OCR Specification focus:
‘Cade’s rebellion (1450); failure in France to 1450 and its impact on Government; Henry’s illness (1453–1455).’
The years 1450 to 1455 marked a critical phase in English history, with rebellion, foreign defeat, and royal illness undermining authority, destabilising politics, and weakening monarchical credibility.
Cade’s Rebellion (1450)
Causes of Discontent
Cade’s rebellion in 1450 was fuelled by widespread popular resentment of corruption, mismanagement, and political favouritism under Henry VI’s government. Specific grievances included:
Corruption at court: Many believed royal advisors enriched themselves at the expense of the realm.
Unjust taxation: Heavy demands from the Crown, perceived as wasted on failed foreign wars.
Failure in France: The disastrous loss of Normandy intensified the sense of betrayal.
Royal favouritism: The dominance of figures such as William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, alienated both nobility and commoners.
Cade’s Rebellion: A popular uprising in Kent and surrounding regions (1450) led by Jack Cade, protesting against misgovernment, corruption, and heavy taxation.
The Progress of the Rebellion
In June 1450, rebels gathered under Jack Cade, adopting the pseudonym “John Mortimer” to evoke Yorkist legitimacy.
They advanced on London, defeating a royal force at Sevenoaks.
Rebels entered the capital, presenting petitions calling for reform and the removal of corrupt ministers.
Jack Cade is shown on horseback in a London square, asserting civic control amid cheering onlookers. The image encapsulates the rebels’ temporary dominance and the performative claim to legitimate rule. As an 18th-century print, it adds period interpretation beyond the syllabus but accurately illustrates the episode. Source
Disorder in London, including looting, turned opinion against Cade’s men.
The rebellion collapsed as the government issued pardons; Cade was later captured and executed.
Impact on Governance
The rebellion exposed the fragility of royal authority:
Parliament recognised the scale of discontent but failed to address structural grievances.
Henry VI’s lack of leadership further undermined confidence in his reign.
The unrest heightened the rivalry between powerful nobles, notably Somerset and York, by showing the Crown’s incapacity to control dissent.
The Failure in France to 1450
Background of the Hundred Years’ War
By the mid-15th century, England’s position in France was precarious. The Hundred Years’ War had shifted momentum in favour of the French under Charles VII.
Loss of Normandy (1450) after the decisive French victory at Formigny.
Campaign map of Normandy in 1450 showing the French and Breton advance after Formigny and the fall of key English-held towns such as Caen and Cherbourg. It visualises the compression and collapse of England’s French enclave that fuelled political anger at home. Labels are in French; this exceeds syllabus detail slightly but aids orientation. Source
Collapse of English administration in France due to poor leadership and lack of resources.
Failure of taxation policies in England to sustain prolonged conflict.
Consequences of Military Failure
The defeats in France had profound effects:
Economic strain: Defending French territories drained England’s treasury.
Political unrest: Defeat discredited the ruling elite and fostered anger at Somerset, who was blamed for mismanagement.
National humiliation: The loss of Normandy, long held as a core English possession, struck at national pride.
Rise of York’s ambitions: Richard, Duke of York, capitalised on dissatisfaction, positioning himself as a reformer.
Hundred Years’ War: A prolonged conflict (1337–1453) between England and France over claims to the French throne and territorial disputes, culminating in England’s near-total expulsion from France.
The failures in France directly intensified Cade’s Rebellion by confirming accusations of corruption and incompetence at court.
Henry VI’s Illness (1453–1455)
Onset of Mental Collapse
In August 1453, following the Battle of Castillon and final loss of Gascony, Henry VI suffered a mental breakdown.
Posthumous portrait of Henry VI (c. 1540), providing a clear visual anchor for the king at the centre of the constitutional crisis. Use alongside discussion of his incapacity (1453–1455) and the resulting struggle among Margaret of Anjou, Somerset, and York. This is a likeness rather than medical depiction; it purposefully avoids speculative detail about the illness itself. Source
Royal Illness: A period (1453–1455) when Henry VI became mentally incapacitated, unable to speak, recognise people, or govern effectively.
