Wars of the Roses

• 1444: The Truce of Tours was agreed
• England wanted peace from the Hundred Years War
• Henry VI refused to give up his claim to the French throne (in 1415 at the Battle of Agincourt, Henry V was made heir to the throne after having great military success).
• Suffolk negotiated the marriage of the French King's niece - Margaret of Anjou - to Henry VI.
• Suffolk secretly agreed to hand over Anjou and Maine to France.
• 1447: York was sent to Ireland
• Henry VI and Suffolk saw the Duke of York as a potential threat.
• To rid England of York, after his return from France in 1445, York was dispatched to Ireland in 1447 as the new appointed Lieutenant of Ireland.
• 1447: The death of Gloucester
• Henry VI thought that Gloucester was going to overthrow him. In Feb 1447 - arrested, imprisoned - mysteriously died.
• York is heir-presumptive (Henry VI had no child to be heir).
• Kings of England during the WOTR (reigns)

  • Henry VI (1422-1461)
  • Edward IV (1461-1470)
  • Henry VI (1470-1471)
  • Edward IV (1471-1483)
  • Edward V (1483)
  • Richard III (1483-1485)
  • Henry VII (1485-1509)