The Rose, the Bastard and the Saint King: The Murder of Henry VI
By A.W. Boardman
The History Press
ISBN: 978-1-80399-709-4
One of the lesser-known episodes of the Wars of the Roses was the 1471 attempt by supporters of Henry VI to strike at London and free their captive king. This book is the first full study of that failed siege—and it follows the story through to Henry’s final fate.
Excerpt:
This book also explains the wider events of 1471, their place in British history and the story of two kings of England whose lives were influenced by the bastard son of Edward IV’s most valued veteran captain of the 1460s. More than anything, the year 1471 is a story of split-second decisions, devious betrayals and heroic last stands; of determined and brutal campaigning, pitched battles, unrest in the shires and terror on the streets of London.
Who is this book for?
While the Wars of the Roses have generated a vast literature, it is striking that this siege of London—an episode with plenty to say about politics, power, and urban warfare—has been largely overlooked. Readers interested in the Wars of the Roses, the troubled reign of Henry VI, and the history of London will find much to value here.
“Challenging the accepted view that the former king’s dispatch was a response to Edward’s twin victories, he instead argues for the key event being the often-overlooked Lancastrian rebellion in Kent, led by Thomas Fauconberg. This rising, the author suggests, constituted a substantial threat to Edward’s authority; and, crucially, it had as its aim Henry’s liberation from the Tower. Faced with the prospect of continuing instability even after his victories, Edward had no choice but to order his predecessor’s execution.” ~ review by Nigel Saul in Times Literary Supplement
“Now, this worthy, quick-paced and stimulating addition to the Wars of the Roses canon has returned some of the spotlight to this neglected episode, and raise awareness once more of the terrifying few days the commonfolk of England’s capital witnessed the internecine warfare that had plagued every corner of England brought to their own doorstep.” ~ review by Nathen Amin
The Author
Andrew Boardman is a highly-regarded historian of the Wars of the Roses and the author of several books on the period. Here, he sets out the central aims of his work, explaining that “more than anything, I contextualise the siege of London and why Henry VI of England was so dangerous even after he died.”
‘London teetered on a knife edge of panic within and a mob without.’ I joined @MattLewisAuthor on Gone Medieval to relive the siege of 1471 and the dark fate of Henry VI in the Tower.
The Rose, the Bastard and the Saint King: The Murder of Henry VI
By A.W. Boardman
The History Press
ISBN: 978-1-80399-709-4
One of the lesser-known episodes of the Wars of the Roses was the 1471 attempt by supporters of Henry VI to strike at London and free their captive king. This book is the first full study of that failed siege—and it follows the story through to Henry’s final fate.
Excerpt:
This book also explains the wider events of 1471, their place in British history and the story of two kings of England whose lives were influenced by the bastard son of Edward IV’s most valued veteran captain of the 1460s. More than anything, the year 1471 is a story of split-second decisions, devious betrayals and heroic last stands; of determined and brutal campaigning, pitched battles, unrest in the shires and terror on the streets of London.
Who is this book for?
While the Wars of the Roses have generated a vast literature, it is striking that this siege of London—an episode with plenty to say about politics, power, and urban warfare—has been largely overlooked. Readers interested in the Wars of the Roses, the troubled reign of Henry VI, and the history of London will find much to value here.
“Challenging the accepted view that the former king’s dispatch was a response to Edward’s twin victories, he instead argues for the key event being the often-overlooked Lancastrian rebellion in Kent, led by Thomas Fauconberg. This rising, the author suggests, constituted a substantial threat to Edward’s authority; and, crucially, it had as its aim Henry’s liberation from the Tower. Faced with the prospect of continuing instability even after his victories, Edward had no choice but to order his predecessor’s execution.” ~ review by Nigel Saul in Times Literary Supplement
“Now, this worthy, quick-paced and stimulating addition to the Wars of the Roses canon has returned some of the spotlight to this neglected episode, and raise awareness once more of the terrifying few days the commonfolk of England’s capital witnessed the internecine warfare that had plagued every corner of England brought to their own doorstep.” ~ review by Nathen Amin
The Author
Andrew Boardman is a highly-regarded historian of the Wars of the Roses and the author of several books on the period. Here, he sets out the central aims of his work, explaining that “more than anything, I contextualise the siege of London and why Henry VI of England was so dangerous even after he died.”
You can also follow him on X/Twitter @wotroses
You can learn more about this book from the publisher’s website.
You can buy this book on Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk
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