Burgundy, the Wars of the Roses, and the Crisis of Monarchy

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Philip the Bold (1363–1404), Philip the Good (1419–1467), and Charles the Bold (1467–1477). Philip the Bold gained Burgundy from the French crown; Philip the Good built it into a major power; Charles the Bold over-reached and was killed at Nancy (1477).

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In 1419, his father John the Fearless was murdered at Montereau by supporters of the French Dauphin. Philip the Good blamed France and signed the Treaty of Troyes (1420) with England, helping to disinherit the Dauphin. He later reconciled with France at the Treaty of Arras (1435).

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Charles the Bold's military over-ambition. He fought wars on multiple fronts and was defeated three times by the Swiss Confederation: at Grandson, Murten (both 1476), and Nancy (1477), where he was killed. Without a male heir, Burgundy reverted to France and the Low Countries passed to the Habsburgs.

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A coalition of French nobles — including Charles the Bold — who rebelled against Louis XI claiming he was ruling tyrannically. Louis survived by divide-and-rule diplomacy, making separate deals with each noble. He agreed to the Treaty of Conflans but later reasserted royal power.

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His enemies called him 'the Universal Spider' because he relied on spying, bribery, and cunning diplomacy rather than military force or chivalric display. He 'spun webs' of intrigue around his opponents — most famously dividing the noble coalition in 1465 and waiting patiently while Charles the Bold exhausted himself in wars.

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1. Henry VI's personal weakness and mental collapse (1453). 2. Exclusion of Richard, Duke of York from power by royal favourites. 3. Loss of France (Normandy 1450, Gascony 1453) discrediting Lancastrians. 4. Noble faction and bastard feudalism (private armies). 5. Crown financial crisis.

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Henry VI suffered a complete mental collapse in 1453–1454. He was dominated by favourites like Somerset, whose failures lost France. He could not arbitrate between noble factions, could not enforce loyalty, and gave away crown lands causing financial crisis. His weakness triggered the Wars of the Roses.

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First reign (1461–1470): seized the throne after Towton but alienated Warwick 'the Kingmaker', who briefly restored Henry VI (the Readeption, 1470–71). Second reign (1471–1483): more stable — he crushed opposition at Barnet and Tewkesbury, improved crown finances, and died with royal authority restored.

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The decisive battle where Henry Tudor (Lancastrian claimant) defeated and killed Richard III, becoming Henry VII. It ended Richard III's controversial reign and began the Tudor dynasty. A final Yorkist rising was crushed at Stoke (1487), effectively ending the Wars of the Roses.

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The wars devastated the old aristocracy through battle deaths, executions, and attainders (parliamentary declarations of treason that seized noble lands). This transferred enormous wealth to the crown and eliminated many of the powerful noble houses that had challenged royal authority — giving the Tudor monarchy a stronger financial and political base.

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Attainder was a parliamentary act declaring someone a traitor, which automatically forfeited their lands and titles to the crown. Winning sides used attainders against defeated nobles throughout the Wars of the Roses — it became a key tool for both enriching the crown and eliminating rivals without needing a formal trial.

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At Troyes (1420), Burgundy allied with England and helped disinherit the French Dauphin — making Burgundy a major obstacle to French unity. At Arras (1435), Philip the Good switched sides and reconciled with France, withdrawing Burgundian support from England. This was a decisive turning point that allowed France eventually to win the Hundred Years War.