A Rosy and Thorny Game of Thrones - Part 2

Sunday sees the return of the HBO TV series Game of Thrones, the medieval fantasy based on A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin, which was influenced by the Wars of the Roses. The Daily Mail and History Behind Game of Thrones compare the Cousin's War in 15th Century England and the War of the Five Kings that ravaged across Westeros in Game of Thrones.

The conflicted characters of Game of Thrones share many characteristics with the real-life players of the Wars of the Roses as rival families fought for the throne and once again there are spoilers below for those who aren't up-to-date with Game of Thrones. 

HOUSE STARK/YORK

The first family introduced in the Game of Thrones TV Series was the House of Stark led by patriarch Lord Eddard 'Ned' Stark. Ned, played by Sean Bean, was the Warden of the North who served his friend, Robert Baratheon, during the King's successful rebellion and he begrudgingly left his northern stronghold of Winterfell after being awarded the title Hand of the King in the first episode.

Ned Stark with his sword Ice

Despite the title's suggestion, Richard, Duke of York didn't command the north of England as strongly as Ned Stark. Land titles were often inherited and York's northern territories were limited to Sandal Castle in Wakefield whilst the north was mainly owned by the Neville and Percy families.

York served as Lieutenant of both France and Ireland but would soon be passed over for the favourites of England's king and queen. York's loyalty to the crown was tested by the queen, Margaret of Anjou, who would exchange scathing arguments similar to those had by Ned and Queen Cersei.

The turning point in Series One of Game of Thrones is when King Robert dies and Ned becomes Protector of the Realm to rule until King Joffrey comes of age. York was also named Lord Protector in 1453 when an incapacitated Henry VI was unable to rule. Ned soon discovers that King Joffrey and his siblings are bastards born from incest and publicly declares Joffrey illegitimate in the Throne Room.

Richard, Duke of York, claimant to the throne

York had arguably a better claim to the throne than Henry VI and would publicly declare this by placing his hand on the empty throne in October 1460. York wasn't betrayed as severely as Ned in the Throne Room but courtiers didn't support York as much as he would have liked and would spend weeks negotiating that resulted in decreeing York would inherit the throne after Henry VI.

Ned, however, was imprisoned for treason and his confession in the Sept of Baelor didn't dissuade Joffrey from having Ned beheaded and put on the battlements of the Red Keep. York would never get the chance to inherit the throne after dying in battle during December 1460 and he too would have his decapitated head spiked and put on display.

The wives of Lord Stark and York would also share similarities. Lady Catelyn Stark, played by Michelle Fairley, was part of the Riverlands' House Tully whilst Duchess of York, Cecily Neville, was of the northern Neville family.

Catelyn Stark would negotiate terms for her son's rebellion

York's wife was known as 'Proud Cis' and Catelyn would also share this trait as she hated to be reminded of Ned's infidelity and acted coldly around Ned's bastard son, Jon Snow.

Catelyn was actively involved in negotiating alliances with Lord Walder Frey and Renly Baratheon. Cecily would also negotiate for peace with Margaret of Anjou and the Council following her husband's several challenges to royal authority. Lady Stark's sister, Lysa, had married Lord John Arryn who would die as Hand of the King and caused Lysa to remove herself to the Vale of Arryn. The Stark sisters reunion at the Eyrie didn't go as Catelyn would have liked as Tyrion Lannister escaped execution and Lysa refused to commit troops to the Stark cause.

Cecily Neville would outlive her husband and 13 children

Cecily would also be reunited with her sister, Anne, in harsh circumstances after York had fled the battlefield and left his Duchess to the mercy of the Lancastrian forces. Cecily and her three youngest children were placed under the care of Anne Neville, Duchess of Buckingham, who was married to the Lancastrian commander, Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. 

The fates of Lady Stark and the Duchess of York would however differ. Cecily would live to the age of 80, outliving all of her 13 children, two of which became kings, and saw her grand-daughter become queen. Catelyn would live a much shorter live after falling victim to Walder Frey's betrayal and was killed alongside her eldest son, Robb at the Red Wedding.

Robb Stark, played by Richard Madden, had taken up arms in his father's defence and was named King of the North by his men. The eldest son of York, Edward IV would also take up arms following his father's death and would be proclaimed King of England in March 1461. Edward IV's victory at Towton confirmed his rule and was similar to Robb's victory at the Whispering Wood.

