York’s Growing Ambitions Flashcards
York and his supporters were incensed by the return
of Somerset, as well as fearful of potential reprisals by their
enemies. What happened as a result
In April, therefore, they left the king’s court without permission and on 22 May 1455 the two sides met at the First Battle of St Albans, a conflict which is often regarded as the
first real battle of the Wars of the Roses.
First Battle of WOR date
22 May 1455
Who won first battle of WOR
Here, the Yorkists were
victorious against an army led (in theory at least) by Henry VI;
Somerset was killed, as was Richard Neville’s old rival, Henry
Percy, earl of Northumberland. Shockingly, the king himself was
wounded in the neck during the battle, highlighting both the
political and physical danger the monarch was in at this time.
Henry’s other leading supporter, the duke of Buckingham, was
wounded in the face.
York’s victory at St Albans meant
placed him back at
the heart of political power and, in November 1455, this role was
formalised when the duke was once again made Defender and
Protector of the Realm on the grounds that Henry was not well
enough to discharge his duties personally. Prince Edward’s position
as heir to the throne was also emphasised.
York’s main gain from the Second Protectorate
The new prominence given to Richard Neville. Increasily began to take pre-eminence over his own father, becoming York’s right-hand man. He was granted the Captaincy of Calais which gave him an important powerbase during late 1450s, which he used to great effect in his support of the Yorkist cause
What did nobility cause during 2nd protectorate
significant section of the nobility also remained uncertain about the growing power of York and
was unwilling to give the duke unqualified backing. Some of the nobility were also fearful of the fact
that York might have given in to pressure from the Commons in parliament to agree to an Act of
Resumption, taking back into crown ownership lands that had been granted all too freely to them by
Henry VI. As a result, in February 1456, York was removed as Protector although he continued to
play a significant role in the king’s council.
Why did Henry start to turn against York
1459, Henry VI was convinced by Margaret of Anjou, her new ally
Humphrey Stafford, duke of Buckingham and sons of those killed at the Battle of St Albans that York was plotting to seize the throne
In June, after King had been poisoned aginst York, the Great Council met at Coventry with only Lancastrians present.what was decided?
decided to accuse the
Yorkist leaders of treason, and Buckingham raised an army to defeat York and his supporters.
Was Buckingham successful?
York remained in the Welsh Marches at this stage, awaiting military support from the Nevilles. This aid
was intercepted by Lancastrian troops. the Yorkists were in a difficult
military position and they fled rather than face Henry VI and his Lancastrian supporters at Ludford
Bridge in October 1459. York and his second son sailed to Ireland, while Salisbury, Warwick and
York’s eldest son, Edward, earl of March, fled to Calais.
What is an entailed estate
A legal term referring to property that has a pre-ordered line of succession. In other words, an individual cannot leave the land to whomever he wishes in his will. Insteadc it is already decided that the land will, for example, pass to the eldest son of each generation.
What happened at nov 1459 Parliament of Devils
Warwick york salisbury convicted of teeason sentenced to death and land and goods seized. Unusually, also ordered that heirs of traitors were not allowed to inherit entailed estates, which was regarded as an unjust breach of custom
While in exile, the Yorkists sought to build up resources and influence to enable them to return to
England in force. How?
Despite his ‘traitor’ status, the duke
negotiated with Anglo-Irish political leaders while in Ireland and granted them considerable, unprecedented levels of political recognition and autonomy at the Drogheda parliament of 1460. In
return, the duke gained a large number of archers and other resources to assist with his attack.
What helped Yorkist cause after Parliament of Devils
Warwick’s influence in Calais and the town’s important strategic location. Provided them with considerable numbers of armed troops and a base to operate from on the Channel. Warwick also able to raise money via piracy, mainly against French, increasing popular standing in England, especially in capital (disquiet regarding a slump in trade and govt policies that appread to favour foreign merchants over eng citizens)
What did the careful use of propaganda by the Yorkists mean
June, when Salisbury, Warwick and March landed in Sandwich in Kent, they received considerable support, particularly (and rather unsurprisingly) in Kent, the former seat of Cade’s
rebellion, as well as in London.
