Editing House of Lancaster (section)

==Henry VI and the fall of the House of Lancaster==

{{main|Wars of the Roses|House of York}}
{{see also|List of members of the House of Plantagenet|Issue of Edward III of England}}

The Hundred Years' War caused political division between the Lancastrians and the other Plantagenets during the minority of Henry VI: Bedford wanted to maintain the majority of the Lancastrians' French possessions; [[Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester]] wanted to hold only Calais; and [[Cardinal Beaufort]] desired a negotiated peace.<ref>{{harvnb|Harriss|2004b}}; {{harvnb|Weir|1995|pp=72–76}}</ref> Gloucester's attacks on Beaufort forced the latter from public life but brought him little advantage as the Earl of Suffolk's influence over the king enabled him to direct policy for the rest of the decade. Gloucester remained heir presumptive but in 1441 his ambitious wife, [[Eleanor Cobham]], consulted astrologers on the likelihood of the king's death and was arrested for treasonable necromancy{{mdash}}although Gloucester was not implicated he was discredited forced into retirement. In 1447 Suffolk had him arrested and within days he died in prison.{{sfn|Harriss|2004b}}

England's ally [[Philip III, Duke of Burgundy]] defected to Charles when the English ambassadors' refusal to renounce the claim to the French crown stalled negotiations, signing the [[Treaty of Arras (1435)]].<ref name=Weir1995p86>{{harvnb|Weir|1995|pp=86, 101}}</ref> The French reorganised the superior numbers of their feudal levies into a modern professional army and retook Paris, Rouen, Bordeaux and Normandy. Victories at the [[Battle of Formigny]] in 1450 and the [[Battle of Castillon]] in 1453 brought the war to an end with the House of Lancaster losing forever all its French holdings, except Calais and the Channel Islands.<ref>{{harvnb|Weir|1995|p=156}}; {{harvnb|Weir|1995|p=172}}</ref>

Henry VI proved to be a weak king and vulnerable to the over-mighty subjects who developed private armies of retainers. Rivalries often spilled over from the courtroom into armed confrontations, such as the [[Percy–Neville feud]].<ref name=Schama266>{{harvnb|Schama|2000|p=266}}</ref> Without the common purpose of the war in France, Henry's cousin [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York]], and [[Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick]], used their networks to defy the crown.<ref name=Castor>{{harvnb|Castor|2000|pp=3–22}}</ref> Henry became the focus of discontent as the population, agricultural production, prices, the wool trade and credit declined in the [[Great Slump (15th century)|Great Slump]].<ref name=Hicks44>{{harvnb|Hicks|2010|p=44}}</ref> This led to radical demands from the lower classes. In 1450, [[Jack Cade]] raised a rebellion to force Henry to address the economic problems or abdicate his throne.<ref name=Weir147>{{harvnb|Weir|1995|pp=147–155}}</ref> The uprising was suppressed but conflict remained between villagers, gentry and aristocracy. Society remained deeply unsettled and radical demands continued to be suppressed such as those from the yeoman brothers [[John and William Merfold]].<ref name=Mate156>{{harvnb|Mate|2006|p=156}}</ref>

[[File:Choosing the Red and White Roses.jpg|right|thumb|''[[Plucking the Red and White Roses in the Old Temple Gardens]]'' ([[Henry Payne (artist)|Henry Payne]], {{Circa}} 1908): Symbolic representation of the [[Wars of the Roses]] in art]]