Robb Stark's marriage was similar to Edward IV's

Robb marched south from the Twins after negotiating a crossing with Walder Frey that involved Robb's betrothal to one of Frey's daughters. The betrothal was soon abandoned by Robb when he married Talisa Maegyr (played by Oona Chaplin)and this unwanted marriage was similar to Edward IV's union with Elizabeth Woodville. 

Edward IV was a valiant young King

The Earl of Warwick was negotiating a marriage between Edward IV and a European princess when the king married the daughter of a former squire and this alienated Warwick. Edward IV's uncle would unsuccessfully rebel against the king and was killed at the Battle of Barnet whilst Walder Frey was more successful by betraying Robb, his mother, his wife and unborn child who were killed at the Red Wedding.

Robb was himself betrayed by the Stark ward, Theon Greyjoy (played by Alfie Allen), and was reminiscent of George, Duke of Clarence's betraying his brother, Edward IV. Theon suggested a Stark/Greyjoy alliance to his surrogate brother and Robb allowed him to propose this alliance in person to Theon's father, Balon Greyjoy. This reunion would see Theon looking to prove himself to his father by betraying Robb and attacking Stark's home of Winterfell.

Theon Greyjoy couldn't resist his Iron Island roots

Clarence had aligned himself with Warwick following his brother's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville and this was affirmed with Clarence marrying Warwick's eldest daughter, Isabel Neville. Warwick's plan to overthrow the king and crown Clarence with his grandson as heir was soon thwarted and Warwick looked instead to an alliance with the exiled Margaret of Anjou. Clarence felt betrayed by Warwick and joined his brother's side at the Battle of Barnet in 1471 where they defeated Warwick.

George, Duke of Clarence, betrayed his brother

Clarence would soon rebel against Edward IV after his wife had died and would be executed for treason in 1478 by being drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine. Theon's confident and brash persona would die when he was captured and tortured by Ramsey Snow but it remains to be seen whether Theon can return to glory.

The Stark family is now led by the eldest daughter, Sansa Stark, played by Sophie Turner, who has transformed throughout the TV series. The naive 'little dove' had seen her Prince Joffrey take the head of her father and sadistically ridicule her. The Lady of Winterfell was married to Tyrion Lannister as a strategic match which Littlefinger wanted and engineered to possess the heiress of the North.

Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell, is highly sought after

Elizabeth of York was Edward IV's eldest daughter and was seen as a strategic match to end the Wars of the Roses. In December 1483, Elizabeth Woodville and Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry Tudor, agreed to the marriage of Elizabeth of York and Henry Tudor that was realised in January 1486. This marriage would unite the warring York and Lannister families and was symbolised by the Tudor Rose.

Elizabeth of York became Queen

Elizabeth of York's brothers, King Edward V and Prince Richard, were last seen housed in the Tower of London in late 1483 and were presumed dead, just as the youngest Stark boys, Bran and Rickon were when Theon Greyjoy falsely displayed two charred farm boys as the Starks.

Jon Snow, like Richard, Duke of Gloucester, fought in the North

Ned Stark's bastard son, Jon Snow, played by Kit Harrington became a Man of the Night's Watch and defended The Wall against the Wildlings. Richard, Duke of Gloucester was named Lieutenant-General of the North in 1480 by his brother, Edward IV. Richard raged war against the Scots and recaptured Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1482.

HOUSE LANNISTER/LANCASTER

House of Lancaster originated from the descendants of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and ruled England for over 60 years. 

Henry V was the most famous Lancastrian king, showing warrior-like qualities in defeating the French at Agincourt and Jaime Lannister, played by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, was known as the greatest swordsman in Westeros. Jaime's illegitmate son, Joffrey, would take the throne under the guise of King Robert's son and would show signs of madness as did Henry VI. 

Jaime Lannister and Henry V showed their prowess with a sword

Henry VI's first mental breakdown coincided with the birth of his only son, Edward of Westminster, who shares similarities with King Joffrey (played by Jack Gleeson) who took pleasure in meeting out justice to his captors. 

The sadistic King Joffrey 

Prince Edward was exposed to cruelty from an early age when the five-year-old boy witnessed the Lancastrian victory at the Second Battle of St. Albans. Margaret of Anjou asked her young son how the two York knights held captive should be killed and the prince requested death by decapitation, an order repeated by King Joffrey for Ned Stark.

Prince Edward was aged five when he passed judgement of execution

Margaret of Anjou looked to reaffirm her son's birthright by aligning with the Earl of Warwick who betrothed his daughter, Anne Neville, to Prince Edward. 

