Henry VI (of England) (1421-1471), king of England (1422-1461, 1470-1471), the last monarch of the house of Lancaster. The son of King Henry V and Catherine of Valois, Henry was born at Windsor. He never showed any aptitude for government, losing the French possessions during his reign, and throughout his reign the English court was dominated by competing aristocratic factions. William Stubbs accurately described him as 'perhaps the most unfortunate king who ever reigned', suited only to rule 'a quiet people in a quiet time'. His interests were scholarly and theological, and his most characteristic achievements were the foundations of Eton in 1440 and of King's College, Cambridge, in 1441. Henry's long minority, which lasted until 1442 was less disastrous than might have been expected. The rivalry of the Beauforts and Humphrey of Gloucester, the protector, did not divide the nation. Also, despite the great loss of the Duke of Bedford in 1435, the stalemate in France was prolonged by Beaufort diplomacy. But thereafter Henry became the helpless spectator of disaster abroad and of

The next five years, during which Henry suffered two periods of mental collapse, centered on the manoevres of Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, aided by the Queen, and of Richard, Duke of York, the descendant of Edward III's second son, backed by his relatives through marriage, the Nevilles. When the protagonists first fought in 1455 in the first battle of St Albans Henry managed to remain outside the struggle: he was, as it were, the prize of victory. In 1459, however he gave his consent to an attack upon York and in 1460 the Duke formally made claim to the throne. Henry was captured by the Yorkists; despite Margaret's victories at Wakefield (where Richard of York was killed) and at St Albans, Henry was deposed in favour of Edward IV. In this confusion Henry escaped to Scotland, whereMargaret had found friends which did her cause in England little good, and he eluded capture until 1465. He was imprisoned until 1470 and then temporarily restored during Warwick's challenge to Edward IV. Edward IV returned to England in March 1471, marched to London where he overcame Henry's pathetic resistance, and dragged him captive to Barnet where he decisively defeated Warwick on April 14th. Margaret and her army were then defeated at Tewkesbury in May, and Henry's son Edward, was killed on the field. Nothing remained to complete the Lancastrian tragedy but the perfunctory murder of Henry himself. This was perpetrated in the Tower of London on May 21st, traditionally by Richard of Gloucester, but certainly by the King's orders. Incapable as a King, he was, nevertheless, sincerely mourned by those who were able to appreciate his gentle and saintly temperment.