HENRY VI, king of England: b. Wind sor, 6 Dec. 1421; d. London, 21 May 1471. He was crowned at Westminster in November 1429 and at Paris in December 1430. As he was not nine months old at the death of his father, Henry V, John, Duke of Bedford, a brother of the late king, was appointed regent of France; and Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, another brother of the same, protector of the realm of England, with a council at his side appointed by Parliament. A few weeks after Henry's succession, Charles VI of France died. when, according to the provisions of the Treaty of Troyes, Henry was proclaimed king of France. But the French did not quietly sub mit and a war began, at first favorable to the English, but in the end, after they had been roused to more effectual efforts by the heroism of Joan of Arc (q.v.) (1428-30), resulted in the almost total loss to the English of their possessions in France. In 1453 nothing re mained to them in that country but Calais. In April 1445, Henry married Margaret of Anjou, daughter of Rene of Provence. Two years later the Earl of Suffolk acquired the chief power in the kingdom and was created first marquis and then duke. His government was
very unpopular, which caused the people to look to the claim of Richard, Duke of York. The insurrection of Cade followed and the Duke of York was by Parliament declared protector of the kingdom. The York and Lancaster par ties were now in such a state that the sword only could decide between them; and that course of civil contention commenced, the first bloodshed in which occurred at Saint Albans in May 1455, and as far as the reign of Henry was concerned, the last in the battle of Tewkes bury in 1471. When the latter took place the king was a prisoner in the Tower, where he soon after died, but whether by a natural or violent death is uncertain. Henry was gentle, pious and well-intentioned, but weak. Eton College reveres Henry as its founder, as does likewise King's College, Cambridge. Consult Gairdner, (ed.),