The "Kingmaker" Earl of Warwick

The Earl of Warwick was known as the Kingmaker for his decisive military and political actions whose lands and titles gave him vast wealth and served as inspiration for the Lannister patriach, Tywin Lannister, played by Charles Dance. 

Tywin Lannister

Tywin was also the richest man in the land and served twice as Hand of the King, betrothed his daughter to King Robert and saw his two grandsons sit on the Iron Throne. Tywin, like Warwick, looked to affirm his power by negotiating favourable marriages and he betrothed Cersei once again and his two grandsons to the powerful Tyrells. Joffrey's marriage to Margaery Tyrell didn't last a day after he was poisoned at the wedding feast and Prince Edward would also die young at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.

Joffrey's mother, Cersei Lannister, played by Lena Headey, draws inspiration from Margaret of Anjou and Elizabeth Woodville. Cersei would act as Queen Regent during Joffrey's minority and looked to wield power but was unable to control her son.

Queen Cersei divided many in King's Landing

Margaret of Anjou had several admirers at court, the biggest being the 2nd Duke of Somerset. Somerset had negotiated the royal marriage and carried the young queen-to-be ashore when she arrived in England. Queen Margaret returned this by awarding Somerset several titles and intervened numerous times when others called for Somerset's arrest. Many wondered whether Prince Edward was a result of an adulterous liaison between the queen and Somerset, a relationship that somewhat resembles the Lannister twins of Cersei and Jaime.

Margaret of Anjou's favourtism resembled Cersei's

This incestuous relationship bore illegitimate children which were revealed as such by Ned Stark and, more publicly, by Stannis Baratheon. Elizabeth Woodville would also see her children declared bastards after an Act of Accord in 1483 ruled that Edward IV was betrothed to another when Woodville married the king.

HOUSE BARATHEON/LATER YORK

King Robert Baratheon, like Edward IV, had won a valiant war to claim the throne but times of peace allowed both kings to revel in royal luxuries. King Robert, played by Mark Addy, was over-bloated after years of excess food and drink and would die on an alcohol-fuelled hunting trip. Edward IV also led an unhealthy lifestyle towards the end of his reign and would fall fatally ill, possibly from pneumonia, in Spring of 1483.

Robert Baratheon resembled an older Edward IV

Robert's two younger brothers would each look to replace him but Renly Baratheon (played by Gethin Anthony) was killed by his brother Stannis whilst George, Duke of Clarence, was executed for treason before Edward IV died.

Renly Baratheon wanted the throne as did George, Duke of Clarence

Ned Stark had informed Stannis Baratheon (played by Stephen Dillane) of the true identity of Cersei's children and Stannis publicly declared them bastards following Ned Stark's execution. 

Stannis Baratheon publicly declared his nephews & niece as bastards

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, did the same when he discovered the illegitimacy of Edward IV's sons and would become King Richard III. Both Stannis and Richard III were known for their duty and believed in just law, they would also share a sickly child with Richard's son Prince Edward dying aged 10.

Richard III took the throne after declaring his nephew a bastard

Stannis looked to support the Men of the Night's Watch cause but arrived a day afterward the Battle of the Castle Black. He continues to pursue the Iron Throne but it remains to be seen whether he'll be successful.

HOUSE TARGARYEN/LANCASTER & TUDOR

The final Targaryen king was Aerys II, known as the Mad King, and the final Lancastrian king Henry VI would also show mental frailties. Aegon II was promoted to the Iron Throne by his mother Queen Alicent Hightower much like how Margaret Beaufort encouraged her son, Henry Tudor, to the English throne, to become Henry VII.

Henry VII provided inspiration for at least two Targaryens

Henry VII had been sent into exile during Edward IV's reign - as had Daenerys Targaryen (played by Emilia Clarke). Daenerys was the daughter of Aerys II and fled to Essos with her brother Viserys and the Mother of Dragons is currently planning a return to Westeros with her dragons to claim the Iron Throne.

The exiled 'Mother of Dragons' Daenerys Targaryen

Henry Tudor was descended from the Welsh Tudor family and he flew the Welsh Dragon on his banners when he successfully won the crown by defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. This would then usher in the Tudor dynasty that ruled England for over 100 years.

HOUSES TULLY & TYRELL/NEVILLE

In order to successfully claim the throne you need support from lesser families. The Neville family descended from the Beauforts of John of Gaunt were originally sympathetic to the Lancastrian cause. Ralph Neville betrothed his nine-year-old daughter, Cecily Neviile to the Duke of York, similar to Catelyn Tully's betrothal to Ned Stark. 

