The rule of Margaret of Anjou and the rise of Edward, Duke of York
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how the actions of Margaret of Anjou and the Yorkists created further instability in England.
Key learning points
- After the Battle of St Albans, Henry VI’s wife, Margaret of Anjou, was determined to preserve her husband’s rule.
- She ruled on his behalf and built Lancastrian support for Henry, removing Yorkists from court.
- Fighting broke out in 1460 with the powerful Earl of Warwick supporting the Yorkists, but York was killed.
- Edward, York’s son, replaced him and defeated the Yorkists at Mortimer’s Cross and Towton, claiming the throne.
- England had once again been made unstable by arguments over who should be in charge of the country.
Keywords
Queen consort - the wife of a reigning monarch
Common misconception
The belief that Margaret of Anjou was a vicious and unpleasant woman.
A woman who held power would have likely been criticised in the medieval period and Yorkists would also have wanted to show her in an unfavourable light.
Teacher tip
Discuss attitudes towards medieval women to help students understand that Margaret was not a typical medieval woman. There are multiple people with the same name which can be confusing for students, encourage them to keep a key people list to avoid confusion.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The Yorkists and the Lancastrians were two branches of the family.
Q2.What symbol was used by the House of York?
Q3.From which two regions did Henry VI lose lands in France?
Q4.Which nobleman became Protector of England during Henry VI's illness?
Q5.In what year was the Battle of St Albans fought?
Q6.The Battle of St Albans marked the start of a year war between the Lancastrians and the Yorkists.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A queen consort is the wife of a reigning ...
Q2.What actions did Margaret of Anjou take to help her husband regain the throne from Richard, Duke of York?
Q3.Complete the missing word: Richard, Duke of York, had the support of the powerful nobleman, the Earl of , but was still killed at Wakefield in 1460.
Q4.At which battle in February 1461 did Richard's son, Edward, got revenge on the Lancastrians?
Q5.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Q6.During the battles between the Yorkists and Lancastrians, England became ...
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: The rule of Margaret of Anjou and the rise of Edward, Duke of York, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 history lesson on: The rule of Margaret of Anjou and the rise of Edward, Duke of York, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The Wars of the Roses: what does it tell us about fifteenth-century England? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.