a king out of the son of the Duke of York; suggests that Warwick was dominant.​

Question 16

how did the Lancastrians undermine their position at Towton, suggesting Lancastrian failures 1460-61 were a major reason for they lost the throne?

Answer 16

• Henry VI was not even present at the Battle of Towton due to his own aversion to violence and his piety (it was Palm Sunday). This did not inspire loyalty into his army. ​
• The Lancastrian forces at Towton were the larger force but positioned themselves in such a way that retreat was perilous (across Cock Beck).

Question 17

what are the 3 main Lancastrian errors 1460-61, which may have cost them the throne?

Answer 17

• timing errors
• Margaret had allowed the conflict to become a regional one
• Failures in London

Question 18

what timing error did Margaret make 1460-61 which may have contributed to the Lancastrian loss of the throne 1461?

Answer 18

• Margaret allowed too much time to elapse after the Battle of Northampton (July 1460) before attempting to return to London
• six months of division undermined the faith of the lords that national unity could be revived.​

Question 19

how did Margaret allow the conflict to become a regional one, suggesting Lancastrian failures 1460-61 were a major reason for they lost the throne?

Answer 19

• many felt it was her ‘northern’ Lancastrian army against the south, which made people turn to the Yorkists for protection.
• Her alliance with the Scots added to this perception.​
• Margaret’s return to the north after failing to enter London (February 1461) reinforced the perception that she now embodied northern interests.​
• at the same time, the lords of the South, the Marches, and the Midlands were increasingly drawn into the royal government of the Calais lords

Question 20

how did Margaret fail in London, suggesting Lancastrian failures 1460-61 were a major reason for they lost the throne?

Answer 20

• Margaret’s claims that she would grant clemency to the citizens of London if they let her in were not believed because of her previous conduct. ​
• The citizens of London may well have been affected by the traditional perception of northerners as wild and barbaric and thus acted out of fear of Margaret’s army e.g. looting at St. Albans; whilst this may not have affected the may the nobility dealt with each other, it may have encouraged the resistance of the London mob and the subsequent refusal of the civic authorities to admit Margaret to London

Question 21

what are the 3 main long-term Lancastrian failures, which may have cost them the throne?

Answer 21

• alienation of the people and nobility/regional polarisation
• attempt to rebuild the Lancastrian affinity into a private power base (retinue)
• regional polarisation
• Margaret had failed to reconstruct the power of the duchy of lancaster

Question 22

how did Margaret alienate the people, suggesting long-term Lancastrian failures cost them the throne?

Answer 22

Margaret’s rule 1456-1460 was openly partisan, built on Lancastrian power based in a Lancastrian capital at Coventry rather than the national capital, and so alienated those who had not demonstrated complete devotion to her. ​

Question 23

how did Margaret create regional polarisation, suggesting long-term Lancastrian failures cost them the throne?

Answer 23

Margaret’s focus on Lancashire, Cheshire and north Wales as sources of men and money made the conflict increasingly regional.​

Question 24

what evidence is there that Margaret had alienated the gentry/nobility, suggesting long-term failures cost them the throne?

Answer 24

• Margaret’s appointment of household men as sheriffs in the late 1450s was either: A policy that excluded others and so turned people against her regime​ or more likely An indication that she lacked the wider support of the gentry so had to fall back on the few household men that she trusted; the government was less able to trust the gentry, while the genry were less willing to commit themselves

Question 25

why did Margaret’s attempt to rebuild the Lancastrian affinity into a private power base undermine their hold on the throne?

Answer 25

• this only demonstrated her weakness as only a usurper king needed one of these
• there is an argument (Carpenter) that this policy had the practical effect of turning Henry VI back into a private subject, the duke of Lancaster; just another great lord - real kings were given the power over their subjects with open hands

Question 26

what evidence is there that Margaret had failed to reconstruct the power of the duchy of lancaster?

Answer 26

• lack of midland gentry on the Lancastrian side in battles 1459-1461. ​
• even at Blore Heath, fought in Staffordshire, north midland nobles and gentry seem not to have been greatly in evidence; most of her army appears to have come from the neighbouring county of Cheshire