Henry VI: From Crisis to Civil War

Matt Lewis returns to continue our journey through the reign of Henry VI - and things are about to fall apart.

Picking up in 1450, we explore the events that plunged England into the Wars of the Roses. Was Richard, Duke of York, really determined to take the throne, or has history misunderstood his intentions? Time and again, York had opportunities to overthrow Henry VI, yet repeatedly stopped short. So why did the kingdom descend into civil war anyway?

We discuss Henry's catastrophic political indecision, his unwavering trust in Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, his mental collapse in 1453, the First Battle of St Albans, the ill-fated Love Day, the dramatic Act of Accord, and the death of Richard of York at Wakefield. Along the way, we examine the choices - and failures - that shaped one of the most turbulent periods in English history.

We also tackle one of the biggest questions surrounding Henry VI: what really happened in the Tower of London in May 1471? Was the deposed king murdered, or did he simply succumb to grief and illness after the destruction of his Lancastrian cause?

Join us as we conclude the story of Henry VI - a king whose inability to choose a side may have changed the course of English history forever.

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Host: Rebecca Larson

Guest: Matt Lewis