York’s period of ascendance, 1454-1456

Question 1

Which heir to the Mortimer claim resented being kept out of the King’s inner circle between 1451 and 1453?

Answer 1

Richard of York

Question 2

Which noble family, alienated by a feud with Somerset and hostile to his Percy allies had become strong Yorkists by the end of 1453?

Answer 2

Nevilles

Question 3

Who descended into madness in early August 1453 and was completely unresponsive?

Answer 3

Henry VI

Question 4

Who unsuccessfully attempted to claim the regency on behalf of her new-born son in February 1454?

Answer 4

Queen Margaret

Question 5

Who was the violent Duke of Exeter that allied with Lord Egremont to undermine York’s rule in May 1454?

Answer 5

Henry Holland

Question 6

Who was Thomas Percy, the younger son of the Earl of Northumberland, who allied with Exeter against York in 1454?

Answer 6

Lord Egremont

Question 7

What was the sole English possession in France by 1453, it had a highly trained garrison?

Answer 7

Calais

Question 8

What office did York grant to himself in 1454 after removing it from Somerset?

Answer 8

Captain of Calais

Question 9

When did York capture the Duke of Exeter for challenging his first protectorate?

Answer 9

July 1454

Question 10

Which private feud did Richard of York try to solve in 1454?

Answer 10

Courtenay-Bonville

Question 11

Where was Exeter and Egremont’s rebel forces defeated by Sir Thomas and Sir John Neville in late October 1454?

Answer 11

Stamford Bridge

Question 12

Who plotted to kill York during the First Protectorate?

Answer 12

Exeter and Egremont

Question 13

Who was found at fault in the Courtenay-Bonville feud in 1454, and York then lost his support?

Answer 13

Thomas Courtenay, Earl of Devon

Question 14

Who was the Earl of Wiltshire that intervened to support Lord Bonville against Courtenay in 1454?

Answer 14

James Butler

Question 15

In whose hands were the Calais garrison at the start of the First Protectorate?

Answer 15

Somerset’s deputies (Lords Welles and Rivers)

Question 16

Who did Richard of York try, unsuccessfully, to put on trial in 1454?

Answer 16

Edmund Beaufort

Question 17

Which local gentry dispute in Derbyshire did York try to deal with in 1454?

Answer 17

Longford-Blount feud

Question 18

Whose manor was sacked by his Derbyshire neighbours in 1454?

Answer 18

Sir William Blount

Question 19

What was the punishment given to the Duke of Exeter and Lord Egremont for their rebellion against the First protectorate?

Answer 19

Fines

Question 20

Who did York fail to gain support for his cause to reform government in 1454?

Answer 20

The Lords

Question 21

When did Henry VI descend into a period of madness, leading ultimately to York’s first protectorate?

Answer 21

August 1453

Question 22

Who successfully opposed York’s planned protectorate but then died in March 1454?

Answer 22

Cardinal Kemp

Question 23

At the end of which month was Richard of York made protector for the first time?

Answer 23

March 1454

Question 24

Which ally of York’s became Chancellor of England in April 1454?

Answer 24

Earl of Salisbury

Question 25

Which son of Henry VI was born in October 1453?

Answer 25

Edward of Wales

Question 26

When did Richard of York’s first protectorate end?

Answer 26

February 1455

Question 27

When did Henry VI recover his sanity?

Answer 27

Christmas 1454

Question 28

Where was a Great Council planned for late May 1455 that the Yorkists feared?

Answer 28

Leicester

Question 29

Who was immediately restored to favour by Henry VI in early 1455?

Answer 29

Somerset

Question 30

Where did Yorkist forces apprehend the royal army on 22 May 1455?

Answer 30

St Albans

Question 31

What was Richard of York’s second period of rule, following his victory at St Albans, lasting from 1455 to 1456?

Answer 31

Second Protectorate

Question 32

When did Richard of York formally become protector for the second time?

Answer 32

November 1455

Question 33

Which Yorkist noble cleverly moved through back lanes and gardens at St Albans, catching the royal force by surprise?

Answer 33

Earl of Warwick

Question 34

What was the First Battle of the Wars of the Roses in 1455, where Somerset and Northumberland were killed?

Answer 34

First Battle of St Albans

Question 35

Who was captured by Yorkist forces at the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 35

Henry VI

Question 36

Which royal favourite was killed at the First Battle of St. Albans on 22 May 1455?

Answer 36

Edmund Beaufort

Question 37

Who did Parliament declare to blame for the Battle at St Albans in 1455 (along with two other minor household men)?

Answer 37

Somerset

Question 38

Who did Richard of York make a deal with in order to secure the payment of the garrison at Calais in February 1456?

Answer 38

Merchants of the Staple

Question 39

Who did York make Captain of Calais in 1455?

Answer 39

Warwick

Question 40

Who was the Earl of Northumberland who sided with Somerset and was killed fighting alongside him at the First Battle of St Albans?

Answer 40

Henry Percy

Question 41

Where did Henry Percy’s death have a short-term calming effect during York’s Second Protectorate?

Answer 41

North of England

Question 42

Which lord, in addition to Somerset and Northumberland, was killed at St Albans?

Answer 42

Lord Clifford

Question 43

Who was the Duke of Buckingham who fought against York in the First Battle of St Albans but participated in the Second Protectorate?

Answer 43

Humphrey Stafford

Question 44

Which gentry dispute in the north Midlands was Buckingham able to arbitrate successfully during York’s Second Protectorate?

Answer 44

Vernon-Gresley

Question 45

What did York give to people other than just those that supported him, which lead to more noble support in later 1455?

Answer 45

Grants

Question 46

Where were there major disturbances in 1455 due to its gentry being too independent and powerful?

Answer 46

Wales

Question 47

Who exploited his office in Wales for maximum financial gain and earned out of criminal activities with impunity?

Answer 47

Gruffudd ap Nicholas

Question 48

Which noble family rampaged through Devon between October and December 1455?

Answer 48

Courtenays

Question 49

Which servant of Lord Bonville was murdered in October 1455, reigniting the feud between him and Devon?

Answer 49

Nicholas Radford

Question 50

Where was local violence particularly bad, primarily due to a unresolved feud between Courtenay and Bonville?

Answer 50

Devon

Question 51

When did Richard of York’s second period as Protector end?

Answer 51

February 1456

Question 52

With whom was York involved in a diplomatic dispute between May and August 1456 with Henry VI’s support?

Answer 52

James II of Scotland

Question 53

When was Warwick finally able to take up his post as Captain of Calais?

Answer 53

July 1456

Question 54

By the end of what month had York’s last appointees to government been removed?

Answer 54

October 1456

Question 55

At which Great Council in October 1456 were unsuccessful attempts made to put York on trial?

Answer 55

Coventry