Summary Wars of the Roses: A-level Information Booklet
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Course
Wars of the Roses
Institution
OCR
A set of in-depth revision slides on the wars of the roses covering the periods under the reigns of Henry VI to Richard III and everything in between. Suitable for reading over and printing to be used as posters.
Key Information
Henry V - One of England's most successful kings - stability and peace and success in France, conquered French
land including Normandy and was recognised as heir to the French throne. His success overshadowed Henry VI.
Succession - Henry VI became King aged 9 months old (1422) - a council of nobles ruled England while he was in
his minority until he was crowned aged 16 (1437). This created factional struggles which worsened over time.
Personality - Kind, gentle and pious - contrasted the powerful Henry V making people see him as weak
Nobility - Resentment from nobles who didn’t receive patronage, the nobility maintained law and order and
provided soldiers from their retainers which could be used by the King or against other nobles.
✮ Anger towards the King was directed towards the nobles - especially the Duke of Suffolk for losses in France
and lack of justice. He was later exiled for his own safety in 1450 but killed by pirates.
Government - Personal rule of the King advised by his council (nobles, judges and churchmen), the royal household
was at the centre of the court and could influence the Kings opinions/policies. The government's job was to
implement policies the King made
✮ The King could summon/dissolve parliament as he wished - usually when he needed money e.g times of war
An Undermighty Leader
Loss in France - Treaty of Tours lead to loss of land in France as Charles VII gained a military advantage, he
attacked at Rouen (capital) and Formigny in Normandy until Somerset surrendered Rouen and paid a ransom to
release his family. Rivalry was sparked between York and Somerset after almost all territory was lost by 1453.
Leadership - First English king to not command an army against a foreign enemy, never visited France after
1432, never fought in Scotland and never visited Ireland or rarely Wales. Military lead by Bedford and Gloucester
and other nobles
✮ Margaret of Anjou was more inclined to war than Henry VI
Education - Received the best tuition available learning the art of Kingship and war during his minority
✮ Believed education was important and created the King’s College, Cambridge and Eton College
Favouritism - Anger and jealousy spread amongst the nobles as rewards weren’t spread evenly with more and more
becoming willing to join opposing groups to damage the King or country but not attack him (hatred from nobles
directed at the crown)
✮ Henry’s Favourites: Somerset, Cardinal Beaufort and Suffolk
✮ Act of Resumption (1450) passed to reclaim some of Henry's gifts but failed due to continued gifting
✮ Dukes of York and Gloucester received grants and Buckingham was elevated to Duke but still weren’t happy
✮ Became difficult to sustain the King’s household leading to Henry borrowing from the nobility
Poor judgement - Failed to understand seriousness of York and Somersets rivalry and relied too much on others’
advice and mistook Cardinal Beauforts offer of £200,000 as an act of friendship rather than a loan/bribery.
Marriage - Part of the Treaty of Tours (1444) which was seen as a failure; Margaret lacked a strong blood tie to
Charles VII, came from the impoverished Duke of Anjou, came without a dowry and Henry had to pay for the
wedding. Henry saw the Treaty of Tours as a step to peace while Charles VII used it to gain military strength
Margaret of Anjou - Strong willed and domineering personality made Henry look weak and indecisive, nobles such
as RDOY and the Duke of Norfolk resented her control; especially her promotion of Suffolk who arranged the
marriage
, Henry VI
War of the Roses
Financial Policy
Hundred Years War left England in debt and impacted trade.