Henry's marriage to [[Margaret of Anjou]] prompted criticism from [[Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York]], because it included the surrender of [[Maine (province)|Maine]] and an extended truce with France. York was Henry's cousin through his descent from Edward III sons Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence, and Edmund, Duke of York. This gave York political influence but he was removed from English and French politics through his appointment as [[Lord Lieutenant of Ireland]].<ref name="croftonrichduke">{{harvnb|Crofton|2007|p=112}}.</ref> On returning to England, York was conscious of the fate of Henry's uncle Humphrey at the hands of the Beauforts and suspicious that Henry intended to nominate [[Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset]], as heir presumptive, and recruited military forces. Armed conflict was avoided because York lacked aristocratic support and was forced to swear allegiance to Henry. However, when Henry later underwent a mental breakdown, York was named regent. Henry was trusting and not a man of war, but Margaret was more assertive and showed open enmity towards York{{mdash}}particularly after the birth of a male heir that resolved the succession question and assured her position.<ref name="croftonrichdukeeleven">{{harvnb|Crofton|2007|p=111}}</ref>

According to historian Robin Storey, "If Henry's insanity was a tragedy; his recovery was a national disaster".<ref name="storey">{{harvnb|Storey|1986|p=159}}</ref> When Henry's sanity returned, the court party reasserted its authority but York and his relatives, the Nevilles, defeated them at the [[First Battle of St Albans]]. Historian [[Anthony Goodman (historian)|Anthony Goodman]] suggests that around 50 men were killed; among them were Somerset and two Percy lords, [[Henry Percy, 2nd Earl of Northumberland]], and [[Thomas Clifford, 8th Baron de Clifford]], creating feuds that would confound reconciliation attempts despite the shock to the ruling class caused by the armed conflict.<ref>{{harvnb|Goodman|1981|p=25}}; {{harvnb|Goodman|1981|p=31}}</ref> Threatened with treason charges and lacking support, York, [[Richard Neville, 5th Earl of Salisbury]], and Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, fled abroad. Henry was captured by the opposition when the Nevilles returned and won the [[Battle of Northampton (1460)|Battle of Northampton]].<ref>{{harvnb|Goodman|1981|p=38}}.</ref> York joined them, surprising parliament by claiming the throne and then forcing through the [[Act of Accord]] stating that Henry would remain as monarch for his lifetime and that York would succeed him. The disinheriting of [[Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales|Henry's son Edward]] was unacceptable to Margaret so the conflict continued. York was killed at the [[Battle of Wakefield]] and his head was displayed at [[Micklegate Bar]], York, along with those of [[Edmund, Earl of Rutland]], and Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury{{mdash}}both of whom were captured and beheaded.<ref name=Weir257>{{harvnb|Weir|1995|p=257}}</ref>

Margaret gained the support of the Scottish queen [[Mary of Guelders]], and with a Scottish army she pillaged into southern England.<ref>{{harvnb|Goodman|1981|p=57}}.</ref> The citizens of London feared the city being plundered and enthusiastically welcomed York's son [[Edward IV of England|Edward, Earl of March]].<ref name="crowned">{{harvnb|Goodman|1981|p=1}}.</ref> Margaret's defeat at the [[Battle of Towton]] confirmed Edward's position and he was crowned.<ref>{{harvnb|Goodman|1981|p=147}}.</ref> Disaffected with Edward's marriage to [[Elizabeth Woodville]] and preferment of her formerly Lancastrian-supporting family, Warwick and Clarence defected to the Lancastrians. The alliance was sealed with the marriage of Henry's son Edward to Anne, Warwick's daughter. Edward and [[Richard III of England|Richard, Duke of Gloucester]], fled England. When they returned, Clarence switched sides at the [[Battle of Barnet]] and Warwick and his brother were killed. Henry, Margaret and Edward of Lancaster were caught at the [[Battle of Tewkesbury]] before they could escape back to France. Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, was executed on the battlefield and [[John Beaufort, Marquess of Dorset]], was killed in the fighting{{mdash}}meaning that when his brother [[Edmund Beaufort, 4th Duke of Somerset]], was executed two days later, the Beaufort family became extinct in the legitimate male line. The captive Henry was murdered on 21 May 1471 in the [[Tower of London]] and buried in [[Chertsey Abbey]], extinguishing the House of Lancaster.<ref name=End>{{harvnb|Weir|2008|p=134}}</ref>