Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 1399–1509 - 1 Changing relationships…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 30: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 1399–1509 - 1 Changing relationships between crown and the nobility: 'over- mighty subjects': Coping with challenge – disorder and local rivalries, 1399–1509, including Neville versus Percy in the north, Bonville versus Courteney in the south west, the experience of the Pastons in East Anglia (key developments: the readeption of Henry VI in 1470 and the return of Edward IV in 1471; increased control of the localities in the 1470s).
Local disorder and private feuds tested royal authority throughout 1399–1509.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 2
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Local disorder and private feuds tested royal authority throughout 1399–1509. In the north, Neville versus Percy rivalry produced violence and political instability; in the south west, Bonville versus Courteney disputes disrupted law and order; in East Anglia, the Paston letters reveal the everyday experience of intimidation, litigation and local conflict. The readeption of Henry VI in 1470 and Edward IV's return in 1471 intensified these struggles, but the 1470s also saw increased control of the localities. Assess how effectively the crown coped with such challenges.
What earns the marks
- Explains how Neville versus Percy rivalry in the north created disorder and challenged royal authority.
- Analyses the Bonville versus Courteney feud in the south west as an example of local rivalry undermining law and order.
- Uses the Paston letters to illustrate the experience of disorder and local conflict in East Anglia.
- Assesses the impact of the readeption of Henry VI in 1470 and Edward IV's return in 1471 on local and national stability.
- Evaluates the extent of increased control of the localities in the 1470s and its limits.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating local rivalries as purely private matters.
Put it right: They often involved royal patronage, office-holding and national politics, so they directly affected crown authority.
Assuming the Paston letters are a neutral chronicle.
Put it right: They are a personal correspondence offering vivid but partial evidence of disorder in East Anglia.
Believing the 1470s brought complete peace.
Put it right: Increased control was real but uneven, and local tensions persisted.
Exam tips
- Anchor each local rivalry to a specific region and family to show precise contextual knowledge.
- Link the readeption and Edward IV's return to changes in local order, rather than narrating them in isolation.
- When using the Pastons, comment briefly on the nature of the source to strengthen evidential judgement.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 30: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 1399–1509 - 1 Changing relationships between crown and the nobility: 'over- mighty subjects': Coping with challenge – disorder and local rivalries, 1399–1509, including Neville versus Percy in the north, Bonville versus Courteney in the south west, the experience of the Pastons in East Anglia (key developments: the readeption of Henry VI in 1470 and the return of Edward IV in 1471; increased control of the localities in the 1470s). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which two families were involved in a major local rivalry in the north of England during the period 1399–1509?
Listen
Local disorder and private feuds tested royal authority throughout 1399–1509. In the north, Neville versus Percy rivalry produced violence and political instability; in the south west, Bonville versus Courteney disputes disrupted law and order; in East Anglia, the Paston letters reveal the everyday experience of intimidation, litigation and local conflict. The readeption of Henry VI in 1470 and Edward IV's return in 1471 intensified these struggles, but the 1470s also saw increased control of the localities. Assess how effectively the crown coped with such challenges. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how Neville versus Percy rivalry in the north created disorder and challenged royal authority. Analyses the Bonville versus Courteney feud in the south west as an example of local rivalry undermining law and order. Uses the Paston letters to illustrate the experience of disorder and local conflict in East Anglia. Assesses the impact of the readeption of Henry VI in 1470 and Edward IV's return in 1471 on local and national stability. A common slip: Treating local rivalries as purely private matters. Instead, they often involved royal patronage, office-holding and national politics, so they directly affected crown authority. Exam tip: Anchor each local rivalry to a specific region and family to show precise contextual knowledge.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Local disorder and feuds
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Regional power and royal authority
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The Paston experience
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Political instability and recovery
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Local disorder and feuds
- Private feuds and local rivalries that tested royal authority throughout the period, often involving royal patronage, office-holding and national politics.
- Regional power and royal authority
- The rivalry of noble families in the regions, such as Neville versus Percy in the north and Bonville versus Courteney in the south west, which challenged the crown.
- The Paston experience
- The everyday experience of intimidation, litigation and local conflict in East Anglia, revealed through the Paston letters.
- Political instability and recovery
- The struggles intensified by the readeption of Henry VI in 1470 and the return of Edward IV in 1471, followed by increased control of the localities in the 1470s.
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Test your understanding of Paper 3, Option 30: Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 1399–1509 - 1 Changing relationships between crown and the nobility: 'over- mighty subjects': Coping with challenge – disorder and local rivalries, 1399–1509, including Neville versus Percy in the north, Bonville versus Courteney in the south west, the experience of the Pastons in East Anglia (key developments: the readeption of Henry VI in 1470 and the return of Edward IV in 1471; increased control of the localities in the 1470s).
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