Changes

Hostilities continued, however, and ended in [[Towton]] in March 1461, with the defeat of the Lancastrian forces and the exile of Henry and Margaret to [[Scotland]]. Richard had died in battle at [[Wakefield]] in December 1460 and his son became king of England as [[Edward IV]].

Hostilities continued, however, and ended in [[Towton]] in March 1461, with the defeat of the Lancastrian forces and the exile of Henry and Margaret to [[Scotland]]. Richard had died in battle at [[Wakefield]] in December 1460 and his son became king of England as [[Edward IV]].

Henry was captured in northern England in 1465 and imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]] until 1470, when the political situation again changed and he was released and restored to the throne. However, he was captured by Edward’s forces at [[Tewkesbury]] in May 1471, returned to the Tower, and put to death the next day. His only son, Edward, Prince of Wales, (born 1453) had died at Tewkesbury. Edward IV regained the throne. His body was buried in Chertsey Abbey but moved to St. George Chapel, [[Windsor]] in 1484 by [[Richard III]] because of a growing veneration of his memory. [[Henry VII]] was to make a failed attempt at sainthood.

Henry was captured in northern England in 1465 and imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]] until 1470, when the political situation again changed and he was released and restored to the throne. However, after Edward's victories at [[Barnet]] (14th March) and [[Tewkesbury]] (4th May), he was  returned to the Tower, and put to death on the 21st May 1471. His only son, Edward, Prince of Wales, (born 1453) had died and Margaret captured at Tewkesbury. Edward IV regained the throne. His body was buried in Chertsey Abbey but moved to St. George Chapel, [[Windsor]] in 1484 by [[Richard III]] because of a growing veneration of his memory. [[Henry VII]] was to make a failed attempt at sainthood.

Henry VI’s immediate legacy  was a kingdom in the middle of a major civil war, suffering lack of prestige abroad and morale at home from the loss of it’s French dominions ([[Callais]] alone remained.) Many of the country’s ruling class were dead or dispossessed and more were to follow, because the conflict did not end with his death. His long term place in history, though, is assuaged by his patronage of the arts and learning. Institutions that have become synonymous with England – [[Eton College]] and [[King’s College, Cambridge]], numerous abbeys chapels and churches and the English grammar school as an institution, were all beneficiaries of his piety and interest.  

Henry VI’s immediate legacy  was a kingdom in the middle of a major civil war, suffering lack of prestige abroad and morale at home from the loss of it’s French dominions ([[Callais]] alone remained.) Many of the country’s ruling class were dead or dispossessed and more were to follow, because the conflict did not end with his death. His long term place in history, though, is assuaged by his patronage of the arts and learning. Institutions that have become synonymous with England – [[Eton College]] and [[King’s College, Cambridge]], numerous abbeys chapels and churches and the English grammar school as an institution, were all beneficiaries of his piety and interest.