Editing Henry VI of England (section)

== Assumption of government ==
[[File:Sacre Henry6 England-France 02.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|A mid-15th-century depiction of Henry being crowned [[List of French monarchs|King of France]] at [[Notre-Dame de Paris]] on 16 December 1431]]

Henry, who was by nature shy, pious, and averse to deceit and bloodshed, immediately allowed his court to be dominated by a few noble favourites who clashed on the matter of the French war when he assumed the reins of government in 1437. After the death of King Henry V, England had lost momentum in the [[Hundred Years' War]], whereas the [[House of Valois]] had gained ground beginning with [[Joan of Arc]]'s military victories in the year 1429. The young King came to favour a policy of peace in France and thus favoured the faction around Cardinal Beaufort and [[William de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk]], who thought likewise; the [[Duke of Gloucester]] and [[Richard, Duke of York]], who argued for a continuation of the war, were ignored.