History
Causes of the Wars up to 1455
A) Henry VI
·
Ruled by regent as a child
·
Schizophrenic
·
Easily manipulated
o
Dominated by court favourites
§
Somerset and Suffolk
·
Pious and focused on education
o
Built Eton and Kings College Cambridge
o
Built churches and cathedrals
·
No desire for war
o
left military leadership to other
o
Naval and coastal security neglected
o
Never led his country into war
·
Margaret of Anjou
o
Made King look weaker
o
Increases tension between Yorkists and
Lancastrians
B) Economics
·
Poor economy
o
Agricultural slump in 1430s
§
Land revenues fell by 10%
o
Commercial slump in 1450s
o
Wool trade collapsed due to breakdown of
Anglo-Burgundy alliance
o
100 Year War drained finances
§
Land lost
§
Wool trade restricted
§
Wine trade restricted
·
Noble economics
o
Economic slump meant nobles needed the kings
financial support
o
Some nobles (Nevilles, Buckingham) were rich,
whilst others (Beauforts) were poor
o
Often rewarded with French land that was lost après.
100 year war
·
Henrys economics
o
Crown owed £370,000 in debt
§
Calais Garrison cost £17,000 per annum
§
Previous pursuits in French war
§
Cost of court remained high
o
Annual income fallen from £120,000 to £45,000
per annum
o
Inefficient taxation of land
o
Continued to give land and titles to favourites
§
Rendered himself powerless
D) Divided Nobility
·
Less money going around = more competition for
Kings support
·
Increase in power due to bastard feudalism and
retinues
·
Traditional family feuds
o
Nevilles vs Percys
·
Ambition
E) French Wars
·
Fuelled pre existing noble rivalries
o
York withdrawn from war – less responsibility
o
Somerset responsible for surrender of Caen 1450
·
Diminished status and prestige of England
o
Ended dual monarchy
·
Exposed Henrys weaknesses
·
Economic problems
o
Merchants lost wine and wool trade
§
Looked to York for stronger Government
·
Nobles now have more time and a need to regain
what they may have lost in France