Income of Customs Revenue (trade) - Fell from £40,677 (1421) to £28,000 (1446-8) and the King began to rely
on income from the crown lands, however, these had decreased as a result of over generous patronage
Annual Income - fell from £120,000 to £45,000
Taxation - Increased as a result of the war in France going poorly
1445-49 - Parliament voted for taxes during the peace of the Treaty of Tours as they were reluctant to grant
taxes while the war was going poorly and Henry was struggling to find loans
Cardinal Beaufort - Was one of the main lenders to the King and lead the campaign in France but died in 1447
1449 - Parliament called to raise taxes for war but lords were reluctant to support this as Henry was being
controlled by Suffolk
✮ Commons made a minimal grant and demanded an Act of Resumption which took back any crown lands to
prevent them from being squandered
1450 - The crown was running out of money, debt was mounting, soldiers were unpaid and Henry’s regime was
facing accusations of corruption and extravagance
Debt - By 1450, the parliament declared an unprecedented debt of £372,000
✮ Richard Duke of York was owed £38,000
Illness
After receiving news of the decisive Battle of Castillon (1453) in which England lost its territory in Gascony
(Bordeaux and Aquitaine), Henry experienced a mental breakdown and became unresponsive for over a year
✮ May have inherited a psychiatric condition from his maternal grandfather, Charles VI of France, who also
experienced an episodic illness, research suggests this was schizophrenia
RDOY - Promoted to Protector and Defender of the Realm in March 1454 where he was able to fill the office with
his own men i.e. the Earl of Salisbury. - He became extremely popular and was also considered for the throne
✮ Put the Duke of Somerset in the Tower of London “for his own protection”
Percy’s and Neville's - Rivalry developed into war as Henry couldn’t stop the two families from attacking each other
with the Percys supporting the King and the Nevilles supporting York
King’s Council and Government - Tried to keep Henry's illness quiet but struggled to achieve anything without the
King’s advice or blessing completely failing after John Kemp, Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor died
Margaret - Wanted to protect her sons heirdom and so made Somerset more powerful but lacked support due to
her sex and nationality
Prince Edward - Prince Edwards birth stopped worries of inheritance but Henry VI had no recollection of it
First Reign - began on 1st September 1422 when he was 9 months old and ended on the 4th March 1461 after
he was deposed by Edward, Earl of March.
Second Reign - Edward was forced into exile by Warwick and Henry was restored to the throne on 3rd October
1470 which lasted until his murder which was ordered by Edward IV on the 21st May 1471 while in the tower
✮ Official Yorkist chronicle stated that Henry died of “melancholia”
, Henry VI
War of the Roses
Loveday (March 1458)
Ritual of reconciliation between the two factions taking place at St Paul's Cathedral
✮ Both sides brought their armed retinues - York brought 400 and Salisbury brought 500
✮ Intended to reassure the people that war was over
✮ Success was short lived and failed to resolve any political issues
Henry’s Government (1470-71)
Henry VI’s readeption in October 1470 saw the throne return to the Lancastrian side
✮ Henry was unable to rule without help, gaining support from Louis XI by promising to join in the war against
the Duke of Burgundy without consulting parliament
This caused problems with merchants as Burgundy was England’s main trading partner
Merchants refused to lend the government money to exert pressure
✮ Lancastrians were split by the decision to support France as an alliance with Burgundy would starve Edward
of his support
✮ Burgundy supported Edward in getting back on the throne, giving him supplies to help
5,000 crowns, 18 ships and an army of 1,500 men
✮ Edward IV returned to England in March 1471 at Ravenspur, he received a mixed reaction but also faced
no opposition
Declared that he was only after his dukedom to gain passage into York allowing him to travel South
unopposed
By the time he reached Coventry, he had accumulated supporters and proclaimed himself king at
Warwick castle before heading to London
Edward was allowed entry into London over fears of his huge army and merchants who were owed
money
Henry VI was returned to the Tower of London
With an army of over 12,000 men and the help of his reconciled brother, Duke of Clarence, Edward
quickly engaged with Warwick fighting at the Battle of Barnet which saw a Yorkist victory
Warwick was caught and killed after the battle
✮ Margaret of Anjou arrived in England on the same day as the battle heading to Wales with Somerset and
Exeter
Intercepted by Edward IV at the battle of Tewkesbury
Somerset executed, Edward, Prince of Wales killed and Margaret of Anjou captured and taken to
London
Henry VI, still in the tower, was executed on the 21st May 1471
No more figureheads to rally an opposition to Edward
Edward received help from Charles of Burgundy
Edward’s policy of conciliation helped him in regaining the throne as he received less opposition from the
Earl of Northumberland upon his initial arrival
✮ The only alternative to the throne was Henry Tudor who was in exile in Brittany and his claim was through
his mother which was the illegitimate line of the Beauforts
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