Talk

The Life, Death and ‘Afterlife’ of Henry VI

The tragic reign of the boy king who almost became a saint.

Date: 24 April 2026
Location: Online

About this image

British Library Collection: Royal 15 E. VI, f.2v

Crowned king at only nine months old, and deposed and murdered 50 years later, Henry VI’s life and death were entangled in the brutal civil war known as the Wars of the Roses.

In this talk, medieval collections specialist Euan Roger will explore some of the key moments of Henry’s reign including magical plots, violent battles, and the king’s faltering mental health in the latter decades of his life. He will also examine the ‘afterlife’ of Henry’s body after 1471, as the king’s legacy was revived and manipulated with a posthumous cult and succession of miracles.

Date: 24 April 2026, 14:00 to 15:00
Price: Free to £15; Pay what you can
Location: Online, Live-streamed on Vimeo
Part of series: 15th century: houses at war

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Dates for this event

24 April 2026

14:00 to 15:00

How to join online

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