By the time that Richard II was deposed in 1399, the power of the major noble magnates had grown considerably; powerful rulers such as Henry IV would contain them, but during the minority of Henry VI they controlled the country.
Da Richard 2. blev afsat i 1399 var de store adelsmagnaters magt steget betragteligt; magtfulde herskere som Henrik 4. kunne styre dem, men under Henrik 6. kontrollerede de landet.