Henry VI up until Ed IV 1st reign

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  • Created by: tgrev
  • Created on: 06-02-18 17:51
Why was the reign of Henry VI politically unstable before he came of age
Each country ruled by a council of nobles, who may have made decisions for personal gain. There is room to suggest that he never took full control from his councillors
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Why is Henry judged as such an incapable king
Militarily and physically inept, feeble, indecisive, easily influenced, poor judge of character, poorly dressed (no clout), uncharismatic, did not behave to the social norms of his class. Lack of clout showed royal finance was weak
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How did Henry demonstrate his piousness
Founded Eton, King's College, and Cambridge Uni
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3 difficulties that Henry faced despite being a bad ruler
Following an exceptionally successful father, Treaty of Troyes left Henry with a very complex legacy - in France not many accepted his claim to the throne, Inherited financial difficulty
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How else was Henry hindered
Hereditary mental illness similar to that of Charles VI, contemporaries regarded him as an idiot
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Which noble negotiated the Tours Agreement
The Duke of Suffolk
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3 key terms of the Agreement of Tours
Henry VI to marry Margaret of Anjou, No dowry ot be provided for Margaret, England to surrender area of Maine at the end of the agreement
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Why was the agreement controversial
Stopped military endeavours with France = Nobility had no chance no expand their clout
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Why were nobles opposed to Henry's marriage to Margaret
Regarded as unpatriotic and highly dishonourable
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Why was their hostility towards Margaret
French, arguably inspired factionalism by seeking help from peace seeking nobles, racism and sexism
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Why were the personalities of Henry and Margaret so decisive in shaping the disastrous period 0f 1449-61
Margaret deliberately isolated Richard Duke of York due to his opposition to her allies, Henry's mental incapacity left debate over who should rule - margaret demanding she be made regent = big tension, margaret was allied to the unpopular faction so
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Why was Margaret worried when Richard was made protector of the realm in 1454
Thought he would disinherit his son, further isolating the Queen
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What did Richard do when made protector of the realm (March 1454)
Imprisoned the Duke of Somerset, isolating the Queen
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What was the impact of Henry recovering
Somerset released, factionalism rejuvenated, Richard released of his duties of Protector of the realm, First blows of civil war in May 1455 at Battle of St Albans
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What was the battle of St Albans
Richard, Duke of York , assisted by the Neville's took arms against Henry VI, Somerset and the Percies. Yorkist won with Somerset being killed and branded as a traitor. King was captured and escorted to London.
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Why did Richard and his supporters reinstate the King
In order to claim they went to battle to remove the King of evil councillors, then took oaths of loyalty. It was clear they intended to control the feeble king
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What was a sign of the Yorkists controlling the King
Key political appointments given to Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick who was made Captain of Calais
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What happened when Henry's health again deteriorated in November 1455
York made Protector of the Realm
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Why was Margaret able to undermine Richard Duke of Yorks position
He failed to remove Lancastrian supporters, and the same group removed him as protector of the realm in February 1456
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What was Love Day in 1458
An attempt to reconcile the differences between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists, ultimately unsuccessful, with the two sides preparing for battle at Shropshire in October 1459.
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What happened before the Battle of Shropshire 1459
Yorkists knew of the size of the forces that opposed them, and consequently when into hiding.
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Why is it difficult to evaluate the actions of Margaret of Anjou
1. Chronicle hostility, anti-woman and written to support Yorkist claim to the throne 2. Highly unlikely to affect any key change in govt policy 3. Debate whether she genuinely wanted peace with Richard, instigated the love day parades as much as Hen
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What was the Parliament of Devils (1459)
Condemning leading Yorkists to death, completely disinheriting them and their heirs, harshness of the act attributed to the Queen, but she had a large following so no she-wold
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What happened at the Battle of Northampton (1460)
Warwick and Edward landed in Kent from Ireland, defeated the forces marshalled by Prince Edward, they professed loyalty to the king and just wanted to rid him of evil advisors
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Why did Richard not group up with allies until September
Reasons that are obscure, but quickly began claiming the throne for himself
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What was the Act of Accord of 1460
Parliamentary act which disinherited the Prince and made Richard the heir to the throne
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How did the Lancastrians respond the Act of Accord
Large force surprised the Duke of York at Sandal Castle and killed him on the 30th of December
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What was teh decisive battle that resulted in the Queen fleeing to Scotland with her Son
The Battle of Towton 1461, Edward of March led Yorkists through heavy snow to defeat the Lancastrians. Resulted in Edward being declared King
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3 reason to the Duke of Suffolk's downfall in 1450
1. Negotiated the Tours Agreement of 1444 2. Key advocate of attacks on Fougeres, which led to retaliatory attacks which lost Normandy 3. Regarded as manipulative on king for personal benefit
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How did the Duke of Suffolk die
A heated parliament in 1450 imprisoned him on charges of treason , but due to the King liking him he cleared charges and banished him for 5 years. On his way to the Low Countries, a privateering ship intercepted, had a mock trial and beheaded him
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Why was the downfall of the Duke of Suffolk significant for Henry
Example of an over-mighty subject controlling an under-mighty King, his murder very publicly defied the King