Cecily's brother, Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, would later fight alongside York and his valour was similar to that shown by Catelyn's uncle Bryden Tully (played by Clive Russell).

Bryden 'Blackfish' Tully resembled the Earl of Salisbury

Salisbury's son, the Earl of Warwick, would also look to betroth his children in order to affirm his power. His eldest daughter, Isabel, was married to George, Duke of Clarence, as part of Warwick's original plan to overthrow Edward IV but this provided to be futile. Warwick would then use his other daughter, Anne, in a marriage with Lancastrian Prince Edward, in a second attempt to overthrow Edward IV.

Anne Neville would go from a Lancastrian Princess to a Yorkist Queen when Anne later married Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and became Queen Consort when Richard became king in 1483.

Anne Neville would be Princess and later Queen

Margaery Tyrell (played by Natalie Dormer) would also rise to power and told Littlefinger that she wants to be "THE queen" and not just a queen after the death of her betrothed Renly. 

Margaery Tyrell has aligned herself with two kings and one pretender

The Tyrells soon joined Tywin Lannister in fighting back Stannis' attack on King's Landing at the Battle of Backwater Bay and were rewarded by having Margaery betrothed to King Joffrey. Not to be deterred by Joffrey's death (engineered by Margaery's grandmother) Margaery would set her sights on the next king, Tommen Baratheon.

SIGILS & MOTTOS

Heraldry rose in prominence during the Middle Ages where soldiers could identify friend or foe on the battlefield. This soon developed into coats of arms where family lineage and personal emblems were displayed. Unlike the family sigils of Westeros, medieval banners would contain different emblems amongst family members. 

Whilst the Starks fought below Direwolf banners, the Yorkists flew under the Falcon and Fetterlock of the Duke of York, the Sunne in Splendour of Edward IV, the Black Bull of Duke of Clarence and the White Boar of Richard III. The White Rose of York was used early on during the so-called Wars of the Roses whilst the Red Rose of Lancaster was only used towards the end of the conflict with the banner of the  Welsh Red Dragon being flown by Henry Tudor's men.

The York symbols White Rose and Falcon & Fetterlock

Each family in Westeros has it's own motto such as Stark's "Winter Is Coming" or Lannister's "Hear Me Roar!" Mottos were usually reserved for English royalty and usually invoked fealty and loyalty with Edward IV's "Comfort and Joy", Richard III's "Loyalty Binds Me" and Henry VI's "God And My Right."  

A Rosy and Thorny Game of Thrones - Part 1

Sunday sees the return of the HBO TV series Game of Thrones, the medieval fantasy based on the Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R. R. Martin, which was influenced by the Wars of the Roses. The Daily Mail and History Behind Game of Thrones compare the Cousin's War in 15th Century England and the War of the Five Kings that ravaged across Westeros in Game of Thrones.

England's rich history and terrain would inspire Martin to write detailed and intricate conflicts that have been portrayed so well in the TV series. Having read just the first two novels of Song of Ice and Fire, I will mainly reference the TV series which will unavoidably contain spoilers for those who aren't up-to-date with Game of Thrones. 

SETTING

Much had changed from the early days of England where Celtic tribes had worshiped the old Pagan Gods, much like the Andals who worshiped the Old Gods of the Forest in early Westeros. The island off the north-west European mainland was subsequently invaded by Romans, Angles, Saxons, Vikings and Normans who all drove the Celts to the hills of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 

Hadrian's Wall stretches 73 miles from coast to coast

The Roman Emperor Hadrian wanted to protect England from the raiding Scottish tribes and constructed a 73-mile long wall in 128 AD that stretched to the east and west coasts of northern England. At it's highest the wall reached 20 feet tall but centuries of disrepair and weather would leave the wall in ruins which can still be walked along today. I visited Hadrian's Wall almost 20 years ago, as had Martin before me, and the writer discussed his inspiration in a 2000 interview:

"I stood on Hadrian's Wall and tried to imagine what it would be like to be a Roman soldier sent here from Italy or Antioch. To stand here, to gaze off into the distance, not knowing what might emerge from the forest."

The mystical and imposing 700 foot wall

Martin would go on to create The Wall that towered over 700 feet tall, made of ice and magic, defended by the Men of the Night's Watch against the Wildlings, White Walkers and other mysteries beyond the Wall.

Anglo-Saxon England was divided into seven kingdoms

England during Anglo-Saxon times was divided into the seven kingdoms of East Anglia, Mercia, Northumbria, Wessex, Essex, Sussex and Kent with the final three being the smallest. Westeros is also divided into seven kingdoms: the North, Mountain & the Vale, Isles & the Rivers, the Rock, the Stormlands, the Reach and Dorne. These kingdoms would be united following the Targaryen Conquest led by Aegon the Conqueror and England's kingdoms would also be united after William the Conqueror led the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 AD.

