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Browse all Genealogy Gold Podcast EpisodesHenry VI was a key player in the Wars of the Roses. In fact, the dynastic dispute reached back with Henry VI’s grandfather, Henry IV. Henry IV overthrew his cousin, Richard II, from the throne. They both shared a grandfather in King Edward III, each being a son of a different child of Edward. The root of the conflict of the war was which branch of the family had a better claim to the throne. While the line of succession passed peacefully from Henry IV to his son, Henry V, and to his son, Henry VI, it was during Henry VI’s reign that the rival branch of Edward III’s descendants came forward and stated they had the better claim to the throne. This was the beginning of the war.
Henry VI’s Childhood and Royal Inheritance
Henry VI was born on December 6, 1421, the only child of King Henry V and his queen, Catherine of Valois. He was heir to the throne of England from birth, and was also born during the waning years of the 100 Years War between England and France. His father, Henry V, was a hero of that war, and is considered one of England’s last warrior kings. Henry V died of dysentery while on campaign in the 100 Years War, leaving Henry VI the new king of England at only nine months old. Fortunately, his father had brothers, so the boy king had lots of powerful men to run the country for him and advise him during his youth.
Incidentally, Henry’s mother, Catherine of Valois, became a beautiful young widow at the age of only 21, and soon found love again in the arms of her Welsh squire, Owen Tudor, with whom she had at least three children (though some historians say it was as many as six). They initially had a secret affair, but eventually went public with it and got married, causing a great scandal, and controversy over a dowager queen’s remarriage without royal approval. Catherine’s children with Owen Tudor became Henry VI’s half-siblings, and Henry Tudor, who was the the son of his half-brother Edmund Tudor and thus Henry VI’s half-nephew, eventually became King Henry VII and began the Tudor royal empire in England.
Henry VI also claimed the French Crown under the Treaty of Troyes, which recognized Henry V and his heirs as successors to Charles VI. This was disputed by Charles VI’s son, Charles VII. Henry VI was crowned in Paris in 1431, but Charles VII ultimately prevailed.
The Hundred Years’ War and Marriage
The 100 Years War went on throughout Henry VI’s childhood, being managed by his uncles, and finally ended in 1453, when Henry was 31 years old. By that time, Henry had married Margaret of Anjou, and was ruling England on his own. The English defeat at Castillon in 1453 effectively ended the Hundred Years’ War, leaving Calais as England’s principal remaining continental possession. The 100 Years War was over, but a new one in England was about to begin.
Henry married Margaret of Anjou in 1445. Their son Edward was born in October 1453, during Henry’s prolonged incapacity. Rival nobles struggled over government, and Richard, Duke of York, became Protector in 1454. Henry recovered late that year, but the political tensions continued.
The first major battle of the Wars of the Roses took place at St Albans in 1455. In 1460, after further conflict, the Act of Accord recognized Richard of York as Henry’s successor and displaced Prince Edward. Margaret resisted the settlement.
Henry VI and the Start of the Wars of the Roses
Margaret of Anjou was a warrior queen and not one to let her son’s birthright be taken from him. When Henry VI was well again, she came back and saw to it Richard of York was banished from court and from the king’s council. It was only a temporary victory, however. Henry VI’s bouts of madness became more frequent, and Richard of York was at the ready to take control of the kingdom and the king, along with an army of his own to back him up. What followed was a constant battle back and forth between he and Margaret of Anjou for physical custody of the mad king Henry VI that eventually erupted into full war.
This was the beginning of the English civil war known as the Wars of the Roses .
Richard of York was eventually killed in one of the early battles of this war, and so never got to become king in name, though he acted as king in deed a few times. His second eldest son, Edmund, was killed in the same battle as him. But, his eldest son, Edward, succeeded shortly after Richard’s death in overthrowing Henry VI and proclaiming himself King Edward IV, getting the crown his father always wanted for himself, but never managed to fully grab.
The Loss and Restoration of the Crown
Henry VI lost the crown in March 1461 and was taken to Scotland by his wife. However, he was captured by forces loyal to Edward IV in 1465 and returned to England, where he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Forces loyal to Henry VI, who was referred to as Lancastrians (the name of Henry’s branch of Edward III’s family) briefly took the crown back on Henry’s behalf in October of 1470, but Henry lost the crown again to Edward IV’s forces in April of 1471. He never got it back. His son was killed in the battle that put Edward IV on the throne for good (Edward IV’s branch of the family were called Yorkists), and Margaret of Anjou was captured and kept in the Tower of London for years until her relatives in France ransomed her and obtained her freedom. She went back to France, where she spent the rest of her life as a poor relation to the French crown.
Henry VI was put back in the Tower of London when Edward IV took the throne the second time. He died in the Tower on May 21, 1471, after Edward IV had recovered London and defeated the Lancastrian armies. Edward IV told the people of England it was merely a tragic coincidence. But, most historians believe Henry VI was killed by Edward IV and his brothers, or by someone they hired.
Richard III’s defeat at Bosworth in 1485 brought Henry VII to the throne. Henry’s marriage to Elizabeth of York in 1486 joined the rival dynasties, but armed opposition continued. The Battle of Stoke Field in 1487 is commonly treated as the final battle of the Wars of the Roses.
Learn More
For a closer look at the evidence and historical context, explore these resources:
You can also read Who’s Who in the Wars of the Roses (free eBook) and browse the Wars of the Roses articles.
