The Origins of Conflict, 1450-1459

Question 1

Dates of previous kings

Answer 1

Following the usurption of Richard II in 1399, Henry IV became king
Henry IV died in 1413, Henry V took over
Henry V died in 1422, his son Henry VI was a baby aged 9 months

Question 2

Traditional view of the Wars of the Roses

Answer 2

Dynastic conflict stemming from rival claims to the English throne of the descendtants of Edward III’s sons (Duke of Clarence) and John of Gaunt (Duke of Lancaster)
Edward III’s son Richard II was childless, and favoured the Mortimer line, descended of the Duke of Clarence to succeed.
Henry IV (son of Gaunt) usurped the throne (despite Mortimer having stronger claim)
Subsequent attempts were made to put the Mortimers on the throne.

Question 3

Edmund Mortimer

Answer 3

Potential heir, Earl of March.
Distanced himself from attempts to crown him, right up until he died in 1425
However, this did not stop people trying to rebel in his name

Cade’s rebels in 1450 and Edmund’s son Richard of York launched challenges in the Mortimer name

Question 4

English hierachy and effects

Answer 4

Only a few aristocrats were responsible for the security of England; they inherrited hereditary rights and society depended on their abilities, especially at advising the king, who was the head of the rigid heirachy.

Question 5

Interconnection of society

Answer 5

All levels relied on loyalty and service from each other.
The nobles owed their position to the king, the gentry to the nobles, etc.
Any instability at any level would have effects on the other levels

Question 6

Urban and Church Elites

Answer 6

Development of towns meant an urban elite, some of whom commanded great wealth and authority.
Church was wealthy and significant, owning vast tracts of land. Similar to the urban elite, the Church elite controlled considerable person wealth

Society was nort a pyramid, but a complex system

Question 7

Magnate

Answer 7

Another term for a nobleman with great wealth

Question 8

Women in society

Answer 8

Their definition was in relation to their husband or father. Their stability was connected to his position or choices
Only a few acted independently, usch as businesswomen in towns, but even wealthy widows were beholden to governing men

They were not featured in medieval sources as much as they perhaps could be

Question 9

Opinions on Henry VI

Answer 9

Changed over time, beginning with contemoraries and Tudors. All have some truth to them, and must be understood for the development in the history of his reign

Tudors saw the beginning of the feuds as 1399 with the usuption of the crown by Henry IV. They finished with Henry VII ascending in 1485.

Shakespeare presented Henry VI as a guiless saint, but also drew attention ot the ambition of the leading magnates

19th century onward: More objective, varying degrees of ctiticism

Question 9

Henry VI ends his minority

Answer 9

Aged 16, November 1437, Henry declares his minority over – youngest king to do so
Had never seen another monarch of England at work
Unexperienced, and made more daunting by also being King of France

Question 9

Powers of the English King

Answer 9

England a monarchy despite parliament
King personally involved in direction of policy
* especially foreign

King could bestow royal patronage

Question 9

Royal patronage

Answer 9

The power to bestow offices (church noble, military, or wardships) on people,
Very lucrative for receivor

Dutchy of Lancaster became a source of royal patronage

Question 9

Henry VI’s attitudes toward peace, education, and government

Answer 9

Peace-loving, merciful man who was deeply religious.
Keenly interested in education, he founded two colleges; an expensive interest
He did not pay much attention to governing, yet when he did, it has been argued, it was with worse effect than when he did not.

Question 10

Henry VI’s use of royal patronage

Answer 10

Uncontrolled distribution of titles to his friends, creating a ‘court party’ that controlled access to the king.
Consistant; rewarded those who were loyal and the House of Lancaster

Question 11

Contemporary views on Henry VI

Answer 11

• An English Chrocinle ofthe reigns of Richard ii, Henry IV, Henry V, and Henry VI written before 1471
  The king was ‘simple and led by covetous councel’; he was in debt and had given away all his possessions and lordships. ‘The hearts of the people were turned away’ from the governors
• A chronicle of the First Thriteen Years of the Reign of King Edward the Fourth
  The king was surrounded by ‘mischievous people’ and for this the people grudged him because of the ‘false lords, and never of him’

Question 12

Was Henry VI repsonsible for the loss of France?

