Syllabus: The Lancastrian Kings

Aims

In 1399 Henry Bolingbroke seized the throne from his cousin Richard II and founded the line of Lancastrian kings. Was Henry IV’s usurpation ultimately responsible for the Wars of the Roses, or did he rid England of the “tyrannical” Richard II? Was Henry V an undefeated military genius who conquered France, or did he create financial problems for his successor? Was Henry VI a saintly king, or did his periodic bouts of “madness” trigger the Wars of the Roses? This course examines the careers and legacies of these three Lancastrian kings.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Critically analyse medieval sources
• Assess documents and historiography of different periods in order to reach their own conclusions
• Discern why historians of different periods had proposed different views for the same historical figures.     
• Use source material effectively to explain and discuss key themes and issues

The Seminars

After week one, each session will begin with a class discussion of the key issues raised in the reading for that week. Then the key questions and themes of the reading for the next week will be introduced by the tutor.

• Week 1: The Duchy of Lancaster 1267-1361
• Weeks 2-4: Henry IV (1399-1413)
  • Why did Henry IV usurp the throne in 1399?
  • Henry IV & the Percy Rebellions 1399-1408
  • How Secure was Henry IV 1406-1413?
• Weeks 5-6: Henry V (1413-1422)
  • Henry Prince of Wales (1399-1413)
  • Henry V: Military Genius or Machiavellian politician? (1413-1422)
• Weeks 7-10: Henry VI (1422-1471)
  • The Minority of Henry VI (1422-1437)
  • Feuds & Factions: Margaret of Anjou, the Beauforts & Richard Duke of York
  • The Wars of the Roses (1452-61)
  • Henry VI in Captivity? (1461-71)
• Week 11: Decision Time-which Henry was the most effective medieval monarch?

Assessment

Formative assessment set around week 6, usually an essay plan. Feedback is given on the essay plan.

Summative assessment at the conclusion of the course. This will be a 2,000 word essay.

Suggested Initial Reading List

Other texts will form part of the reading list for the course. These are background texts:

• Given-Wilson, Chris. (2016). Henry IV. Yale University Press.
• Jones, Dan. (2014) The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors. Viking.
• Keen, M.H. (2003) England in the Later Middle Ages (2^nd ed.). Routledge.
• Mortimer, Ian, (2010) 1415: Henry V’s Year of Glory . Vintage.
• Wolfe, Bertram. (2001) Henry VI. Yale University Press.