![]() He had not the genius to find a way out of the French entanglement or the skill to steer a constitutional monarchy between rival factions. But he was crushed by the burden of his inheritance. He was so honest and well-meaning that he might have made a good ruler in quiet times. ![]() Edward's final victory at Tewkesbury was followed by Henry's death on the 21st of May 1471, certainly by violence, perhaps at the hands of Richard of Gloucester (later King Richard III). For six months in 1470-1471 he emerged to hold a shadowy kingship as Warwick's puppet. ![]() A year later he was captured in the north, and brought a prisoner to the Tower. He returned to take part in an abortive rising in 1464. For over three years Henry was a fugitive in Scotland. Edward of York had himself proclaimed king, and by his decisive victory at Towton on the 29th of March, put an end to Henry's reign. 17, 1461), brought Henry his freedom and no more. 31, 1460), and the queen's victory at St Albans (Feb. Richard of York's death at Wakefield (Dec. On the 10th of July 1460, Henry was taken prisoner at Northampton, and forced to acknowledge York as heir, to the exclusion of his own son. Nevertheless a hollow peace was patched up, which continued during four years with lack of all governance. Open war followed, with the defeat and death of Somerset at St Albans on the 22nd of Mayġ455. Then Henry was restored to sanity, and the queen and Edmund Beaufort, now Duke of Somerset, to power. York after a struggle secured the protectorship, and for the next year ruled England. The situation was altered by the mental derangement of the king, and the birth of his son in 1453. But York, as heir to the throne, could abide his time. Cade's rebellion suggested first that popular discontent might result in a change of rulers. Henry's reign then entered on its last phase of dynastic struggle. Suffolk's fall in 1450 left Richard of York the foremost man in England. But his home administration was unpopular, whilst the incapacity of Edmund Beaufort ended in the loss of all Normandy and Guienne. Suffolk was now all-powerful in the favour of the king and queen. Humphrey of Gloucester and Cardinal Beaufort both died early in 1447. Suffolk, however, achieved a great success by negotiating the marriage of Henry to Margaret of Anjou in 1445. The cardinal was old, his nephews John and Edmund Beaufort were incompetent, Suffolk, though a man of noble character, was tactless. Henry himself had not the strength or knowledge to direct it, and was unfortunate in his advisers. That policy was wise, but national pride made it unpopular and difficult. Thus it was natural that as Henry grew to manhood he seconded heartily the peace policy. Beaufort controlled the council, and it was under his guidance that the king began to take part in the government. Gloucester courted popularity by opposing them throughout with him was Richard of York, who stood next in succession to the crown. ![]() Cardinal Beaufort, and after him Suffolk, sought by working for peace to secure at least Guienne and Normandy. The determining factor in politics was the conduct of the war. There followed fifteen years of vain struggle in France, and growing disorder at home. This closed the first phase of Henry's reign. The climax came with the death of Bedford, and defection of Philip of Burgundy in 1435. Even in France the English lost ground steadily after the victory of Joan of Arc before Orleans in 1429. During these early years Bedford ruled France wisely and at first with success, but he could not prevent the mischief which Humphrey of Gloucester caused both at home and abroad. His return to London on the 14th of February 1432 was celebrated with a great pageant devised by Lydgate. He was knighted by his uncle Bedford at Leicester in May 1426, and on the 6th of November 1429 was crowned at Westminster.Įarly in the next year he was taken over to France, and after long delay crowned in Paris on the 26th of December 1431. As early as 1423 the baby king was made to appear at public functions and take his place in parliament. Henry V had directed that Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, should be his son's preceptor Warwick took up his charge in 1428 he trained his pupil to be a good man and refined gentleman, but he could not teach him kingship. He became King of England on the 1st of September 1422, and a few weeks later, on the death of his grandfather Charles VI, was proclaimed king of France also. HENRY VI, King of England, son of King Henry V and Catherine of Valois, was born at Windsor on the 6th of December 1421.
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