#3 Challenges faced by Henry after Bosworth

Question 1

Name the 4 challenges faced by Henry after winning the Battle of Bosworth

Answer 1

1. Weak claim to the throne
2. Had become King through battle - usurper
3. Yorkist threat
4. Spent years in exile

Question 2

Why was having a weak claim to the throne a challenge for Henry?

(2)

Answer 2

1. Upset some Yorkists as they believed they had a better claim to the throne
2. Encourged ‘pretenders’ and claimants to try to usurp him

Question 3

How serious was the challenge faced by Henry VII because of his weak claim to the throne? (?/6)

Explain

(2)

Answer 3

5/6 - the second most serious after the Yorkist threat

1. Faced the Lovell and Stafford, Simnel, and Warbeck rebellions as a result
2. Never secure in his throne - not until Warbeck’s execution in 1499 anyway

Question 4

Why did becoming King through battle create a challenge for Henry VII?

Answer 4

It encouraged pretenders to follow his example

Question 5

How serious was the challenge faced by Henry because he was a usurper (?/6)?

Explain

(2)

Answer 5

4/6

1. Set unstable tone of his entire reign
2. Encouraged the Lovell and Stafford, Simnel, and Warbeck rebellions

Less significant than weak claim because upset Yorkists less

Question 6

What challenges did Henry VII face from the Yorkist threat?

Answer 6

1. Many Yorkists believed they had a better claim to the throne
2. Opposition to Lancastrians meant Yorkists supported Yorkist claimants
3. Residual friction from Wars of the Roses lead to civil unrest

Question 7

How serious was the challenge posed by the Yorkist threat (?/6)?

Explain

Answer 7

5/6

1. Civil unrest because of Wars of Roses
2. Created and strengthened claimants and pretenders
3. Encouraged rebellions

More significant than rest because feeds into 3 different difficulties, and it was the support of influential Yorkists such as Margaret of Burgundy that made the claimants so dangerous to Henry

HOWEVER marriage to Elizabeth of York reduced that threat and showed cooperation was possible

Question 8

What challenges did spending years in exile create for Henry?

Answer 8

1. No experience of ruling/ kingly duties
2. Largely unknown - less easy to gain support
3. Lack of knowledge of country and thus how to manage it

Question 9

How significant was the challange poesd by spending years in exile (?/6)?

Explain

Answer 9

3/6

1. Henry was very shrewed - 1486 Act of Resumption increased power over nobility
2. Kept body of council the same as was in Richard III reign - stable and apt running

HOWEVER

1. Almost lead to overthrow in Lovell and Stafford’s rebellion just a year later - not found out until too late