Impeachment of William de la Pole Duke of Suffolk
William de la Pole duke of Suffolk was impeached by the Commons on 28 January 1450. He was accused of abusing his position, found guilty, and sent into exile. He was murdered whilst making his way to the Continent to serve his exile. The Duke was a favourite of Queen Margaret and was widely held to be responsible for England’s failings at home and abroad.
William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk
William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, held military and administrative positions of national importance from 1428. A senior noble by birth, he assumed command of the English forces at Orleans following the death of the Earl of Salisbury. His command was brief as the Joan of Arc inspired French army captured the town and briefly imprisoned William.
Influencial Minister
This defeat did not prevent William de la Pole from retaining favour. When the young king Henry VI was crowned King of France in 1431, William was not only present but assisted in the ceremony. He was soon admitted to the Kings Council, as was usual for a man of his rank, and created a Knight of the Garter.
Negotiating the marriage of King Henry VI and Margaret of Anjou
He grew in importance within the council in the 1440s. Taking on diplomatic and financial roles he was seen by many as being the equivalent of a First Minister. It was the Duke of Suffolk who negotiated the 1444 Treaty of Tours and the marriage of the King to Margaret of Anjou. That particular function of his role led to Suffolk becoming a favourite of the Queen, and by virtue of that, the King.
Treaty of Tours
At this time England was faced with many problems. The Treaty of Tours ceded lands to France in a secret agreement: which the Duke was blamed for. France was also very much in the ascendancy in the Hundred Years War, regaining lands and using the truces to improve their military capabilities. Finances were a problem in England, the Treasury facing ongoing issues with revenue not meeting the needs of the Government.
As one of the most senior ministers, who was known to have the ear of the monarch, William de la Pole was widely held responsible for the failings of government, the mismanagement of taxes, diplomacy and losses incurred overseas. He was also suspected of having caused the death of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester.
Impeachment of William de la Pole duke of Suffolk
Calls from nobles for him to be brought before them to answer for his crimes were met, by the Duke, with a request to face his accusers and answer them in person. He was arrested as a result and sent to the Tower of London. Parliament then used impeachment proceedings against the Duke. They found him guilty of abusing his position. William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, was banished for a period of 5 years. On his way into exile, he was seized by sailors, subjected to a sham trial, and beheaded.
