OCR Specification focus:
‘York’s removal from the Protectorate; York’s response to Margaret of Anjou and the second Protectorate (1455).’
The mid-1450s were pivotal in the Wars of the Roses. With Henry VI’s illness, Richard, Duke of York, had briefly governed as Protector, but his removal and the rise of Queen Margaret of Anjou’s influence destabilised royal politics. The interplay between Margaret, York, and the nobility defined the political crisis of 1455.
The Political Context of 1455
The fragile monarchy of Henry VI was at the heart of events. Henry’s intermittent mental illness had raised profound concerns about governance. During his incapacity, Richard, Duke of York, was appointed Protector (1454). His governance was efficient, but his assertiveness alarmed many nobles, particularly supporters of the royal household.
When Henry’s health improved in early 1455, York was stripped of the Protectorate, and control passed back to the King and his close circle, led by Margaret of Anjou. This triggered renewed instability.
Margaret of Anjou’s Growing Influence
Margaret of Anjou, wife of Henry VI, emerged as a powerful political figure.
Margaret of Anjou seated beside Henry VI receives a presentation copy of the Talbot Shrewsbury Book (c.1444–45). The miniature shows Margaret’s status and proximity to royal decision-making. Note: this scene predates 1455 and includes Henry VI and John Talbot, which is additional to the syllabus focus but clarifies Margaret’s position at court. Source
Protectorate: A temporary form of government in which a leading noble ruled in the King’s name during periods of incapacity or minority.
Margaret assumed an active role in government following York’s removal, determined to secure the position of her son, Prince Edward of Westminster, born in 1453. Her leadership, however, was controversial for several reasons:
She was a foreign-born queen, which aroused xenophobia and suspicion.
Her political alliances, especially with the Duke of Somerset’s supporters, antagonised York and his allies.
She was seen as excluding experienced magnates from decision-making.
Margaret’s assertiveness deepened factional divisions in the realm, fuelling mistrust among leading nobles.
The Problem of Faction
The nobility was polarised between the supporters of York and those of Margaret and Somerset. Noble rivalries had already destabilised politics during Henry’s reign, but by 1455, divisions became more entrenched.
York’s Support
York relied on a network of nobles, notably the powerful Neville family, whose feud with the Percys sharpened wider divisions. His earlier attempts to present himself as a reformer and defender of good governance also won him backing from sections of Parliament and the wider political community.
Margaret and Somerset
In contrast, Margaret relied on the loyalty of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, and a royalist faction determined to defend Henry VI’s authority. Somerset had been discredited after military failures in France but remained central to the Queen’s plans. Margaret’s priority was to protect the interests of her son, which aligned with keeping York out of power.
Faction: A political grouping or alliance formed around a powerful leader or cause, often competing with rival groups for dominance at court.
Factionalism in 1455 was not merely political manoeuvring but a serious breakdown of trust among the ruling elite.
The Second Protectorate Debate
When Henry’s health faltered again, there was pressure to restore York to the Protectorate. However, Margaret resisted this fiercely. She believed York posed a direct threat to her son’s succession and sought instead to build alternative structures of power.
Margaret’s Resistance
She convened councils excluding York and his allies.
She strengthened her authority through the Council of the Prince of Wales, centred in the Midlands and West Country, deliberately distant from York’s power base.
She used patronage to reward loyalists, consolidating support among anti-Yorkist nobles.
Margaret’s actions were seen by York and his allies as provocative and unconstitutional, heightening tensions.
York’s Response to Removal
York did not accept his exclusion quietly. He framed his opposition not as a rebellion against Henry VI but as a defence of the kingdom against “evil counsellors,” a common rhetorical strategy in late medieval politics.
His claims included:
That Margaret and Somerset were mismanaging government.
That his Protectorate had been more effective and just.
That he acted in defence of “good governance” and the realm’s stability.
The Drift Towards Conflict
York’s protests soon escalated. He began mobilising forces, arguing that he needed protection against attacks from Somerset’s supporters. Meanwhile, Margaret’s faction saw York as a usurper-in-waiting, plotting to seize the throne.