The Seven Kingdoms of Westeros

Only eight per cent of Anglo-Saxon controlled land remained when William the Conqueror died in 1087 and his descendants would battle over the English throne in a period of Anarchy during the mid 1100s. The resulting monarchy of the Plantagenets would rule for four centuries which would see England conquering others (under Kings Richard, Edward I, Edward III and Henry V) and rebelling against each other with the Peasant's Revolt of 1381 and Henry IV's deposing Richard II in 1399.

Henry IV was descended from Edward III's third living son, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and his usurpation disregarded the heir-presumptive, Edmund Mortimer. Henry IV's grandson Henry VI would later be challenged by Mortimer's descendant, Richard, Duke of York, in what would become the Wars of the Roses.

Robert Baratheon rebelled against Aerys II, the mad king of Westeros, and would later claim the Iron Throne. Robert's ignorance of the machinations in King's Landing would lead to his death and the antagonism between the North's Starks and the Rock's Lannisters would propel the Seven Kingdoms into civil war.

Westeros and the nearby continent of Essos would share similar geography to England and it's European neighbours. Dorne on the south-eastern tip of Westeros juts out towards the Narrow Sea while the English county of Kent extends towards the mouth of the English Channel which separates England with mainland Europe.

To the north of Kent is the port of London which has served as England's capital for two millenniums and the seat of Westerosi power is located in King's Landing north of Dorne. Westerosi gold was mined in the western lands of the Rock, similar to the coal mined in Wales centuries after the Cousin's War. The English Midlands and the rivers of the Severn and Trent are invoked in the Riverlands whilst, beyond the Neck, the North resembles England's Yorkshire and Northumbria. The cold and rugged lands of Scotland beyond Hadrian's Wall were embellished by Martin into the mystical lands beyond The Wall.

Beyond the Narrow Sea is Essos' vital trading port of Pentos

Beyond the Narrow Sea are the Free Cities of Essos which serve as trading posts to Westeros and Pentos resembles the Burgundian port of Antwerp which brought exotic imports to England. English kings such as Edward III and Henry V would proclaim their hereditary right to rule France by fighting their European neighbours in the Hundred Years War during the 14th and 15th centuries. The famous English victories of Crecy, Poitiers and Agincourt were distant memories in 1453 when England's once mighty territory in France was reduced to just Calais and this would send Henry VI into a mental breakdown.

English rule stretched across the English Channel in the Hundred Years War

Europe would often be a place of exile with Henry Tudor fleeing to Brittany, France, in 1471 when Edward IV reaffirmed his place on the throne. Tudor was of Welsh heritage and the Welsh Dragon flew on the banners at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 where a victorious Tudor became King Henry VII. Essos has also been a land of exile for Daeneyrs Targaryen and the 'Mother of Dragons' wishes to fly her dragons over Westeros and take the Iron Throne.

Henry Tudor's Welsh Dragon standard flew successful at Bosworth

The back stories and landscapes of Westeros were inspired by England's rich history and it's blood soaked lands. Martin's characters would owe their personalities and actions to the key players in the War of the Roses. 

Profile - William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, 1396-1450

William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, was a favourite in Henry VI's court whose self-invested policies would lead to public hatred and his death.

COMMANDER

He was born on 16 October 1396 at Cotton, Suffolk, son to Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk, and Katherine de Stafford. Suffolk had served loyally in France for 17 years where he was seriously wounded in the Siege of Harfleur in 1415, commanded English forces at the Siege of Orléans in 1429 and surrendered shortly afterwards at Jargeau. Suffolk remained a prisoner of war until he was ransomed in 1431.

Suffolk unsuccessfully commanded the English in the Siege of Orleans

Suffolk was rewarded for his service when he returned to England by being appointed Constable of Wallingford in 1434. He had been awarded command of Orléans after the death on 3 November 1428 of his friend, Thomas Montacute, 4th Earl of Salisbury. After returning from France, Suffolk married Salisbury's widow, Alice Chaucer, grand-daughter to poet, Geoffrey Chaucer. Suffolk was tired of war with the French and aligned himself with Cardinal Henry Beaufort who shared the same anti-war sentiment.

