Henry VI's First Reign

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1437-1461

1437 (12th November)

Henry came of age to take the throne at the age of 16. Was mostly controlled by advisors.

1440 (7th July)

The English recaptured Harfleur from the French.

1440 (12th September)

Henry VI founded Eton College.

1441 (2nd April)

Henry VI founded Kings College, Cambridge.

1441 (19th September)

The French took Pontoise and Ile de France from the English.

1442 (11th June)

The French invaded Gascony.

1443 (23rd April)

A truce was agreed with Burgundy.

1444 (22nd May)

Treaty of Tours

This was a peace agreement between England and France. It was to be sealed with the marriage of Henry VI to Margaret of Anjou.

1445 (23rd April)

Henry married Margaret of Anjou at Titchfield Abbey, Hampshire.

1445 (30th May)

Margaret of Anjou was crowned Queen.

1447 (23rd February)

Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, was accused of treason and was imprisoned in Bury St Edmunds where he died before he could be tried.

1449 (24th March)

The English captured Fougeres in Brittany. Where many soldiers of Somerset were starving, due to poor treatment leading to them pillaging the village heavily decreasing relations with Brittany. It gave Charles VII a Casus belli, and a chance to strike a crushing blow at the English before they could put Normandy into a proper state of defence or muster reinforcements from across the Channel.

1449 (July)

The French invaded Normandy.

1449 (29th October)

The capital of Normandy, Rouen, surrendered to the French. Helped along by Somerset who let the gates open and fled the capital before his family were killed.

1450 (15th April)

Battle of Formigny

This was a major battle fought between the French and English, was a victory for the French and paved the way for the capture of the rest of the English Strongholds in Normandy.

1450 (2nd May)

William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, Henry’s chief minister, was accused and found guilty of treason. However, he was pardoned by the King and sent into exile, but he was murdered on his way to his ship.

Suffolk’s death meant there were only two descendants of the Plantagenet line and both wanted positions in the country. The Duke of Somerset was, like the King, of Lancastrian descent. His rival and heir presumptive to the throne was Richard Duke of York.

1450 (late May)

Cade’s Rebellion

Disgruntled Kentishmen rallied behind Jack Cade and marched to London in protest against the government of the country, initially in the name of Richard Duke of York.

1450 (18th June)

Cade’s Rebellion

The rebels clashed with royal forces at Sevenoaks.

1450 (29th June)

Cade’s Rebellion

Rebels murdered William Ayscough, Bishop of Salisbury, who had risen to be one of the most powerful men in the country.

1450 (4th July)

Cade’s Rebellion

The Kentishmen led by Jack Cade reached London and presented a formal complaint.

1450 (8th July)

Cade’s Rebellion

A battle broke out on London Bridge between Cade’s men and officials of London. The rebels sustained heavy casualties

1450 (9th July)

Cade’s Rebellion

The King issued a pardon to all of Cade’s men that withdrew from the capital immediately. The pardon did not apply to Cade and he fled south.

1450 (12th July)

Cade’s Rebellion

Jack Cade was captured near Lewes. However, he was badly wounded and died before he could be tried.

1450 (12th August)

Cherbourg surrendered to the French, a move that gave the French control of all of Normandy.

1450 (7th September)

York landed in Wales at Beaumaris, Angelsey. He evaded an attempt at Henry VI intercepting him and gathered followers as he headed to London.

1450 (27th September)

York arrived in London. He had an inconclusive meeting with the king, so York continued to recruit in East Anglia and the west. The violence in London was such that Somerset who had came back from the collapse of Normandy, was put in the Tower of London for his own safety. York's public stance was that of a reformer, demanding better government and the prosecution of the traitors who had lost northern France. Others suspect that there was a personal motive for the destruction of Somerset.

1451 (April)

Somerset was released from the Tower and appointed Captain of Calais, much to Richard's annoyance. This showed evidence to how Henry VI was manipulated by Somerset as he had lost Normandy because of Somerset yet he still gained the one of the most powerful titles in England.

