In March 1219, Henry’s regent, the redoubtable and resolute peerless knight, Sir William Marshall breathed his last. The eleven year old king must have felt the loss acutely. ‘Loyal to the end to the Plantagenet family most royal! Until he left the confines of this mortal coil! Sir William Marshall, in King Henry’s service, did …
‘ The captains and the king, departed, their faces adorned with smiles! These lasted but a few yards, not miles!’ ‘King John would die in 1216, the following year! But few if any would shed a tear!’ T’was but a false peace and the king and the rebellious barons both made preparations for the hostilities …
‘You ask what is my most earnest and sincere goal? ‘Tis to have the Duke of York’s severed head placed high upon a pole!’ Then upon his traitorous head we will place a paper crown! Thus having been duly crowned, he will wear no smile, but instead a deadly frown!’ So sayeth Margaret of …
‘He was York’s favourite son, was Duke Dick! Now it looked like he was becoming the national pick!’ However, York had a formidable adversary in the Queen, Margaret of Anjou. She was convinced that York was planning to secure the throne for himself. This was something that Queen Margaret would oppose with every fibre of …
‘At the king’s lamentable performance as monarch, the whole of England did frown! With most of England’s French possessions lost, Henry suffered an enormous physical and mental breakdown!’ Although Cade’s rebellion had been put down and the leaders executed, further trouble was on its way. By the summer of 1453, all of England’s French lands, …
Henry VI It was 1437 and Henry had decided, at the age of fifteen, to take the reins of royal power. He was still smarting at his mother’s incredibly unwise dalliance with Owen Tudor. ‘Oh Queen Catherine, my most dearest mama! Your antics with Owen Tudor caused the entire realm to laugh, and cry ha-ha! …
King Henry VI of England looking every inch the mild mannered simpleton that he was. When Joan of Arc was executed at Rouen in May 1431, Henry VI was but nine years of age. The Maid might be gone, but the prospect of a France ruled by the English crown was very far from becoming …
The 23rd of May 1430 saw the end of Joan’s illustrious military career. ‘At Compiegne in the heat of battle, Joan was thrown from her saddle! Captured by the Burgundians, was she now up the creek without a paddle? Joan was now the prisoner of the commander of the forces, Jean de Luxembourg. At this …
Charles VII is crowned at Reims. ‘Oh for the French, 1429, what a glorious summer! As for the English, well, they never felt dumber! Orleans! Oh Orleans! What a victory, the French did gush! And well they might, for there, they gave the English army, the bum’s rush!’ Target Paris! Despite the celebrations surrounding the …
‘ But how to save France from English aggression! Oh, how to ensure the Dauphin’s right to regal succession!’ In January 1429, Jeanne travelled to the town of Vaucouleurs and asked the garrison commander to allow her to visit the Dauphin at Chinon. The commander was astounded at her audacity to say the least, and …
Jeanne d’Arc The Duke of Bedford’s lament! Oh how the poor man did lament! The defeat at Orleans cast terrible thoughts into his mind and boy, did they ferment! The Duke of Bedford was beside himself with shame and sorrow when the French army, commanded by a teenage French girl, freed the city of Orleans. …
Henry VI 1421-1471 ‘His journey was not that of the average pilgrim! The odyssey was awkward, hard and grim!’ Henry was born on December 6th 1421 at Windsor. He was never to know his father, Henry V, who was the very epitome of the warrior king. King Henry V died on campaign in France on …