Accession and claim to the throne

Question 1

Claim by genealogy

Answer 1

• Claim to the throne two-fold by double birthright – Henry’s claim strong in absence of other Lancastrian contenders
• Had other contenders been present, claim not strong
o Margaret Beaufort, mother’s side: down Beaufort line of House of Lancaster – MB was Edward III’s great-great-granddaughter
 MB female, weakened link significantly
o On his Edmund Tudor, his father’s side: his grandfather had married the widow of Henry V
 Henry was half-nephew of Henry VI, but not by blood, weakened link significantly

Question 2

Claim by popular vote

Answer 2

• Richard III of York was King of England in August 1485; proclaimed himself King when Edward IV died in mysterious circumstances and the young ‘princes in the tower’, Edward and Richard, had disappeared
o Richard III heavily implicated in the death of his brother and disappearances of his two nephews.
• 1485 Head of Lancaster, Henry courted by disillusioned Yorkist supporters, many of whom made journey to Brittany, support guaranteed by promise to unite Lancaster and York Houses through marriage to Yorkist heiress, Elizabeth
• Support of King of France, success at Battle of Bosworth achieved using French mercenaries, English exiles and Scots
• Victory was considered ordained by God - was the Lord’s chosen ruler in the eyes of his allies on the field in Leicestershire – King by birthright and King by God’s will

Question 3

Immediate disadvantages 1485

Answer 3

• Weakest claim to throne since William the Conqueror, claim through an illegitimate bloodline (two ancestors unmarried), technically barred from the throne
• Many claimants:
o Edward, Earl of Warwick – 10-year-old nephew of Richard III and Edward IV
o John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln – nephew of Richard III and Edward IV, nominated by Richard III as his heir
o Edmund de la Pole – nephew of Richard III and Edward IV
o Princes Edward V and Richard in the Tower – sons of Edward IV
• Yorkists still had support in north England and Ireland backing of Margaret, powerful dowager duchess of Burgundy and Richard III’s sister – made popping up of other claimants inevitable
• Many barons/nobles still possessed armies (retainers), constant threat to Henry, liked to act as quasi-kings, untrustworthy, greedy, selfish, little moral conscience
• Crown’s treasury nearly empty from 100 Years War and War of the Roses, trade had also suffered badly
• Did not enjoy good European relations, many countries doubted Henry’s abilities, willing to back opponents by default; Spain becoming powerful new power, creating New World Empire (Central and South America, Caribbean)

Question 4

Handling of immediate disadvantages 1485

Answer 4

• Dated official beginning of his reign as 21nd August 1485, deemed Richard III and followers traitors
o Rid Henry of unwanted competition
o Enabled seizing of traitors’ estates by Act of Attainder (without judicial process)
• Placed date of coronation 30th October 1485 before first Parliament meeting 7th November
o Could claim crown owed to God, not Parliament
• Proposed marriage to Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV
o United York and Lancaster Houses, combatted potential to be overthrown by Yorkist claimants, John and Edmund de la Pole
o Marriage took place January 1486 due to papal dispensation required because Elizabeth was a distant cousin, enabled claim that crown not owed to wife
• Rid self of Edward, Earl of Warwick, sent him to the Tower to live in relative comfort without freedom to come and go
• John and Edmund de la Pole proven to be initially non-problematic, both forced to submit, John forced to give up claim to throne
• Other challengers imprisoned, many released early
o Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey – released 1489
o Henry Percy, Duke of Northumberland – released later 1485
• Able to avoid problems with ex-Yorkists, gained popularity through lax prison sentences, non-exclusion from Tudor Court