The War of Roses
The War of Roses reflects significant events in English history representing the dynastic civil wars associated with civil strife and violence before the durable Tudors authority. The event took place in between Lancaster and York for the English throne. It was witnessed in the mi 15th century when mighty magnates with personal battalion took control of English countryside with taxes become unbearable and lawless nature of the day. King Henry proved to be incompetent and short of ideas while falling victim to the mad and dominant queen. The reign of Henry VI was marked by the time as minority and inept rule thus too young in terms of ruling. The two periods constructed the basis for the War of Roses due to King’s weakness in influencing the nobles using critical political insights. It is the shortcomings of King Henry VI that allowed poor favoritism governance that drag the country into civil War and collapse.
The limitation of age and experience was one of the vital weaknesses demonstrated by King Henry VI that caused War of thrones. The War started to form with the early death of Henry V of England in 1422 due to illness. His demise implied that his young son Henry VI was the heir, but he was only one year old; hence no ability to rule. The alternative was to hand over the governance of the country under the England ruling council with dual reagents which were appointees of Henry V. the two reagents were Humphrey as the Duke of Gloucester, John Duke of Bedford having control over England and Crown French zones (Wineke, 1983, 17). The two individuals were the infant uncles of King Henry, and their rule resulted in the significant division of power. The rivalry created a perfect platform for any interested crook to boost its status by taking advantage of the division. The reason for this was Henry VI’s weakness as an infant such that he could take control of the power alone. The continued division and rivalry exposed another weakness by King Henry that attempts to make everyone in his circle satisfied.
King Henry VI’s weakness in trying to please everyone was manifested when he reached the age of ruling and given thrones of power. He was easily convinced by any person that had the chance to talk to him, thus a recipe for hatred. Henry VI was finding himself getting involved in the disputes between nobles, a factor that compromised loyalties on him. It was apparent when the English barons failed to arrive at a consensus during the latter stages of War over the France initiatives. One part of the group supported Henry V’s decision to apply a direct approach that is responding to the French using a vast set-piece war. The other cohort felt that the plan was too expensive hence insisted on full cancellation. The outcome was the absence of the military operations in France, thus provided a loophole for the English Barons to use personal armies. These battalions were drawn from estates that were mostly utilized in serving barons individual interests at the local level instead of serving crown interests in foreign soil. If only King Henry had his principles instead of being swayed by individuals to serve personal interests in the home ground would have led to the robust way forward, thus blocking other forces (Peverley, 2008, 27). Henry VI’s weakness in trying to please everyone resulted in him falling under the control and influence of his wife.
In 1443 CE, Henry VI got married to Margret of Anjou that created the foundation for discontent, thus further divisions. The reactions by English barons that supported War interpreted the marriage as a submission while others complained over the absence of calmness in the union. Most of the people argued that queen Margret was dominant over the King, with the latter giving little concentration to War. In regards to this, Henry VI estranged part of barons and sided with some out of favor individuals from the court that included William Pole and Earl of Suffolk. Some people complained of abuse of power resulting in revolts such as the one-stage by Jack Cade in 1450 CE that exposed the weak rule both at local and foreign lands. Individuals from lower social structure rose against increased taxation, injustice in courts, the economic downturn that had compromise commerce in the century of War. The division among the nobles gave the rogues one platform for eliminating the regime despite the commoners possessing no influence over the authority. The events piled pressure on weak Henry VI, such that contributed to his mental incapacity that made the situation even worse.
Henry VI’s weaknesses in handling the pressure from the nobles lead him to insanity in 1453 CE. The influential barons were determined to exploit the perfect opportunity by not only boosting their dominance in the court but also inherit power. The King had inherited the illness from his grandfather, a condition that was made worse by the loss of the century-old War. The loss made the English territory lose the vast French area under her control such that King Henry VI turned too ill such that it was unable to move, communicate, or even recognize anything. The situation called for the nation to be put under a regent with Richard, Duke of York is the best suited as the most intelligent and gifted Baron of the time. The main problem with Richard as the protector of the realm is that he was greedy. Also, Queen Margret disliked him, creating two significant rivals within the King circle. Later long they turned into bitter rivals engaging in the First War of thrones at St. Albans in 1455CE. The War seemed to end after Richards’s murder in the War of Wakefield while fighting with Henry VI’s loyal forces. However, his son Edward inherited his father role such that with the aid of influential Richard Neville. The fiercest War in English history was fought in the Battle of Towton. In the end, Edward won and disposed of Henry VI, becoming the first ruler of the Yorkist (Walsh, 2004, 131). The inability of Henry VI to handle the pressure from nobles made things run out of control, thus overwhelmed. He failed to take his father’s ways of ruling that had earned him that level of success.
Henry VI demonstrated vast weaknesses in learning from previous rulers, thus making terrible mistakes in what would later cause bloody War. It was not his fault for his lack of connection with his father but he failed to consult widely on his father noblemen. Henry VI thoughts were easily swayed by anyone that he cared to listen creating a perfect chance for opportunistic individuals. Unlike his father he failed to keep loyal barons around him that not only created a platform for rivalry but denied him ideas to perfect take control of the throne. He kept barons that had selfish agendas such as starting War to serve selfish interests. The barons would exploit king weakness by giving wrong recommendations costing him power. The nobles plotted his ouster secretly before engaging in an open rebellion marking the onset of the War of Roses. If Henry was intelligent, he could have been keen on people around him while seeking the best advice. He could have been strict on people’s ideas by engaging critical thinking in his judgment. It could have pointed the real enemies around his circle a move that could have significantly improved his decisions. The rivalry among the noblemen could have controlled but instead failed to contain it that waged two strong warring factions.
Conclusion
King Henry VI’s weaknesses were the primary cause of the War of Roses. The first weakness is during his time to inherit power following Henry V’s early death. At the time, he was only one year old, thus not only unable to acquire experience but also caused power rivalry. Also, he had the weakness of trying to please everybody making him alienating the correct people and keeping hypocrites. Also, Henry Vi failed to control his influential wife making many people think that he compromised. The commoners staged a rebellion against issues such as heavy taxation, injustice turning his enemies stronger. The King demonstrated weakness in controlling his noblemen, such as Richard giving them the platform to stage an open rebellion.
Peverley, Sarah L. “Political Consciousness and the Literary Mind in Late Medieval England: Men” Brought up of naught” in Vale, Hardyng, Mankind, and Malory.” Studies in Philology 105, no. 1 (2008): 1-29.
Walsh, Brian. ““Unkind Division”: The Double Absence of Performing History in 1 Henry VI.” Shakespeare Quarterly 55, no. 2 (2004): 119-147.
Wineke, Donald R. “THE RELEVANCE OF MACHIAVELLI TO SHAKESPEARE: A DISCUSSION OF” 1 HENRY VI”.” Clio 13, no. 1 (1983): 17.