1451 (30th June)

Bordeaux surrendered to the French.

1451 (21st August)

Bayonne surrendered to the French, a move that gave the French control of Gascony.

1452 (1st March)

Richard Duke of York raised arms against the King but surrendered 2 days later. He was pardoned by the King.

1452 (22nd October)

John Talbot, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury re-captured Bordeaux allowing England to regain control of Gascony.

1453 (17th July)

Battle of Castillon

This battle was fought between the French and English and was a victory for the French. The English commander, Talbot, was killed. The battle marked the end of the Hundred Years’ War.

All of the losses of land in France meant that not only were refugees going to England but Knights who were poorly paid with no gentry increased Lawlessness under Henry VI's rule.

1453 (August)

Henry VI suffered a mental breakdown and was unfit to rule. Richard Duke of York as heir presumptive felt he should replace Henry on the throne.

1453 (13th October)

A son, Edward, was born to Henry and Margaret of Anjou at the Palace of Westminster. He was created Duke of Cornwall.

1453 (19th October)

The French recaptured Bordeaux. England was left with just Calais in France.

1454 (15th March)

Henry’s son, Edward, was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester.

1454 (December)

Henry VI regained his mental capacity.

1455 (22nd May)

War of the Roses began at;

First Battle of St Albans

The forces of Richard Duke of York, supported by Richard Neville, Duke of Salisbury and Warwick defeated and killed the Lancastrians led by the Duke of Somerset and the Duke of Northumberland. Henry VI was captured.

1456 (25th February)

Richard Duke of York was dismissed as regent.

1457 (28th January)

A son, Henry, was born to Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort. He would later become Henry VII.

1457 (28th August)

French raiders lay waste to Sandwich, Kent.

1459 (23rd September)

Battle of Blore Heath

A Neville force supporting Richard Duke of York fought off a Lancastrian attack that was supported by the Percy family.

1459 (12th – 13th October)

Rout of Ludlow

Threatened by Margaret of Anjou and her supporters, Richard of York, Warwick and the Nevilles mustered their supporters at Ludlow but when the main Lancastrian army appeared their men deserted. York fled to Ireland and Warwick fled to France.

1459 (November)

Edward IV and his family had all their titles and lands forfeited by Act of Attainder.

1460 (15th January)

The French made a raid on Sandwich and captured the Royal fleet.

1460 (26th June)

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwich and Edward, Earl of March landed at Sandwich at the head of an army and marched towards London.

1460 (10th July)

Battle of Northampton

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and Edward, Earl of March defeated a Lancastrian force led by Humphrey, Stafford and Buckingham and captured Henry VI. Margaret of Anjou and Prince Edward fled to Harlech Castle.

1460 (19th July)

Richard of York claimed the throne but the landowners refused to accept him as anything other than heir to the throne.

1460 (25th October)

Act of Accord

Richard Duke of York was named successor to the throne over Henry VI’s son, Edward.

1460 (30th December)

Battle of Wakefield

Queen Margaret, unwilling to accept the disinheritence of her son Edward, raised an army in the north. Richard of York was forced to march north where he was defeated and killed by the Lancastrian force.

1460 (31st December)

Henry VI was released from captivity but was still mentally unstable and as a consequence was unfit to rule.

1461 (January)

Warwick, known as the Kingmaker due to his meddling in matters of the succession, put forward Richard of York’s son, Edward, Earl of March as claimant to the throne.

1461 (2nd February)

Battle of Mortimer’s Cross

The Earls of Pembroke and Wiltshire led an army of Welsh Lancastrians and French mercenaries to join Margaret of Anjou’s advance on London but they were intercepted by a Yorkist army led by Edward Earl of March and defeated.

1461 (17th February)

Second Battle of St Albans

Warwick attempted to block Margaret of Anjou’s southward advance on London but his defensive position was surprised. After a long and bloody battle the Yorkists fled. Henry VI was recaptured but the Lancastrians failed to secure London and returned north.

1461 (4th March)

Henry was deposed by Edward Duke of York who took the throne as Edward IV.