Beaufort clashed with Henry VI's uncle Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, during the king's minority. Gloucester wanted to continue war with France following the disastrous Treaty of Arras in 1435 when England were betrayed by their traditional ally, Burgundy. Worse was to come for the young king when his mother, Catherine of Valois, died on 3 January 1437 and the king's half brothers, Edmund and Jasper Tudor, were placed in the care of Suffolk's sister, abbess of Barking Abbey, Katherine de la Pole.

Henry VI came of age in 1437 but still deferred to his Council and rewarded Beaufort's faction with lands and titles. Richard, Duke of York's lieutenancy of France was undermined by John Beaufort, 1st Duke of Somerset, naming himself Lieutenant of Aquitaine and Captain-General of Guienne. The king gave Somerset much needed troops and resources away from York and this would be the first of many disregards the king had for York, setting in motion the conflicts that lay ahead. 

MATCH MAKER

Somerset's daughter, Margaret Beaufort, was born on 31 May 1443 and Somerset negotiated with the king that Margaret's wardship and marriage should only be decided by her mother. Somerset soon fell out of favour with the king and subsequently died on 27 May 1444 leaving Margaret as heiress. Henry VI broke the agreement four days later by giving Margaret's wardship to Suffolk and the heiress remained with her mother.

Suffolk's only legitimate heir, John de la Pole, was born on 27 September 1442, and Suffolk betrothed him to Margaret Beaufort. The king himself had yet to wed and Cardinal Beaufort and Suffolk looked to a French alliance to bring peace between the two countries.

The king was attracted to the commissioned portraits of Margaret of Anjou, niece of the French King Charles VII, and Suffolk was begrudgingly sent to France to actively participate in discussions he knew would be unpopular with the English public. Margaret's father, Rene of Anjou, was penniless and made it plain to Suffolk that there wouldn't be a customary dowry. Rene went further by demanding the English-owned lands of Maine and Anjou to be returned to him and this was backed by Charles VII.

Suffolk brokered the marriage of Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou 

Suffolk knew these demands would infuriate the English court and public alike but Henry VI readily agreed when he discovered the Burgundian prince, Charles Count Nevers, was also seeking Margaret's hand in marriage. Suffolk included the caveat of England retaining their French conquests of Aquitaine and Normandy but he was unable to include a two-year truce in the Treaty of Tours. 

Suffolk met the future queen at Tours and was impressed with her beauty and poise. He prepared Margaret for her future role and carried her ashore after Margaret got sea sick from the English Channel crossing. Suffolk's wife soon became one of the queen's ladies in waiting.

'JACKNAPES'

The duke's ascent to power from his merchant class beginnings led to Suffolk earning the nickname 'Jacknapes' for being an upstart and his enemies accused him of having an affair with the queen. The 15-year-old queen was indeed in awe of the charming, suave and kindly Suffolk who, 33 years her senior, was seen as a father-figure to replace her own absent father.  The rumours were fueled when Suffolk called the couple "ye lover" and "ye flower" in his verse to the queen, "How ye lover is set to serve ye flower... Mine heart is set and all mine whole intent."

Suffolk's rise to power was complete in 1447. The year began with Parliament meeting at Bury St. Edmonds in Suffolk where the duke charged Gloucester for treason and spreading rumours of the queen's infidelity with Suffolk. Gloucester denied all charges but Margaret coldly told Gloucester that "the King knows your merits, my lord." Gloucester was soon arrested and died under house arrest. Suffolk was seen to have murdered the king's uncle but evidence pointed to death of the 57-year-old gluttonous duke by natural means, possibly from a stroke.

Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester's death cleared the way for Suffolk

Cardinal Beaufort death on 15 March 1447 brought his nephew Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset, and Suffolk in control of government with Suffolk being promoted to Chamberlain, Admiral of England and Captain of Calais. York was proving to be an obstacle for the Beaufort faction and Suffolk effectively exiled him by naming York as Lieutenant of Ireland and gave York's previous position as Lieutenant of France to Somerset. 

Suffolk's influence and prestige was crowned in 1448 when he became the first to hold a dukedom without being a member or relative of the royal family. Public opinion had been against Suffolk since the royal marriage negotiations and this turned to hatred when Somerset's disastrous lieutenancy of France saw the French renege on their promises to leave Normandy and Aquitaine alone to the English.

DOWNFALL

Suffolk's supporters in parliament deserted him and on 9 January 1450, Adam Moleyns, Bishop of Chichester and former Lord Privy Seal, was in Portsmouth explaining Suffolk's actions to soldiers returning from France. Moleyns had brought the soldiers long awaited wages but the soldiers turned on Moleyns and lynched him after receiving less than expected wages.  

