How Margaret of Anjou Became the Most Dangerous Woman in England?

Margaret of Anjou entered English history as the wife of Henry VI, but her role in the political crisis of fifteenth-century England became far greater than that of a royal consort. When Henry VI suffered a severe mental collapse, the stability of the kingdom was suddenly thrown into uncertainty. With the king unable to rule effectively, Richard, Duke of York, emerged as the obvious figure capable of taking control of the government. For Margaret, however, Richard’s growing influence represented a serious threat to her young son, Edward of Westminster, whose future depended entirely on the survival of the Lancastrian throne. Henry VI and Richard of York belonged to rival branches of the same Plantagenet dynasty, both descended from Edward III, while powerful nobles gathered around each side. Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, remained closely associated with Henry’s court, while Richard gained the support of figures such as the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Warwick. What began as a struggle over who should govern during Henry’s incapacity gradually developed into an open confrontation between Lancaster and York. Margaret increasingly found herself fighting not only for her husband’s authority, but for the inheritance of her son. In May 1455, the rival factions finally met at St Albans, where political disagreements became armed conflict. This was the beginning of the Wars of the Roses—and the moment England’s royal crisis began turning into civil war. #MargaretOfAnjou #HenryVI #RichardOfYork #WarsOfTheRoses #StAlbans