S10 E5 | King Henry’s Second Coming
About this episode
The episode discusses the restoration of Henry VI to the English throne in 1470 and the political implications of his return.
It’s time for a restoration, or rather, re-adeption. In 1470, Warwick the Kingmaker seizes his moment and slings Henry VI back onto the English throne. It’s fair to say the Lancastrian king doesn’t quite get the significance of this moment. He’s described by one chronicler as being nothing more than ‘a stuffed wool sack lifted by its ears’. But Henry makes one pliable puppet for Warwick, who makes himself the king’s lieutenant — basically England’s decision maker in chief. Lining up behind Warwick are a cast of characters who are more than happy to see England wobble, not least the French King Louis XI. But beneath Henry VI’s return is a tremor that won’t settle. There’s an ex-king on the loose, and Edward IV is going to do everything he can to avenge his usurpation. – As always, Dan’s royal favourites can chime in anytime on the royal court on Patreon at patreon.com/thisishistory. And don’t forget to listen to this season’s accompanying bonus episodes for this miniseries, where Dan and Producer Al discuss the weaknesses of Edward IV’s early rule, what Henry VI’s ‘re-adeption’ actually meant, and why Warwick was able to cobble together a coalition that toppled the newly-minted…
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More episodes of This is History: History’s Greatest Fails
- S10 E9 | Kidnap
- S10 E8 | No Mercy
- S10 E7 | The Tribute Act
- S10 E6 | The Prophecy
- S10 E4 | The Kingmaker Strikes Back
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