Zusammenfassung der Ressource
8 Henry VI: The Exclusion
and Resentment of
Richard, Duke of York
- As the king's closest living relative
York expected to be 1 of the
power brokers at court
- The fact that he was excluded
from the centre of power was a
burning source of resentment for
him
- His exclusion was due to 3 factors:
- The opposition of the king's chief advisers
Suffolk + Somerset - who created + led a
household or court faction that enabled them
to monopolise royal patronage
- They were not prepared to
share power by admitting York
into this 'charmed circle', nor
were they prepared to tolerate
his leadership
- The Queen, Margaret, did not like +
trust York due to his forcefulness,
his blood-relationship with Henry +
claim to the throne
- Her suspicions deepened after he
became heir-presumptive after
Henry's uncle, the Duke of
Gloucester's death
- She succeeded in keeping
him at arm's length from both
Henry + the court
- He was his own worst
enemy - he was too arrogant,
stubborn + demanding
- Instead of exercising patience + making
friendships, he preferred confrontation +
challenge
- He had little time + respect for
these whom he considered inferior
to him in title, intellect + military
skill
- Having serviced twice with some distinction
as the king's military commander in France -
he was mortified when he was removed +
replaced by Somerset
- Thus began a bitter feud with him,
York suspected him of having 'kingly
ambitions' on account of him being
the grandson of John of Gaunt son of
King Edward III
- These suspicions
intensified the longer Henry
remained childless
- His complaints to Henry + Suffolk that
Somerset was ill-equipped to command
English armies fell on deaf ears
- Angry at being owed £38,000 by the Crown
for his services in France, he pressed the
king to settle at least part of the debt or
employ him in some meaningful role
- In an effort to silence + remove York
from England he was given
lieutenancy in Ireland - York
reluctantly accepted, though his debts
remained unpaid + only through
financial assistance of his friends +
sale of some of his properties that he
was able to survive