By May 1455, tensions exploded into open warfare at the First Battle of St Albans, a direct consequence of the breakdown of trust following York’s removal from office.
Map of the First Battle of St Albans (1455), with barricades, streets, and opposing deployments clearly marked. It highlights Yorkist approaches and Lancastrian positions in the town centre. Labels correspond to locations named in contemporary accounts. Source
The Role of Parliament
Parliament was caught between rival factions. While York had previously gained parliamentary recognition as Protector, his removal highlighted the limitations of parliamentary authority in managing royal incapacity.
Parliament’s attempts to mediate:
Failed to prevent the escalation of violence.
Exposed the weakness of royal government when the King was incapacitated.
Highlighted the increasing dominance of extra-parliamentary forces, particularly the Queen’s political manoeuvring.
Key Themes for Study
Margaret of Anjou’s leadership was unusual for a queen consort, but her determination to protect her son shaped politics decisively.
Factionalism between Yorkist and Lancastrian supporters destabilised governance.
The removal of York from the Protectorate was a turning point, leading directly to armed conflict.
The period illustrates how the weakness of the monarchy created opportunities for powerful individuals to dominate, but also led to instability and civil war.
FAQ
Margaret sought to centralise power around her own authority and protect Prince Edward’s inheritance. She deliberately excluded York and his supporters from royal councils.
She relied heavily on Somerset and loyal Lancastrian nobles, rewarding them with patronage.
She also established the Council of the Prince of Wales in the Midlands, which provided an alternative power base away from York’s influence in London and the South.
Margaret’s origins as a French princess raised suspicion among many English nobles who associated her with England’s defeats in the Hundred Years’ War.
Her ties to France also shaped perceptions that she prioritised French interests over English ones. This made it easier for York to depict her as an outsider with dangerous influence, strengthening opposition to her leadership after York’s dismissal.
The Council, set up in 1454–55, allowed Margaret to govern on behalf of Prince Edward, consolidating power in his name.
It was based in the Midlands and West Country, strategically distant from Yorkist strongholds.
By controlling patronage and administration in Edward’s name, Margaret created an alternative locus of power that directly undermined York’s authority, escalating tensions further.
York emphasised the idea of “evil counsellors” corrupting the King and Queen to justify his opposition.
He presented himself as a champion of good governance rather than a usurper.
This strategy appealed to both Parliament and wider political opinion, who were wary of Margaret’s exclusionary tactics and foreign background, making propaganda central to York’s resistance.
Henry’s brief recovery ended York’s authority as Protector.
It restored power to the royal household, which Margaret controlled.
York’s reforms and policies were rolled back.
The King’s apparent improvement gave Margaret legitimacy to assert her role more openly, claiming she acted with Henry’s support.
However, his fragile health meant this recovery was temporary, leaving instability unresolved and fuelling York’s grievances.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks):
In which year was Richard, Duke of York, removed from the Protectorate, leading to Margaret of Anjou taking a more active role in government?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for correctly identifying the year of York’s removal.
Correct answer: 1455 (2 marks).
Question 2 (6 marks):
Explain why Margaret of Anjou’s role in government after 1455 increased tensions with the Duke of York.
Mark Scheme:
Award up to 2 marks for identifying relevant factors.
Award up to 2 marks for describing how those factors increased tension.
Award up to 2 marks for explanation and linkage to the political crisis.
Indicative content may include:
Margaret’s determination to protect the succession of Prince Edward of Westminster.
Her reliance on unpopular figures such as Somerset.
The exclusion of York from councils and patronage networks.
The establishment of the Council of the Prince of Wales in opposition to York’s authority.
Margaret’s assertiveness was viewed as unconstitutional, increasing factionalism.
Level descriptors:
1–2 marks: Simple statements of fact with limited relevance (e.g. “Margaret wanted her son to be King”).
3–4 marks: Some explanation of reasons, with limited development of links to York’s opposition.
5–6 marks: Developed explanation clearly showing how Margaret’s actions heightened Yorkist hostility and contributed to political breakdown.
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