King Henry VI of England Timeline 1421-1471

King Henry VI, was born to Henry V and Catherine of Valois at Windsor Castle. He was created Duke of Cornwall.

Henry became King of England when his father died. His uncles, John, Duke of Bedford and Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester together with Henry Beaufort, son of John of Gaunt, acted as regents for the infant King .

King Charles VI of France died. In accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Troyes 1420, Henry became King of France.

The French disliked being ruled by the English and many ignored laws and resisted measures put in place by the King’s regents. Large parts of southern France openly declared their allegiance to Charles VI’s son, Charles the Dauphin.

Battle of Cravant
This battle, fought between the English and French at Cravant, Burgundy, was a victory for the English.

The English nobility swore fealty to the young King Henry VI.

Battle of Verneuil
This battle, fought between the English and French at Verneuil, Normandy, was a victory for the English.

Humphrey Duke of Gloucester and Cardinal Beaufort disagreed on how to manage the French.

Cardinal Beaufort resigned as Chancellor. William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk was appointed in his stead.

A young girl named Joan, known to history as Joan of Arc began to have visions where she heard the voice of God telling her to drive the English out of France and to take the Dauphin Charles to Reims for his coronation.

Parliament of Bats
This was a meeting of Parliament held at Leicester by John Duke of Bedford to settle the dispute between Gloucester and Beaufort. All attendees were told that they were not to carry arms so they appeared carrying bats or clubs instead. A reluctant truce was reached.

Battle of St James
This battle, fought between the English and French at Avranches, was a victory for the English.

Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, was appointed Henry’s tutor.

Joan of Arc went to Vaucouleurs and told the garrison commander that she wanted to join the Dauphin. She was sent away.

Siege of Orleans
The French placed the English held city of Orleans under siege.

Siege of Orleans
After persuading the Dauphin to trust her, Joan of Arc, dressed in a suit of armour, led an army to Orleans. Her army was victorious and Orleans fell to the French.

Battle of Jargeau
This battle, fought between the French led by Joan of Arc and the English saw the French recapture land lost along the Loire river.

Battle of Beaugency
This battle, fought between the French led by Joan of Arc and the English saw the French victorious.

Battle of Patay
This battle, fought between the French and the English was a victory for the French.

The Dauphin of France was crowned King Charles VII at Reims Cathedral.

Henry was crowned King of England at Westminster Abbey.

Siege of Compiegne
This was Joan of Arc’s last battle. She was captured outside the town by a Burgundian force and handed over to the English.

Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

Henry was crowned King of France at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

Battle of Gerberoy
This battle fought between the French and English was a victory for the French.

John, Duke of Bedford died.

Congress of Arras
This meeting between representatives of the French, English and Burgundians sought to find a peace. The Treaty of Arras found agreement between France and Burgundy which broke the Burgundians allegiance to the English and ultimately left the English in a much weaker position in France.

Henry’s mother, Catherine of Valois, died.

King Henry VI took over personal rule.

The English recaptured Harfleur from the French.

Henry VI founded Eton College.

Henry VI founded Kings College, Cambridge.

The French took Pontoise and Ile de France from the English.

The French invaded Gascony.

A truce was agreed with Burgundy.

Treaty of Tours
This was a peace agreement between England and France. It was to be sealed with the marriage of Henry VI to Margaret of Anjou.

Henry married Margaret of Anjou at Titchfield Abbey, Hampshire.

Margaret of Anjou was crowned Queen.

Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, was accused of treason for plotting to take the throne and was imprisoned in Bury St Edmunds where he died before he could be tried.

The English captured Fougeres in Brittany.

The French invaded Normandy.

The capital of Normandy, Rouen, surrendered to the French.

Battle of Formigny
This was a major battle fought between the French and English and was a victory for the French.

William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, Henry’s chief minister, was accused and found guilty of treason. He was pardoned by the King and sent into exile but was murdered on his way to his ship.
Suffolk’s death meant there were only two descendants of the Plantagenet line and both wanted positions in the country. The Duke of Somerset was, like the King, of Lancastrian descent. His rival and heir presumptive to the throne was Richard Duke of York.

Cade’s Rising
Disgruntled Kentishmen rallied behind Jack Cade and marched to London in protest against the government of the country.

Cade’s Rising
The rebels clashed with royal forces at Sevenoaks.

Cade’s Rising
Rebels murdered William Ayscough, Bishop of Salisbury, who had risen to be one of the most powerful men in the country.

Cade’s Rising
The Kentishmen led by Jack Cade reached London and presented a formal complaint.

Cade’s Rising
A battle broke out on London Bridge between Cade’s men and officials of London. The rebels sustained heavy casualties

Cade’s Rising
The King issued a pardon to all of Cade’s men that withdrew from the capital immediately. The pardon did not apply to Cade and he fled south.

Cade’s Rising
Jack Cade was captured near Lewes. However, he was badly wounded and died before he could be tried.

Cherbourg surrendered to the French, a move that gave the French control of all of Normandy.

Bordeaux surrendered to the French.

Bayonne surrendered to the French, a move that gave the French control of Gascony.

Richard Duke of York raised arms against the King but surrendered 2 days later. He was pardoned by the King.

John Talbot, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury re-captured Bordeaux allowing England to regain control of Gascony.

