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Why did the readeption of Henry VI in 1471 fail? - Coggle Diagram
Why did the readeption of Henry VI in 1471 fail?
Lack of support for Henry VI
Henry chose to go to war without the support of Parliament, lost support of many members of the nobility due to this - not only lacked support from the commoners but now also the nobility
The people of London did not want to go to war with Burgundy - support for Henry dwindled. George Neville made a last ditch attempt to get Henry support by parading him around London, however it did not work and Neville himself ending up giving in to Edward's return to London
Warwick and Henry could not rely on widespread public support to keep Edward out when he returned
The Yorkist nobility were annoyed (other than some Nevilles) that the Lancastrians were back on the throne and Warwick had led them - lacked significant noble support due to this
Lancastrians would not give support to Warwick or Henry until Margaret of Anjou arrived and she only did following the battle of Barnet in April - meaning there was no real noble support for Henry at all when Edward returned
Edward IV
Edward returned to England by claiming he was only going to take back his inheritance as the Duke of York
Edward was determined - he burnt his ships upon arrival in England to show he would not leave, he followed Margaret around Gloucester until Tewkesbury
Edward was not successful in recruiting men when he first arrived but he headed south to find Warwick anyway with the men he had
He negotiated with the Hansiatic league for trade deals if he returned to the throne - would please the London merchants and gain their support
Edward led his own army in battle at Barnet and Tewkesbury - he is a strong and undefeated military leader, gave moral to his troops
Luck
Clarence provided Edward with 12,000 additional men at Banbury on April 3rd
Warwick decided to wait for reinforcements at Banbury, at this point Warwick had 7,000 men and Edward only 5,000 - Warwick waiting meant Edward had enough time to assemble more troops (Clarence's 12,000)
Percy doesnt attack Edward when he lands in Yorkshire - however Edward had given Percy the title of Earl of Northumberland following Montagu's betrayal so could be classed as Edward's actions
The people of London didnt support Henry and the mayor did not resist Edward's entrance on April 11th
George Neville betrayed Warwick and let Edward into London
Elizabeth had given birth to a son, giving him an heir
Warwick's army became confused at Barnet and began shooting at each other
Gloucester refused to let Margaret in so she had to continue marching her army to find a safe area - allowed Edward to follow her until engaging in battle at Tewkesbury
Involvement of foreign powers
Readeption caused war with Burgundy as Lois Xi only supported the readeption if Warwick agreed to ally with France once Henry got on the throne. England opens hostilities against Burgundy and gets involved in the war between them and France
Edward had support from the Duke of Burgundy, who gave him money (50,000 crowns), ships and troops to return to England. Enables Edward to return and end Henry's rule
The conflict with Burgundy annoys the London wool merchants as Burgundy is such a big area of trade, turns the people of London and the merchant community against Henry
Instability of Henry's reign
Henry's rule was unstable, the Lancastrians and the Nevilles were only united in their opposition to Edward, there was no unity or trust. Henry needed true vigour and trust for his reign to succeed but he lacked both
Henry's foreign policy was risky and unsupported, worsening his already precarious situation by signing a treaty with France in 1471 to engage in war with Burgundy against the will of the people and Parliament
No stable noble support for Henry as the Yorkists had been annoyed and the Lancastrians wouldnt support him until Margaret arrived
Mistakes of Warwick
War with Burgundy alienated and angered the people of London and the merchants community
He alienated Clarence (made it clear he would not be inheriting the crown and gave lieutenancy of Ireland) which caused him to defect back to Edward, resulting in 12,000 added to Edward's troops
Failed to rally Lancastrian support before the return of Margaret meaning there was no noble support for Henry until April 1471
Decided to avoid conflict at Coventry which then cut him off from the South
Assumed that London would hold and he would be able to capture Edward, when it fell it cut him off from some of his men and his fleets