Suffolk looked to reaffirm his power base and secured the marriage of his son John to his seven-year-old ward, Margaret Beaufort, to ensure his heirs would have royal blood. He addressed Parliament on 22 January 1450 and reminded them that he had loyally served the crown home and abroad for almost 40 years and that the recent 'great infamy and defamation' was misunderstood. Parliament ignored Suffolk's pleas and on 26 January 1450 they petitioned the king for his arrest and impeachment.

The king obliged and Suffolk was sent to the Tower of London to await charges that were handed down on 7 February 1450. Amongst the most serious of charges against Suffolk was conspiring with the French ambassador to plot a French invasion of England in 1447 but no evidence could support this claim. Under the royal prerogative, Henry VI decreed that he would pass judgement on Suffolk and requested him to explain himself. Suffolk denied all charges and described them as "too horrible to speak more of, utterly false and untrue." The queen attempted to rescue her court favourite and convinced the king to send Suffolk into exile.

Parliament and it's people were furious at the royal disregard for justice and Suffolk faced a mob as he traveled to Wingfield in Suffolk before fleeing the country. Suffolk wrote to his son and implored him to be loyal to God and his sovereign before leaving for Calais on Thursday 30 April 1450. That night, Suffolk was intercepted in the Straits of Dover by the ship, Nicholas of the Tower, and the duke was disheartened that he had to escape the 'danger of the Tower' which a seer had prophesied.

Sailors aboard Nicholas of the Tower caught, tried and executed Suffolk

"Welcome, Traitor!" greeted Suffolk when he came aboard the Tower and was found guilty of his crimes two days later. Suffolk was taken on to a small boat in front of his fleet of three ships and was executed by a rusty sword that took six strokes to chop off his head.

Suffolk's body was dumped on a Dover beach and wasn't moved for a month until the king ordered it to be removed and later buried at Carthusian Priory in Hull. His death was revealed to the queen by Alice Chaucer and Suffolk's wife must have been struck by how grief-stricken Margaret was as the queen didn't eat for three days and wept uncontrollably.

Margaret of Anjou's grief soon turned to anger as she looked to Somerset and her courtiers to avenge her beloved Suffolk with the Duke of York becoming the queen's primary target.

Profile - Jack Cade

Jack Cade led an ultimately unsuccessful rebellion in the south-east of England which identified Richard, Duke of York, as the popular alternative to King Henry VI.

ROAD TO REBELLION

Public mistrust of the king and his council developed after the loss of English territories on the French mainland. The territories of Maine and Anjou had been given to the French in exchange for the king's marriage to Margaret of Anjou and key negotiator, William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, took the blame. 

Parliament impeached Suffolk but the queen's intervention led Henry VI to send Suffolk into exile. Suffolk was unable to reach the safety of Calais after being intercepted in the Straits of Dover by the ship, Nicholas of the Tower, and Suffolk was subject to a mock trial. Suffolk was found guilty of his crimes by those on board the ship and he was executed. Suffolk's decapitated body was later found on a beach in Dover, Kent.

The people of Kent, already fearful of a French invasion, became anxious over a possible reprisal for Suffolk's death and Jack Cade, the "Captain of Kent", became a figurehead.

Henry VI's mismanagement created dissent

Cade's manifesto 'The Complaint of the Poor Commons of Kent' detailed numerous grievances towards the king for promoting and accepting the word of corrupt officials. The manifesto detailed Kent's innocence towards Suffolk's execution and demanded the removal of the king's "friends" and if the king refused, Cade would "destroy" him and replace Henry VI with the Duke of York.

Kent officials close to the king, including James Fiennes, Lord Saye, and his son-in-law William Crowmer, were accused by Cade of election rigging and extortion. Saye and Crowmer had served as sheriffs of Kent and were members of the king's council, with Saye appointed Lord Treasurer in 1449.

Henry VI didn't respond to the manifesto and on 24 May 1450 hundreds of armed men gathered at Ashford and Cade towards London. Cade's origins are unknown but it was believed he was born in Ireland in the 1420s, served in the household of a Sussex knight and fought in France. His military experience became vital in organising his troops to rebel against the king. 

"AMEND-ALL"

Cade was known by his followers as "John Mend-all" or "John Amend-all" due to his willingness to hear people's complaints and restore order. Cade now took on the alias "John Mortimer" to appeal to York and his followers who were descended from Edmund Mortimer, the named heir of Richard II who was deposed by Henry IV, the grandfather of the current king. 