Answer 12

Debated by historians
Was it his fault, or was the peace-policy created by his advisors.
Henry was certainly committed to peace after 1445, secretly offering to surrender two towns to the French, against the policy of defending England’s French gains carried by his nobles
Whoever’s fault, Henry’s decision to pursue peace was disasterous

Question 13

The bankrupcy of the English government

Answer 13

Due to Henry VI’s excessive generosity, the government was bankrupt in 1450.
A trade depression reduced income to £33,000 a year, and with debts of £372,000 the government could not get credit.

Question 14

The ‘madness’ of Henry VI

Answer 14

After 1450, he was a political pawn of his advisors and wife.
In 1453 he succumbed to a nervous breakdown, he could no longer govern; York was made Protector of England.
Henry had no character, easily manipulated by anyone.

Question 15

Origin of Margaret of Anjou and York’s rivalry

Answer 15

Margaret wanted to be regent while Henry was ill but York was made protector
With her son Edward being born in 1453, she feared for his inherritance, seeing York as a threat. As a result they became bitter opponents

Question 16

The Paston letters on Henry VI’s illness

Answer 16

When Prince Edward was shown to Henry VI to be blessed, Henry said nothing, looking on the infant once and showing no sign of recognition despite both the Duke of Buckingham and Queen Margaret beseeching him

Question 17

The Paston letters

Answer 17

Largest surviving collection of letters
Written between members of the Paston family (a gentry family) in the 15th century, they comment on both private and political matters.

Question 18

Rising Baronial Factions

Answer 18

Factional disputes rose during Henry’s minority with aristocrats competing for profit and gain
House of Lords remained mainly loyal to the king first

Question 19

RL Storey’s possible exaggeration

Answer 19

Claimed the Wars of the Roses were a series of private feuds that escalated out of control into war throught the country

The feuds were kept under control before 1453 and after 1456, but sides were created, dividing the country.

Question 20

The Nevilles

Answer 20

Founded by Ralph Neville and favoured by Richard II
Ralph married John of Gaunt’s daughter, creating close ties to the royal House of Lancaster. Their 12 children were married well. Cecily Neville married Richard, Duke of York, creating ties with the York family

Question 21

The Percy Family

Answer 21

Famous for Henry Hotspur's rebellion against Henry IV. Hotspur was killed and his son, Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland, was restored to his inheritance during the reign of Henry V. Percy married Elanor Neville, and was involved in government until he retreated in the mid 1440s, perhaps influenced by the Duke of Suffolk. Possibly supported York, but never showed it

Question 22

Neville-Percy relations at the start of the 15th century

Answer 22

Amicable, they shared the duty of protecting the boarder with Scotland, and there were marriages between their families Earl of Northumberland more concerned with threats to his estate from the Archbishop of York

Question 23

1453-1454 Neville-Percy private war

Answer 23

* While they remained close the crown, tensions rose between the families. * War errupted, mainly due to the younger members, but exasperated by divisions in government. * A major issue was Percy land as some of it had not been returned by nobles

Question 24

Marriage of Thomas Neville to an heiress of Lord Cromwell

Answer 24

* Percy land, owned by Cromwell, would pass into Neville hands. * Younger Percys attacked the wedding party and there was a skirmish. * All attempts to broker peace were ignored

Question 25

Percy-Neville dispute spills over into national politics

Answer 25

By 1453, Nevilles were associated with the **Duke of York** The **Earl of Warwick**, one of the youngest Nevilles, was fighting the **Duke of Somerset**, an enemy of York, over lordship of Glamorgan. As a result, he allied with York. The Percys were allied firmly with the king and Somerset.

Question 26

Ralph Griffiths on the Percy-Neville feud

Answer 26

* Nevilles alienated from Lancastrian regime by feuds with Somerset and Percy * Therefore, at St Albans the Nevilles joined York, and Northumberland the king * The battle was a place to settle personal, political, nd north-country scores, as well as attempting reformation

Question 27

Growing discontent toward the government, 1449

Answer 27

* Popular discontent due to dismal situation in France, and growing economic crisis * Trade had almost halted with traditional trading ports, * There was an embargo on importing English cloth into the low countries, the main source of income for the English cloth industry

Question 28

The prelude to Jack Cade's rebellion

Answer 28

Greedy courtiers blamed for embessling the king's money and land * Duke of Suffolk and Lord Saye were singled out 9 January 1450, Bishop of Chichester was murdered by a mob Duke of Suffolk was sent to the Tower of London for treason on 28 January * But Henry intervened, going against his advisors. * Suffolk was banished for five years – seen as too leniant Attempting to to leave, Suffolk was captured by privateers and beheaded.

