Henry Vi Minority

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‘The Lancastrian council (of Henry VI) ruled economically and well’ do you agree with Gillingham’s interpretation? Henry VI was born on December 6, 1421 and became king of England on September 1, 1422. Problems began almost immediately, though these problems were not seen as such at the time. First, the power of the king, instead of being entrusted to one man, it was given to a council of magnates. They claimed the ‘precedent of Richard II’s minority to support their actions.’ Though the council did rule fairly on the whole, it created a big problem. Henry VI became king at the age of 11 months after Henry V died in August 31, 1422. However before Henry V died, he had made many plans for his sons minority on his death bed. John, Duke of Bedford, was appointed senior regent of the realm and was in charge of the ongoing war in France. During Bedford’s absence, the government of England was headed by Henry V’s other brother, Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, who was appointed Protector and Defender of the Realm. His duties were limited to keeping the peace and summoning parliament. Also Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter was made to protect and bring up Henry VI. These men had the most amount of influence and power during the period of Henry VI’s minority, and there is much debate on whether the minority and what come of it, had any success or not. There are many historians that argue if the minority council had influence over the causes in either the long or short term causes of the War of the Roses. In John Gillingham’s book, ‘the War of the Roses,’ quotes that ‘the Lancastrian council ruled economically and well’,’ which meant that despite the ‘personal rivalries between the king’s uncles’ they made sure they kept it ‘confined to quarrels in the council chamber’ and the minority is described as being ‘remarkable’ due to the fact that the Anglo-Burgundian alliance
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