Henry VI of England
Henry VI (6 December 1421 - 21 May 1471) was King of England twice. The first time was from 31 August 1422 to 1461. The second time was from 1470 to 21 May 1471. He was also the King of France from 1422 to 1453.
| Henry VI | |
|---|---|
 Miniature of Henry VI in the Talbot Shrewsbury Book, 1444–1445 | |
| King of England, Lord of Ireland (more...) | |
| |
| Coronation | 6 November 1429, Westminster Abbey |
| Predecessor | Henry V |
| Successor | Edward IV |
| Lord Protector |
|
| King of France | |
| 21 October 1422 – 19 October 1453 | |
| Coronation | 16 December 1431, Notre-Dame de Paris |
| Predecessor | Charles VI |
| Successor | Charles VII |
| Lord Protector |
|
| Born | 6 December 1421 Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England |
| Died | 21 May 1471 (aged 49) Tower of London, London, England |
| Burial | 12 August 1484 |
| Spouse | Margaret of Anjou (m. 1445) |
| Issue | Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales |
| House | Lancaster (Plantagenet) |
| Father | Henry V of England |
| Mother | Catherine of Valois |
| Signature |  |
The King
Henry was the only child of King Henry V of England and was his heir. He was born on 6 December 1421 at Windsor. He became king at the age of nine months on 31 August 1422, when his father died. His mother, Catherine of Valois, was then only twenty years old. Because she was the daughter of King Charles VI of France, and France had been the enemy of England, the English people did not trust her and she was not allowed to have a large part in raising her son.
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, Henry IV's youngest son, was given the position of Protector and Defender of the Realm and the Church (Regent of England) until the King was old enough to rule. His job was to keep the peace and deal with Parliament. Henry IV's oldest living son, John, Duke of Bedford, was made the Regent of France. He was in charge of running the war that was happening. Bedford also replaced Gloucester as Regent of England whenever he was in England.
Coronation
Henry was eventually made King of England at Westminster Abbey on 6 November 1429 a month before his eighth birthday. He was made King of France at Notre Dame in Paris on 16 December 1431. Because he was a child he was not allowed to control the government until he was declared of age on his sixteenth birthday in 1437, the same year his mother died.
Henry's marriage to Margaret of Anjou
Because of his success in the Hundred Years' War, Henry V had left England with a lot of land in France. Since Henry VI was still a child, and England was ruled by a Regent, much of the land his father gained was lost. Diplomatic mistakes as well as military failures caused the loss of most of the English land in France.
Henry VI was a deeply spiritual man and was not very interested in politics. He let his court be controlled by a few noblemen who were called his "favourites". The people who wanted to end the war in France became more powerful, and Henry went along with them. Henry VI was told that the best way to get peace with France was to marry Margaret of Anjou, who was a niece of King Charles VII of France. Charles agreed to let Henry marry Margaret as long as he did not have to give her a dowry and was given the lands of Maine and Anjou by the English. Henry agreed, but did not let Parliament know about giving away Maine and Anjou. He thought that the English people would not be happy to know that the land was being given away to France.
The marriage happened in 1445. Margaret was much the opposite of Henry. She was ready to take decisions and lead while he was happy to be led by her. Margaret was a stronger ruler than Henry ever was, even though she was only sixteen at that time.
The Wars of the Roses
Death and legacy
Henry VI was imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he was murdered on 21 May 1471. Popular legend said that Richard, Duke of Gloucester was guilty of his murder, as well as the murder of Henry VI's son Edward of Westminster. King Henry VI was originally buried in Chertsey Abbey. In 1485, his body was moved to St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. He was succeeded by Edward IV, son of Richard, Duke of York.
Henry VI Of England Media
Henry VI, aged nine months, shown being placed in the care of the Earl of Warwick
A mid-15th-century depiction of Henry being crowned King of France at Notre-Dame de Paris on 16 December 1431
Margaret of Anjou, depicted in the Talbot Shrewsbury Book, 1444–45
Salut d'or, depicting Henry as King of England and France, struck in Rouen
Manuscript depiction of Henry VI c. 1457
Depiction of Henry enthroned, from the Talbot Shrewsbury Book, 1444–45
Silver groat of Henry VI, York Museums Trust
Gold "Angel" coin of Henry's later reign, struck in either London or York, showing the Archangel Michael (hence the coin's name) slaying the Dragon (left), and Henry's shield being carried aboard a ship (right)
The Wakefield Tower in the Tower of London, which is treated as Henry VI's place of death for ceremonial purposes
16th-century portrait of Henry (National Portrait Gallery, London)
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Notes
- ↑ Originally interred at Chertsey Abbey, Surrey.