Category: Henry VI

Medieval, 15th Century History, Constituencies, Elections, Henry VI, Local History

The constituency of Oxfordshire in the reign of Henry VI, 1422-61

This month we’re turning our attention to Oxfordshire in our local history blog series. Kicking things off today is Dr Charles Moreton, Senior Research Fellow for our Commons 1461-1504 project. In the reign of Henry VI this was one of the wealthiest constituencies in England, but how did they select their representation? While unspectacular in landscape, Oxfordshire was one of the wealthiest and most fertile … Continue reading The constituency of Oxfordshire in the reign of Henry VI, 1422-61

History of Parliament1 Comment
Medieval, 15th Century History, Health and Medicine, Henry VI, Social history

Social Distancing – Medieval Style: a Petition of the Commons in the Parliament of 1439

As discussions turn to how Parliament should operate during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Hannes Kleineke, editor of our 1461-1504 section, looks at the parliament of 1439. When Henry VI reluctantly called Parliament back to Westminster during the ‘Black Death’, MPs had just one request… If the efforts to control the epidemic currently sweeping the world seem unprecedented to those living through them, to medieval Englishmen … Continue reading Social Distancing – Medieval Style: a Petition of the Commons in the Parliament of 1439

Hannes Kleineke7 Comments
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Edward IV, Henry VI, Medieval, Military history

Was the battle of Towton as bloody as all that?

Today is the anniversary of the battle of Towton, a violent battle in 1461 which resulted in Edward IV claiming the throne from Henry VI. The battle is often thought to be the bloodiest ever fought on British soil, but is this really the case? Dr Simon Payling, Senior Research Fellow in our Commons 1461-1504 section explores… The battle of Towton on 29 March 1461 … Continue reading Was the battle of Towton as bloody as all that?

Simon Payling5 Comments
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Henry VI, Medieval, Parliamentary Life

Bats and Devils: Henry VI’s ‘seasonally-named’ parliaments

Rather appropriately for our Halloween blog offering, we hear from Dr Hannes Kleineke, editor of our House of Commons 1461-1504 project, on the fifteenth century Parliaments of Bats and Devils as part of our Named Parliaments series… The long reign of Henry VI was not short of high political drama, and so it is perhaps not surprising that is has also given us two of … Continue reading Bats and Devils: Henry VI’s ‘seasonally-named’ parliaments

Hannes Kleineke4 Comments
Medieval, 15th Century History, Edward IV, Henry VI, Parliamentary Life

Rogue Prorogations? Suspending Parliament in the Later Middle Ages

In addition to Dr Vivienne Larminie’s blog about averting the prorogation of Parliament in May 1641, here’s Dr Hannes Kleineke of our House of Commons 1422-1504 project on the origins of the practice of prorogation and examples thereof in the later Middle Ages… Until recent days, prorogations of Parliament have generally been regarded as an arcane piece of parliamentary theatre, of limited concern to anyone … Continue reading Rogue Prorogations? Suspending Parliament in the Later Middle Ages

Hannes Kleineke2 Comments
The Commons in the Wars of the Roses, 15th Century History, Henry VI, Medieval, Social history

Unlikely Parliamentarians 2: William Veysy, medieval brickmaker

This week is Parliament Week, a programme of events and activities that connects people across the UK with Parliament and democracy. To mark it, every day this week we are publishing a blog on ‘unlikely parliamentarians’  – the men and women across history who became parliamentarians only unexpectedly. Our second blog written by Dr Linda Clark, editor of the Commons 1422-1504 Section, describes the life … Continue reading Unlikely Parliamentarians 2: William Veysy, medieval brickmaker

History of Parliament2 Comments
Medieval, 15th Century History, Commons in the Civil Wars, Elections, Henry VI, Military history

York v Lancaster: elections during time of Civil War

Today, Parliament will be officially dissolved and election writs issued for all constituencies. Over the election campaign, we’ll be running a series of blogposts on campaigning and elections throughout the centuries, starting with a post from Dr Simon Payling, Senior Fellow of the Commons 1422-1504 section, on elections during the Wars of the Roses… Elections today may be closely-fought contests, but during the Civil Wars … Continue reading York v Lancaster: elections during time of Civil War

Simon Payling1 Comment
Medieval, 15th Century History, Edward IV, Factions, Henry VI, Military history

Political drama: From The Wars of the Roses to the Australian Labor Party

Looking back at the startling events in Australian politics over the past week, Dr Hannes Kleineke compares the divisions in the ruling Labor party with those currently dramatised by the BBC in ‘The White Queen’ during the Wars of the Roses… Anyone watching last week’s high drama in the Australian Parliament, which saw Prime Minister Julia Gillard ousted in a palace coup by Kevin Rudd, … Continue reading Political drama: From The Wars of the Roses to the Australian Labor Party

Hannes Kleineke4 Comments
Medieval, 15th Century History, Henry VI, Parliamentary Life

Henry VI and parliament: screaming the house down?

With parliament still debating last week’s Queen’s speech, Dr Hannes Kleineke reveals a rather different start to the 1423 parliament, during the minority of Henry VI… As parliament really gets down to business after last week’s state opening, the Queen no longer attends regularly. It is impossible to tell how she feels about the annual ritual which sees her read out her government’s political programme. Not … Continue reading Henry VI and parliament: screaming the house down?

Hannes Kleineke2 Comments