New
New
Year 7

The rule of Margaret of Anjou and the rise of Edward, Duke of York

I can describe how the actions of Margaret of Anjou and the Yorkists created further instability in England.

New
New
Year 7

The rule of Margaret of Anjou and the rise of Edward, Duke of York

I can describe how the actions of Margaret of Anjou and the Yorkists created further instability in England.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. After the Battle of St Albans, Henry VI’s wife, Margaret of Anjou, was determined to preserve her husband’s rule.
  2. She ruled on his behalf and built Lancastrian support for Henry, removing Yorkists from court.
  3. Fighting broke out in 1460 with the powerful Earl of Warwick supporting the Yorkists, but York was killed.
  4. Edward, York’s son, replaced him and defeated the Yorkists at Mortimer’s Cross and Towton, claiming the throne.
  5. England had once again been made unstable by arguments over who should be in charge of the country.

Common misconception

The belief that Margaret of Anjou was a vicious and unpleasant woman.

A woman who held power would have likely been criticised in the medieval period and Yorkists would also have wanted to show her in an unfavourable light.

Keywords

  • Queen consort - the wife of a reigning monarch

Discuss attitudes towards medieval women to help students understand that Margaret was not a typical medieval woman. There are multiple people with the same name which can be confusing for students, encourage them to keep a key people list to avoid confusion.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
The Yorkists and the Lancastrians were two branches of the family.
Correct Answer: Plantagenet, plantagenet
Q2.
What symbol was used by the House of York?
a yellow rose
an orange rose
a red rose
Correct answer: a white rose
Q3.
From which two regions did Henry VI lose lands in France?
Brittany and Corsica
Correct answer: Gascony and Normandy
Occitane and Hauts-de-France
Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Grand Esk
Q4.
Which nobleman became Protector of England during Henry VI's illness?
Richard, Prince of Wales
Richard Tudor
Richard, Duke of Lancaster
Correct answer: Richard, Duke of York
Q5.
In what year was the Battle of St Albans fought?
1454
Correct answer: 1455
1456
1457
Q6.
The Battle of St Albans marked the start of a year war between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists.
Correct Answer: 30, thirty, Thirty

6 Questions

Q1.
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning ...
Correct Answer: monarch, Monarch, king, King
Q2.
What actions did Margaret of Anjou take to help her husband regain the throne from Richard, Duke of York?
She murdered Richard, Duke of York and made herself Queen.
She pretended she accepted the authority of Richard, Duke of York.
She led an army to fight the Duke of York.
Correct answer: She removed Yorkists from court and persuaded the Lancastrians to fight back.
Q3.
Complete the missing word: Richard, Duke of York, had the support of the powerful nobleman, the Earl of , but was still killed at Wakefield in 1460.
Suffolk
Leicester
Correct answer: Warwick
Devon
Q4.
At which battle in February 1461 did Richard's son, Edward, got revenge on the Lancastrians?
Correct answer: The Battle of Mortimer's Cross
The Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Barnet
The Battle of Towton
Q5.
Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
1 - The Battle of Wakefield
2 - The Battle of Mortimer's Cross
3 - The Battle of Towton
4 - Edward IV crowned at Westminster Abbey
Q6.
During the battles between the Yorkists and Lancastrians, England became ...
Correct Answer: unstable, Unstable

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