Chapter 1: Henry VII consolidation of power Flashcards
1
Q
What was Henry’s character like ?
A
- his spirit was wide and distinguished, promoting him to change the way his government was run
- aware his claim to the throne was not strong (not ancestry) which made him careful + self motivated
- preferred peace over war unlike others before him, & made good fortune from foreign disputes involving England
- concerned over finances- wanted to improve them in order to increase his power + continue Tudor dynasty + be remembered as a successful, wealthy king
- towards the end of his reign his attitude changed and became more erratic in his decisions
2
Q
What was HVII like in government?
A
- shrewd and prudent which was shown by his little use of parliament and cautious relationship w/ nobility
- self motivated & remained the key figure in the running of govt (making good use of his power rather than conflicting w/ other powers in the govt)
3
Q
What was Henry’s main aims ?
A
- establish himself as a ruler free from (internal) threats
- restore prestige in England + bring the War of the Roses to an end (costly)
- ensure secure foreign policy through dynastic relations w/other dominant European powers (mainly through marriage) eg. France, Spain
- improve english revenues through modifies practises + introduction of new ways of administrating royal finances
4
Q
How did henry try to establish the Tudor monarchy?
A
- founded the Tudor dynasty, unifying the factions in the war of the roses (Yorkists and Lancastrians) - alienate Richard III’s usurpation
- dynastic royal marriages (in 1486 he married Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of Edward iv) unifying the houses of York & Lancaster
- foreign policy was used to establish authority (both domestically and in foreign context)- marriage treaties meant foreign powers were unwilling to challenge H’s authority in England
- treaties the most important treaty being w/ Netherlands (Inercursus Magnus) which secured Englands textile trade & treaty w/France that opened up trade between the two countries
- used key parliamentary legislations to establish authority of the monarchy eg. Acts of Attainders and restriction of retaining (however not use of legislation was not extensive)
- ensured authority of monarchy was recognised by the catholic church (key in establishing authority) - H crowned Archbishop of Canterbury + Morton & Fox played key roles as his advisors
- established an extensive spy network to sport threats (despite this his authority was fragile)
5
Q
What marriage treaties were there with foreign powers ?
A
- marriage between Author (eldest son) and Cathrine of Aragon (Spanish princess) however A did in1502 at 15 years old- Cathrine later married HVIII
- Margret (his daughter) married James IV of Scotland in 1503 to secure peace between the two countries (although meant James IV’s descendants would have a claim to the throne)
- H’s other daughter Mary married Louis IX of France
6
Q
Key point of H’s consolidation of the Tudor dynasty
A
- foreign policy- marriage treaties w/European powers
- unifying waring fractions- dynastic royal marriages eg. Elizabeth of York
- treaties signed with foreign countries eg. Netherlands (exports)
- church- H crowned archbishop of Canterbury
- parliament legislations eg. Act of Attainers
- spy network to find/sport threats
7
Q
What problems did Henry face ?
A
- H became king by being victorious in battle (killing Richard III who’s supporters were very large)
- the treasury was virtually empty (expensive wars w/France & War of the Roses)
- the court was split into fractions (led to war between the houses of York and Lancaster)
- some nobles were too powerful (could not be trusted)
- large private armies recruited by nobles during the war were still apparent
- power of Spain was increasing + France & Scotland were potential enemies
- had been a complete breakdown of law and order throughout the kingdom
- Yorkist rebellions against his rule:
- 1486 led by Viscount Lovell
- 1487 by Lambert Simnel
- 1497 by Perkin Warbeck
- his authority was also challenged by Lord Stanley
8
Q
How did H solve these problems ?
A
- married Elizabeth of York (unite the houses)
- Peace treaty w/France + marriage alliances w/Scotland & Spain
- strengthened law and order by giving new powers
- justices of peace were given new powers to arrest suspects and try them for many crimes (except treason)
- keeping of private armies was forbidden (only the king was allowed)
- rebels were confronted + dealt with severely (lands confiscated and leaders executed)
- an efficient system to organise finances was introduced (collect money from custom duties, forced loans + land revenue)
9
Q
What was the Stafford & Lovell rebellion and when was it ?
A
- easter time of 1486, a year after the battle of Bosworth
- was the first armed uprising against henry
- led by Francis Lovell and Stafford brothers (Thomas & Humphrey)
10
Q
What happened during the Stafford and Lovell rebellion ?
A
- after the BofB sought sanctuary at Colchester Abbey hoping to restore the Yorkist monarchy
- HVII spies monitored Yorkist supporters
- April 1486 H learned they had escaped + planning a rebellion (Richard Edgcumbe and William Tyler- spies who found the plot)
- plot failed & Lovell joined fellow rebells at Furness Falls, later fleeing to Margret of York in Flanders
- Stafford brothers had risen a rebellion in Worcester (despite H’s mass support)
- but once the king advanced towards Worcester the brothers fled sanctuary at Culham Abbey
- H had them removed
11
Q
What happened to Lovell and the Stafford brothers ?
A
- after the brothers fled to sanctuary at Culham Abbey, Henry had them forcibly removed by John Barrowman
- they were tried before the court of Kings Bench (not found guilty of treason)
- H ordered execution of Humphrey (eldest) but pardoned Thomas
12
Q
Who was Lambert Simnel ?
A
- the son of a joiner from Oxford who had been cultivated by a yorkist priest (Richard Symonds) to pretend to be earl of warwick (who was in the tower)
13
Q
Who supported Simnel (domestically) ?
A
- John de la Pole (Earl of Lincoln), a Yorkist therefore eager to de-establish the Tudors (probably aimed to take the throne himself)
- Elizabeth Woodville (Henry’s mother in law), had her estates seized by Henry and later confined to a nunnery
14
Q
Who supported Simnel (abroad) ?
A
- Margret of Burgundy (Edward IV’s sister) who was a Yorkist
- Emperor Maximilian (Margret’s husband), wants to take Brittany, resent H’s close relationship to it (stayed there while in exile)
- Yorkist stronghold in Ireland (Edward IV’s father had been Lord Lieutenant there), had big estates + influence
- Irish Lords, eager to de-establish England secure independence
15
Q
What did Simnel do ?
A
- May 1487: M of B sends 2,000 mercenaries (soldiers) to Ireland where the Earl of Kildare crowns Simnel (w/coronet from near by statue of the Virgin Mary)
- H offers rebels (led by Lincoln) a pardon which is reused + displays real Earl of Warwick which was ignored
- June 1487: Battle of Stoke- Lincoln killed, Simnel captured + put to work as a turnspit in the Kings kitchens (humiliating)
- 28 other rebels have land seized
- Elizabeth publically crowned Queen to unite people
- 1488 Treaty of Friendship signed w/Maximilian
