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'''Henry VI''' (1421-1471), [[king]] of [[England]] (1422-1461, 1470-1471), only son of [[Henry V]] and Catherine of [[Valois]], was the youngest (at 9 months) to ascend to the throne of England. He also had the most to look forward to as both the English and French crowns were awaiting him after his father’s exploits in the years just before his birth. He was crowned King of England in 1429, King of [[France]] in 1431. His minority was marked by the quality of his guardians and their regard for the institutions they served.  

'''Henry VI''' (1421-1471), [[king]] of [[England]] (1422-1461, 1470-1471), only son of [[Henry V]] and Catherine of [[Valois]], was the youngest (at 9 months) to ascend to the throne of England. He also had the most to look forward to as both the English and French crowns were awaiting him after his father’s exploits in the years just before his birth. He was crowned King of England in 1429, King of [[France]] in 1431. His minority was marked by the quality of his guardians and their regard for the institutions they served.  

His rule, once he gained the reality of kingship, was a disaster. He proved to be the opposite of his father in all but his piety and love of the arts. He was the antithesis of the Plantagenet king. He was the first [[Norman]]-[[Angevin]] king not to participate in battle against foreign forces. He was vacillating, he was not interested in governance, he ignored the chivalric code at the time of its greatest importance, and he took heed of the latest advice (which, after 1445, was usually that of the clique led by his wife, [[Margaret of Anjou]] and her favourite, [[William de la Pole]], duke of Suffolk.) He was also given to mental instability.

His rule, once he gained the reality of kingship, was a disaster. He proved to be the opposite of his father in all but his piety and love of the arts. He was the antithesis of the [[Plantagenet]] king. He was the first [[Norman]]-[[Angevin]] king not to participate in battle against foreign forces. He was vacillating, he was not interested in governance, he ignored the chivalric code at the time of its greatest importance, and he took heed of the latest advice (which, after 1445, was usually that of the clique led by his wife, [[Margaret of Anjou]] and her favourite, [[William de la Pole]], duke of Suffolk.) He was also given to mental instability.

He assumed personal rule in 1437, six years after the death of [[Joan of Arc]] at a time when the [[French]] were starting to extricate themselves from the successes of Henry V.

He assumed personal rule in 1437, six years after the death of [[Joan of Arc]] at a time when the [[French]] were starting to extricate themselves from the successes of Henry V.

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, 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 was captured in northern England in 1465 and imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]] until 1470, when the political situation again changed (see [[Richard Neville]]) 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 ([[Calais]] 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 ([[Calais]] 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.