Henry VI became King of England at the young age of one, succeeding his father Henry V. He was incapable of following in his mighty predecessor's footsteps. Fractions in the court dominated him all his life.

Margaret was the daughter of the powerful French noble Rene of Anjou, was married to Henry VI to strengthen ties with France. She was beautiful, fiery, blunt, and was a loyal friend as well as a dangerous enemy. Her blatant favoritism caused much resentment in England, and set sparks which would later flare up into the Wars of the Roses.

Somerset escalated the clash between the two families enormously. He was the bastard grandson of John of Gaunt and one of the King's closest relations, who handled a great amount of power. He supported King Henry VI and the Queen during the King's breakdown.

William de la Pole was a magnate of moderate power who came to exercise much control in the Lancastrian circle.

Richard Plantagenet was a man of many titles and lands who was filled with a passion to raise his family to what he saw as their proper due. He was also the father of Edward IV and Richard III. His relationship with King Henry was amiable at fir

4. Family Tree of how Richard II became king.

Despite this fact the Yorkist family chose not to press its claim. Henry IV and his son, Henry V, were well supported by the population, and any attempt to overthrow Lancastrian power during their reign would have been a difficult endeavor. This changed upon the reign of Henry VI.

With Henry VI imprisoned in the Tower, and Margaret in France, Edward IV strengthened his empire and England remained at peace until 1469. Warwick remained Edward IV's supporter and was given much control of northern England. Edward IV placed his two younger brothers, George, Duke of Clarence, and Richard III, Duke of Gloucester, in the household of his cousin Warwick for tutoring and training.

Henry IV was a usurper; his ascension to the crown was determined more through military muscle than by a legitimate decision of Parliament. The crown should have been passed down to Roger 4th Earl of March.

5. Henry IV’s claim to the throne

Edward III m. Philippa Hainault

Fighting between the rivals broke out and in late 1460 and Richard was killed by the royal army, which was supported by Margaret. Continuing the Yorkist intent was now in the hands of the eldest son of York, Edward IV, Earl of March. He wasted little time and defeated Margaret who fled with her son, Edward of Lancaster, to France. Edward IV's greatest ally had been Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, who was the cousin and son of Salisbury.

In 1469 the displeased Warwick joined forces with his eldest enemy and leader of the Lancastrians, Margaret of Anjou, and her son Edward of Lancaster. Invading England, Warwick took quick control. Surprised, Edward IV and his youngest brother Richard III, Duke of Gloucester, fled to Burgundy. Warwick released Henry VI from his Tower prison and declared him king once more. Within a few months Edward IV and Gloucester returned, reversing their fortunes, and Gloucester managed to convince George, Duke of Clarence, to ally himself with his brothers.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1601
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)