Battle of Castillon
This battle was fought between the French and English and was a victory for the French. The English commander, Talbot, was killed. The battle marked the end of the Hundred Years’ War.

King Henry VI suffered a mental breakdown and was unfit to rule. Richard Duke of York as heir presumptive felt he should replace Henry on the throne. However, Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset was favoured by Margaret of Anjou.

A son, Edward, was born to King Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou at the Palace of Westminster. He was created Duke of Cornwall.

The French recaptured Bordeaux. England was left with just Calais in France.

Henry’s son, Edward, was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester.

King Henry VI regained his mental capacity.

Wars of the Roses began
First Battle of St Albans
The forces of Richard Duke of York, supported by Richard Neville, Duke of Salisbury and Warwick defeated and killed the Lancastrians led by the Duke of Somerset and the Duke of Northumberland. King Henry VI was captured.

Richard Duke of York was dismissed as regent.

A son, Henry, was born to Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort. He would later become Henry VII.

French raiders lay waste to Sandwich, Kent.

Battle of Blore Heath
A Neville force supporting Richard Duke of York fought off a Lancastrian attack that was supported by the Percy family.

Rout of Ludlow
Threatened by Margaret of Anjou and her supporters, Richard of York, Warwick and the Nevilles mustered their supporters at Ludlow but when the main Lancastrian army appeared their men deserted. York fled to Ireland and Warwick fled to France.

The French made a raid on Sandwich and captured the Royal fleet.

Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and Edward, Earl of March landed at Sandwich at the head of an army and marched towards London.

Battle of Northampton
Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and Edward, Earl of March defeated a Lancastrian force led by Humphrey, Stafford and Buckingham and captured Henry VI. Margaret of Anjou and Prince Edward fled to Harlech Castle.

Richard of York claimed the throne but the landowners refused to accept him as anything other than heir to the throne.

Act of Accord
Richard Duke of York was named successor to the throne over Henry VI’s son, Edward.

Battle of Wakefield
Queen Margaret, unwilling to accept the disinheritance of her son Edward, raised an army in the north. Richard of York was forced to march north where he was defeated and killed by the Lancastrian force.

King Henry VI was released from captivity but was still mentally unstable and as a consequence was unfit to rule.

Warwick, known as the Kingmaker due to his meddling in matters of the succession, put forward Richard of York’s son, Edward, Earl of March as claimant to the throne.

Battle of Mortimer’s Cross
The Earls of Pembroke and Wiltshire led an army of Welsh Lancastrians and French mercenaries to join Margaret of Anjou’s advance on London but they were intercepted by a Yorkist army led by Edward Earl of March and defeated.

Second Battle of St Albans
Warwick attempted to block Margaret of Anjou’s southward advance on London but his defensive position was surprised. After a long and bloody battle the Yorkists fled. Henry VI was recaptured but the Lancastrians failed to secure London and returned north.

Henry was deposed by Edward Duke of York who took the throne as Edward IV.

Battle of Towton
Edward Earl of March pursued the Lancastrians north and attacked them near Tadcaster. After a long fight in heavy snowfall, the Lancastrians were defeated having suffered heavy casualties.

Following the Lancastrian defeat at the Battle of Towton, Margaret and Prince Edward fled to Scotland where they were given refuge. Henry was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Edward IV was crowned King at Westminster Abbey.

Edward IV secretly married Elizabeth Woodville, daughter of Richard Woodville, Baron Rivers. The marriage was not popular and angered Warwick who had wanted the King to make a diplomatic marriage

King Henry VI was captured by Yorkist forces and taken to the Tower of London.

Warwick, frustrated by his lack of power over Edward, turned his attention to Edward’s younger brother, George, Duke of Clarence who he possibly intended to make King in Edward’s stead.

Battle of Edgecote Moor
Warwick raised an army of northern rebels led by Sir John Conyers, Edward’s cousin. They defeated a force of Welsh loyalists led by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke.

Warwick captured Edward IV. With Edward in captivity he married his daughter to George Duke of Clarence. Warwick then attempted to rule in Edward’s name but he was not supported by the nobility.

Failing to gain the support of the nobility Warwick was forced to release Edward.

King Edward tried to find a peaceful solution rather than retaliate against Warwick.

Warwick and George Duke of Clarence with Lancastrian support rebelled against Edward but were defeated.

Warwick went to France and made an alliance with Margaret of Anjou.

Warwick and the Duke of Clarence at the head of an army returned to England and defeated Edward who was forced to flee to Burgundy. Edward’s wife, Elizabeth Woodville, who was heavily pregnant, sought sanctuary in Westminster Abbey.

Henry  VI was restored to the English throne.

Edward returned to England at the head of a Burgundian Yorkist army.

Battle of Barnet
Edward set out to attack Warwick’s larger Lancastrian force at dawn. After a three hour fight, two Lancastrian divisions mistakenly attacked each other and the army broke and fled. Warwick was killed in the flight.

Battle of Tewekesbury
Landing at Weymouth too late to assist Warwick at Barnet, Margaret of Anjou’s forces were leaving for Wales when they were attacked by Edward IV. They were defeated and Edward, Prince of Wales, was killed. Margaret of Anjou was captured and placed under house arrest, Henry VI was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

Edward returned triumphant to London. It is believed that Henry was murdered in the Tower of London on the same day.