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What was Jack Cade's rebellion
A revolt that started in Kent 1450 due to grievances against Lord Saye an William Crowmer, 2 men noted for their corruption and violence. The 2 men threatened destruction in revenge for decapitation of Duke of Suffolk, which led to rioting
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What did the rebellion signify
Unpopularity of the King, poor maintenance of law and order, financial mismanagement, King's individual weakness
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Which powerful figure was brutally hacked to death by an angry mob in the early stages of the rebllion
Bishop Aiscough, the King's confessor and leading advisor
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Who was the rebellion initially taken up by
Craftsmen, peasants and some lesser gentry, who had a stake in society and a lot to lose through participating
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Which 2 men were killed in an ambush by the rebels
Sir Humphrey Stafford and William Stafford near sevenoaks
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What was the situation made by
The mutiny in the ranks of the royal army
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How did Henry attempt to appease the mob
Arresting Lord Saye and placing him in the tower of London
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What was the height of the mobs success
Briefly controlled the capital, carrying out the execution of Lord Saye while the King was in hiding in Kenilworth Castle, one contemporary believes that the army was 46,000 strong
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How did the rebels lose support
Prevalence of violence in the capital
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3 of the core complaints that the rebels had
1. Access to the king for petitioning 2. The country was bankrupt and was persisting in financial mismanagement 3. There was misgovernment of law enforcement which led to corruption
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2 reasons why the rebellion was significant
1. Highlighted the kings inability to protect 2. Shows the governments loss of authority
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2 reasons why the rebellion was insignificant
1.Ultimately defeated by the civilian population of London 2. Richard duke of York being in Ireland meant that the rebellion had little political significance 3.
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How did Richard Duke of York's first protectorate undermine Henry VI
Display of statesman like qualities showed a willingness to govern in a non partisan manner
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What was a weakness of Richard during his fist protectorate
Not being trusted by the whole nobility = unease/ lack of faith, signalled by inability to execute Somerset while imprisoned
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How did Richard act in self interest during his protectorate
Appointed Richard Neville as chancellor, enraging the Percies
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How was the political strength of the protectorate revived
Henry reversing many of the changes upon regaining mental strength
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What was the first Battle of St Albans (1455)
Considered the first battle of the War's of the Roses, Duke of York and allies incensed by the return of Somerset. Yorkist victory, with the Duke of Somerset and Henry Percy being killed, the King was also wounded in the neck and captured
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Significance of the Battle
Showed the physical and political danger the King was in, threat to the Lancastrian regime was very clear, Yorkists declared their loyalty to Henry, an in a ceremony at St Pauls, Richard crowned King - he could take the crown easy
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How did the second Protectorate give Richard Neville prominence
Became York's right hand man, became Captain of Calais - giving Warwick a significant military power base
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What happened at the Battle of Ludford
Convinced that York would attempt to gain the throne, Yorkists attacked by Lancs in Welsh Marshes, York and his second son fled to ireland, Warwick, Salisbury and Edward of Marshes fled to Calais
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How did Richard build his power while in Ireland
Negotiated archers and additional resources through the Drogheda parliament, while Warwick acquired resources through piracy against the French, increasing his popular standing in England, use of prop meant when they landed they had suport
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What happened at the battle of Mortimers Cross
Yorkist forces led by Edward of Marshes defeated Lancastrian forces led by Jaspor Tudor
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What happened at the 2nd Battle of St Albans
Yorkist suffered a setback, when the Earl of Warwick was given false info on the whereabouts of the Lancastrian and had to retreat, and Henry VI was captured by the Lancastrians
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How did the Londoners offset the Battle of St Albans
Refused to open the the gates for the Lancastrias, giving the Yorkists the time to regain the initiative
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Why was teh Battle of Towton significant
Brutal, scale of forces involved, marked the start of Edward's first reign
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Why was the Yorkist victory viewed as surprising amongst Historians
Better positioning of the Lancastrians, more support by nobles then Edward
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How was the weather vital in ensuring the victory of Edward
Wind was behind the Yorkist longbow men, sleet blinded the lancastrian forces
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In what way were the Yorkist longbow men commanded better
Lord Fauconberg collected the arrows of the lancastrians that fell short, ensuring that the Yorkists had more ammo, forced lancastrians to charge into slaughter
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How was support for Margaret and Henry decimated in the battle
The deaths of Earls of NOrthumberland, Welles, and Dacre
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3 ways the Earl of Warwick was significant in winning the battle
1. Wealth 2. Being captain of calais made him command the only single army in England 3. Engaged in piracy against foreign ships to fund his cause, increased his popularity in England
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Why is Henry judged as such an incapable king

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Militarily and physically inept, feeble, indecisive, easily influenced, poor judge of character, poorly dressed (no clout), uncharismatic, did not behave to the social norms of his class. Lack of clout showed royal finance was weak

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How did Henry demonstrate his piousness

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3 difficulties that Henry faced despite being a bad ruler

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How else was Henry hindered

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