Henry VI: From Crisis to Civil War

Henry VI's catastrophic political indecision, characterized by his inability to execute key rivals like Richard, Duke of York, despite multiple opportunities in the 1450s, combined with his mental collapse in 1453 and unwavering trust in the wrong advisors, created conditions that made civil war inevitable. York's cautious attempts to prove his loyalty as Lord Protector were repeatedly undermined by Henry's failure to make decisive choices, ultimately leading to the Act of Accord, York's death at Wakefield, and the outbreak of the Wars of the Roses.