Political Consequences
Henry’s illness produced a power vacuum at the heart of government:
Margaret of Anjou, the queen, sought to protect her son’s succession by promoting allies, especially Somerset.
The Council of Regency was paralysed, with factions jostling for control.
In 1454, the nobility appointed Richard, Duke of York as Protector, marking his first protectorate.
Impact on Stability
Henry’s incapacity destroyed confidence in his personal rule, reinforcing doubts about his suitability as monarch.
The crisis heightened noble rivalries, as competing factions aligned with York or Somerset.
The temporary empowerment of York emboldened his political ambitions, while Margaret’s assertiveness deepened divisions.
Interconnectedness of Rebellion, Foreign Defeat, and Royal Illness
The years 1450–1455 reveal a pattern of crisis:
Cade’s Rebellion highlighted the domestic anger against corruption and mismanagement.
The losses in France provided both a financial and reputational blow, intensifying internal discontent.
Henry’s illness removed effective kingship, exposing the kingdom to factionalism.
Together, these developments severely eroded monarchical authority and set the stage for the Wars of the Roses by escalating rivalry between Yorkists and Lancastrians.
FAQ
Cade took the name “John Mortimer” to evoke a symbolic link with the Mortimer family, from whom Richard, Duke of York, descended. This connection implied that Cade’s movement had noble or even dynastic legitimacy, which gave his rebellion greater resonance.
By using the Mortimer name, Cade appealed to widespread Yorkist sympathies and made his demands appear aligned with reformist noble interests rather than mere popular unrest.
Initially, Londoners supported Cade and welcomed his petitions. However, discipline quickly broke down once rebels entered the city.
Looting and violence alienated London’s merchants and guilds.
Civic leaders turned against Cade, blocking bridges to keep rebels out.
Without London’s support, Cade’s movement crumbled rapidly, leading to dispersal of the rebels.
Suffolk, Henry VI’s chief minister, was widely blamed for corruption, mismanagement, and military failure in France.
His impeachment and exile in 1450 did not calm tensions, as he was murdered at sea soon afterwards. Rather than easing anger, his death symbolised the weakness of royal authority and left Somerset as a new focus of resentment.
Normandy had been held by England since 1415 and was viewed as an integral part of the English crown’s continental possessions.
It was a wealthy region that provided resources and revenue.
Its loss meant thousands of English settlers and soldiers were displaced.
The defeat destroyed confidence in government leadership and confirmed France’s recovery under Charles VII.
Margaret became the de facto leader of the Lancastrian cause during Henry’s incapacity.
She promoted Somerset and other loyal allies to protect the interests of her son, Prince Edward.
Her assertiveness alienated York and other nobles who feared exclusion from power.
Margaret’s prominence intensified factionalism, making compromise increasingly unlikely.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In what year did Jack Cade’s Rebellion take place, and what was the primary grievance of the rebels?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for correctly identifying the year as 1450.
1 mark for correctly identifying the primary grievance as corruption/misgovernment at court (accept equivalents such as “anger at corrupt royal advisors,” “resentment of mismanagement”).
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two consequences of Henry VI’s illness (1453–1455) for the governance of England.
Mark Scheme:
Award up to 3 marks per consequence. Each consequence should be explained, not just stated.
1 mark for identifying a valid consequence.
1 additional mark for developing the consequence with detail.
1 further mark for explaining its significance to governance.
Examples:
Power vacuum: Henry’s incapacity left England without effective royal leadership (1). This created uncertainty in decision-making (1). It led to York’s appointment as Protector in 1454 (1).
Factionalism: The Queen, Margaret of Anjou, increased her role to defend her son’s inheritance (1). This sharpened divisions between Somerset’s supporters and York (1). It destabilised government and worsened political rivalries (1).
Other valid answers may include: loss of confidence in monarchy, intensification of disputes over succession, or weakening of Lancastrian authority.
