Henry VI’s reign from 1445 to 1450 was marked by fragile leadership, strained finances, and intensifying noble rivalries, as advisors, patronage, and factional conflict destabilised government.

Henry VI’s Advisors and Governance

Henry VI lacked the decisiveness of a strong monarch. His court became dominated by advisors who wielded significant power in policy-making and distribution of patronage.

Detail from the Talbot Shrewsbury Book showing Henry VI enthroned, with the Lord Chancellor identifiable by the mace and seal-purse — symbols of office and access. It demonstrates how authority flowed through councillors and offices, not just the king’s person. The inclusion of regalia and office insignia adds contextual detail beyond the syllabus but directly clarifies “advisors” and “patronage.” Source

The Role of Advisors

• William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk emerged as Henry’s most trusted advisor by the mid-1440s. He directed policy on both foreign affairs and domestic governance.

• Suffolk oversaw the controversial Treaty of Tours (1444), which arranged Henry’s marriage to Margaret of Anjou.

John Talbot kneels to present a richly illuminated manuscript to Queen Margaret, seated beside Henry VI, in a packed courtly setting. The scene exemplifies how patronage and ceremony reinforced political alliances and access to royal favour. The image includes additional courtiers beyond the syllabus focus, but they clarify the court environment in which patronage operated. Source

While it brought temporary peace with France, the concessions damaged royal prestige.

• Suffolk’s dominance in court bred resentment among rival nobles, who accused him of corruption and self-interest. His fall and execution in 1450 revealed how unstable Henry’s reliance on favourites was.

Royal Patronage and Its Impact

Henry VI relied heavily on royal patronage to maintain the loyalty of the nobility. However, unlike strong kings who used patronage selectively and strategically, Henry distributed rewards inconsistently.

Weaknesses in Patronage

• Henry often granted lavish estates to favourites without ensuring reciprocal service.

• This led to court rivalries, as influential families competed for royal favour.

• Mismanaged patronage created a perception of partiality and corruption, damaging royal authority.

Patronage was meant to bind noble loyalty, but Henry’s poor judgment instead fuelled resentment, allowing powerful factions to rise in opposition.

The Problem of the Nobility

The English nobility in this period were powerful landowners with private armies, able to dominate local politics. Their power required careful management by the crown, but Henry VI was unable to enforce discipline.

Noble Rivalries

• Noble families engaged in feuds that destabilised local order.

• Instead of restraining these disputes, Henry often relied on one faction to balance another, creating deeper divisions.

• The breakdown of noble cohesion led to violent competition, later erupting into open conflict.

Somerset and the Rise of Rivalries

One of the most significant developments of the 1440s was the rise of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, whose influence clashed with that of Richard, Duke of York.

An 1864 historical illustration showing York and Somerset arguing in Henry VI’s presence captures the atmosphere of faction at court. While produced in the nineteenth century and therefore anachronistic in costume, the identities and power dynamics are explicit. It is a clean, uncluttered visual for the rivalry your notes describe. Source

Somerset’s Position

• Somerset replaced Suffolk as Henry’s leading councillor after 1450.

• He was associated with military failure in France, including the loss of Normandy in 1450.

• Despite these failures, Henry continued to favour him, fuelling noble discontent.

York’s Opposition

• Richard, Duke of York, descended from Edward III, was the most powerful magnate of his generation.

• York resented being excluded from power, particularly as he was kept in Ireland while Somerset dominated court affairs.

• By 1450, York positioned himself as the champion of reform and good governance, directly opposing Somerset’s faction.

The Consequences of Court Rivalries

The divisions between Somerset and York symbolised the broader problem of noble conflict in Henry’s reign. These rivalries:

• Weakened the authority of the monarchy.

• Polarised the nobility into factions that increasingly sought to use military force.

• Contributed directly to the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses by 1455.

Patronage as a Root Cause

• Henry’s failure to control patronage meant that it became a weapon in factional politics rather than a stabilising force.

• Somerset’s accumulation of favour made York’s exclusion all the more dangerous, as it created the conditions for rebellion and civil war.

Key Points for Study

• Advisors like Suffolk and Somerset dominated policy due to Henry’s weak leadership.

• Patronage was poorly managed, breeding corruption and noble resentment.

• The nobility’s power and independence created persistent disorder.

• York vs Somerset encapsulated the factional divisions that destabilised the crown.

• These rivalries laid the groundwork for the eventual outbreak of civil war.