Cade appealed to Duke of York by taking his descendants' name

Cade's men numbered 5,000 in early June 1450 as they encamped at Blackheath, 12 miles southeast of the capital. The rebels varied from local traders, farmers and sailors to a knight who had fought at Agincourt, three sheriffs and two members of Parliament. Cade sent Henry VI a copy of his manifesto to explain his terms to the king's representatives but the Council rejected all of the demands and the king ordered the army to disperse.

The rebels retreated to Sevenoaks in Kent and waited for reinforcements from nearby Sussex. The king was advised to lead the royal forces against the rebels but the queen, fearful of Henry VI's safety, convinced him to send the Stafford brothers, Sir Humphrey and William, to command the royal forces at Sevenoaks. The Battle of Sevenoaks lasted two hours with heavy losses on both sides but the deaths of the Staffords brought victory to the rebels. The royal couple fled to Greenwich and Lord Saye refused the queen's wish for him to accompany them, knowing that the rebels would hotly pursue them.

The king ordered Saye and Crowmer to be placed in custody for their own protection and Henry VI fled London to Kenilworth, Warwickshire, leaving Cade to march on London. Unrest broke out in Wiltshire where William Ayscough, Bishop of Salisbury, and the king's confessor, was attacked by his congregation in Edington Church and murdered. The much-hated bishop was a close ally of Suffolk and was blamed for the lack of a royal heir after instructing the king to avoid marital sex whenever possible.

LORD OF THE CAPITAL

Cade, clad in Stafford's armour, arrived on the south bank of the Thames and took up residence in the White Hart Inn in Southark. The next day, Cade crossed London Bridge dressed as a pretender in a blue velvet gown and gilded spurs, whilst holding a gold nail- studded shield and a sword. Cade cut the drawbridge ropes to prevent it to be raised against him and, once in the capital, lightly struck the London Stone with his sword and cried out, "Now is Mortimer lord of this city!" 

James Fiennes, Lord Saye, is brought before Jack Cade (Charles Lucy)

The rebels focused on the imprisoned Kentish lords and Crowmer was taken from Fleet Prison by Cade and Saye was dragged from the Tower to face trial at the Guildhall. The lords were found guilty, executed and Saye's naked body was bound and tied to a horse to be paraded around the capital. The heads of the two lords were put on pikes and their bearers pushed them together to make them 'kiss' and the crowd roared with laughter.

TRAITOR

Cade's men soon became rowdy and their triumphant leader forgot his promises to his respectful followers that he wouldn't loot the capital and lost local support. After Cade's army returned to Southwark via London Bridge for the night, the London officials closed the bridge to prevent Cade from re-entering the city. 

The overnight battle over London Bridge lasted 10 hours

The next evening saw Cade trying to gain entry back into the city and he was repulsed by Captain Matthew Gough's garrison from the Tower. A furious battle broke out at 10pm on London Bridge, lasting an exhaustive 10 hours that left Gough dead and Cade in retreat. 

Cardinal Kempe was sent on behalf of the government to negotiate with Cade and the Cardinal promised royal pardons and agreed to the demands of the Cade's manifesto. Pardons were issued and the rebels dispersed but Cade refused to withdraw until the demands were agreed in Parliament. Cade's pardon was revoked after it was revealed his pardon had been awarded to his alias, John Mortimer, and he was declared a traitor on 10 July with a 1000-mark bounty on his head.

Cade's supporters deserted him and Cade fled to Lewes, Sussex, but was cornered by Kent sheriff, Alexander Iden, in Heathfield, East Sussex, on 12 July 1450. Iden took Cade back to London after defeating him in a fight but his captive died of his wounds before he reached the capital.

Jack Cade's memorial plaque on Cade Street, Heathfield in Sussex

The Council was doubtful that Iden had caught the right man until the innkeeper's wife at the White Hart identified Cade's body.  Cade was beheaded and his spiked head was placed on London Bridge looking towards Kent as a warning. The royal couple had returned to the capital on 10 July and Henry VI looked to punish the rebels. The king passed judgement on the deaths of the captured rebels, eight at Cantebury and 26 at Rochester in what became know as the 'harvest of heads'.

Cade's Rebellion was unsuccessful thanks to Cade's hubris and lustful troops but it showed that Henry VI was vulnerable. York observed from his seat in Ireland that Henry VI was easily influenced, left London to the mercy of rebels and that public opinion was against the royal court. These flaws would be further examined over the next 20 years as York and his supporters vied with the Lancastrians for the throne by arguing demands and reform policies seen in Cade's manifesto.