Question 29

Jack Cade's rebellion begins

Answer 29

With the death of the hated Duke of Suffolk, the angry locals of Kent organised themselves under jack Cade and marched to London to put a petition before the king

Question 30

The death of Suffolk as recounted by William Lomnor to John Paston

Answer 30

In sight of all, Suffolk was taken from 'the great ship into the boat' and the 'most ignorant of the ship' said he should lay his head down and he 'should be fairly treated, and die by the sword.' He then took a rusty sword and cut his head off with a 'few dozen strokes' and took away his valuable clothes. They laid his body on the sands of Dover and 'some say his head was set on a pole by it'. His men were released with 'ceremony and deference'. The sheriff of Kent watched the body and sent his udner sheriff to the judges and king to know what to do.

Question 31

Duke of Suffolk

Answer 31

William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, 1396-1450 Began his career as a soldier in France Became one of Duke of Bedford's leading lieutenants in France until captured at Orleans. Returning to England he married the dowagrer Countess of Salisbury Earned a strong position as an administrator, rising to position Steward of the Royal Household Gained great influence over the king and West Anglia. His power became weaker in 1449 with claims of committing treason

Question 32

Jack Cade's rebellion – Blackheath

Answer 32

By 11 June 1450, the rebels had made camp on Blackheath. Presented their petition to Archbishop Stafford of Cantebury and Cardinal Kemp York. The king and his lords decided to attack, but upon reaching Blackheath a week later, found it deserted. Sir Humphry Stafford followed the rebels, but was killed, frightening the lords into convincing Henry to arrest those the rebels demanded be arrested. Henry agreed and left London.

Question 33

Jack Cade's Rebellion – London

Answer 33

Four days after, the rebels returned and entered London. They killed Lord Saye and in Wiltshire the Bishop Ainscough was killed. The rebels remained in London looting what they could. They were forced out, 5-6 July, and on 7 July they accepted a royal pardon. Jack Cade, not included, was captured and died of his wounds. The next year he was attained a traitor by Parliament.

Question 34

Motives of Cade's rebellion

Answer 34

Driven by politics, and by the upper ranks of village society such as lesser gentry, yeomen, and husbandmen. Possibly a local display of national grievances directed against Suffolk, but also argued that Kent was just particularly lawless at the time

Question 35

Henry VI in the development of Cade's rebellion

Answer 35

Henry VI failed to engage with the general population, and his response to the crisis of the war in France, economic problems, and political unrest, was to withdraw and leave others to respond. he was not seen to be acting for the common weal of the country.

Question 36

Jack Cade

Answer 36

Also John Mortimer (owing to belief he was Irish) and the Captain of Kent Little known of his origins, some say a physician dressed in scarlet. Contempories say he was from the lower ranks, but very intelligent and courageous Rebel leader in Kent, and spokesman for all who joined in Kent, Surrey, Middlesex and Essex. After the rebellion, he tried to hide with stolen goods, but was mortally wounded by the Sheriff of Kent after a 1000 marks bounty was put on his head. His body was quartered and displayed around England, using him as an example.

Question 37

Effect of Cade's rebellion

Answer 37

In the decade after his demise, several rebellions sprouted in his cause. His legacy as a popular hero and rebel stood the test of time

Question 38

Edmund Beaufot, Duke of Somerset

Answer 38

Grandson of John of Gaunt. Involved He was involved in the later wars iwth France, and a member of the English embassy at the Congress of Arras in 1435. He earned a knighthood for defending Calais and helped recover Harfleur He had han affair with Catherine of Valois, the widow of Henry V, resulting in a question over the father of Edmund Tudor. In December 1447, he was appointed lieutenant and governor-general in France

Question 39

Somerset as lieutenant and governor-general in France

Answer 39

Succeeded Richard, Duke of York Possibly reason for their rivalry During his appointment, Normandy was lost and someone other than the king had to take the fall – York blamed Somerset His defence of Normandy in 1449 was inadequet for certain, he had let the French overrun it in less than a year and had shown no honour in his surrender on in his exchange of a number of hostages for his release.