Unraveling the Five Puzzling Questions about the Wars of the Roses Conflict
In the turbulent era of the Wars of the Roses, the reign of Henry VI, the most incompetent king of the Plantagenet line, left an indelible mark on English history. Modern scholars believe that Henry VI may have suffered from catatonia, a complex psychomotor disorder characterized by periods of both agitation and immobility [1].
The nature of Henry's mental illness remains a subject of debate. While some argue that it could have been hereditary, historical evidence is scarce, and no definitive proof supports this claim. The diagnosis of catatonia is a retrospective interpretation based on descriptions of his behavior, including episodes of withdrawn and immobile states alternating with agitation [1].
Henry's mental breakdowns were severe, with periods of incapacitation affecting his kingship. However, the historical records do not clarify an inherited component. Unlike some other royal figures, Henry's illness is generally viewed in relation to his personal health and stress factors rather than clear hereditary transmission.
Meanwhile, the story of Perkin Warbeck, a young man who claimed to be Richard duke of York, one of the princes in the Tower, adds another layer of intrigue to this period. Warbeck found serious support from rulers in Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Scotland, and the Holy Roman Empire, and attempted several sea invasions of England.
Warbeck's claims were the basis for his usurpation of the crown and the assertion that Edward IV's son and successor, Edward V, was illegitimate. Following Edward IV's death in 1483, his brother Richard duke of Gloucester claimed that Edward had once promised to marry Lady Eleanor Boteler before marrying Elizabeth Woodville.
The Tudors, who emerged victorious from the Wars of the Roses, were a half-Welsh, half-French family who took the surname Tidyr, Tudur, or Tudor. Henry Tudor, who became Henry VII of England, was a descendant of Henry VII's grandmother, Catherine de Valois.
Catherine's first connection to the English crown came through her secret marriage to her lowly servant, Owen Tudor. It has been speculated that this marriage was contracted to cover up a politically dangerous relationship with Edmund Beaufort.
Warbeck was kept at court by Henry VII, the Tudor king, to assure people that he was not the real Richard duke of York. However, some historians suggest that Warbeck's plots against Henry VII had more than a whiff of a set-up about them, leading some to speculate that he was the real Richard duke of York entangled in a nightmare of Henry VII's concoction.
In 1497, Warbeck was captured and confessed to being a French-Flemish merchant's son. He was involved in further plotting against Henry VII, this time in league with another Yorkist claimant, Edward earl of Warwick. In 1498, Warbeck escaped from Henry VII's custody and was recaptured, then placed in the Tower of London. Warbeck was forced to confess his imposture again and was hanged at Tyburn in 1499.
This article was first published in June 2016, as part of Dan's four-part series, Britain's Bloody Crown, which aired on Channel 5. The limitations of historical data mean the cause and heredity of Henry VI's mental illness remain partly speculative, but the interpretation that he suffered from catatonia is the most supported by recent psychiatric analysis.
References: [1] American Journal of Psychiatry, 2015.
This article was first published in June 2016.
The discussion of Henry VI's mental illness, believed to be catatonia, is partly based on historical accounts and interpretations of his behavior. In contrast, the claims of Perkin Warbeck, a pretender to the throne, are rooted in political intrigue and general news of the time, providing an additional layer of complexity to the Wars of the Roses era.
