Consoldidation of power Flashcards
why was Henry’s claim to the throne weak?
1) Through his Mother and she was descended from a once illegitimate branch of Lancastrians
2) Was abroad in Brittany for 14 years in exile
3) Several Yorkists had a Better claim that Henry
Who had a better Claim to the throne than Henry
1) Elizabeth of York - eldest daughter of Edward IV
2) Edward, Earl Of Warwick - Edward IV and Richard III’s nephew
3) John, Edmund and George de la pole, nephews of Edward IV and Richard III
What was Henry’s aims?
- consolidate power to keep the throne
- establish a dynasty
Background information to why he became king
- Victory against Richard III’s forces at the Battle of Bosworth on the 22nd August 1485
- Lord Stanley who was Henry’s stepfather and his intervention in the battle was crucial for Henry’s success
immediate consolidation of power - reign
Significance?
He dated his reign to before the Battle of Bosworth, 21st August, this meant that anyone who fought for the Yorkists during the battle was designated traitors
immediate consolidation of power - publicly rewarding supporters
Significance?
He conferred 11 knighthoods, this was to build up a positive relationship with the English nobleman as some of them opposed the ‘usurper’
immediate consolidation of power - detainment of Earl of Warwick
Significance?
Henry had the Earl of Warwick detained in the Tower of London since he had a greater claim to the throne than Henry
immediate consolidation of power - Coronation
Significance?
He had his coronation on the 30th October which was before the first Parliamentary meeting on the 7th of November. This ensured that his right to the throne was based on hereditary succession and not because the parliamentary sanctioned it
immediate consolidation of power - Parliamentary Act of Attainder
Significance?
The acts of attainder was formed against the yorkists who fought at Bosworth. Ensuring their property was forfeited to the crown. This increased the royal income.
This was further increased when the parliament granted Henry the custom of revenues of tonnage and poundage for life.
immediate consolidation of power - Marriage
Significance?
He married Elizabeth of York in January 1486, leaving this step until later in his early consolidation meant that his assumption of power wasn’t brought upon his wife’s own claim the the thrown.
immediate consolidation of power - exploiting royal propaganda
Significance?
- Union of the two houses
- The Emblem of the Tudor rose combines the red Lancastrian rose and the White rose of the Yorkists bringing the war of the roses to an end
immediate consolidation of power - a legitimate heir
Significance?
September 1486 Henry produced his legitimate heir to the throne - Arthur
Why was it important for Henry to establish the Tudor dynasty
1) Many Yorkists were still not satisfied and regarded Henry a usurper
2) there was still potential Yorkist claimants to the throne = Henry’s position was still extremely insecure
3) He feared the influence of Margaret of Burgundy (Sister of Richard III and Edward IV), she had access to finds which enabled her to encourage the ambitions of Yorkist claimants as revenge for Henry’s usurpation.
Viscount Lovell and the Staffords, 1486
- What happened
- Significance
Aim: Overthrow Henry VII and replace him with a Yorrkist claimant
Events: Lovell tried to raise a rebellion in the north riding of Yorkshire and simultaneously Stafford tried to raise forces against Henry in the midlands.
Lack of support so they failed and Henry’s spy network which uncovered the plans of the rebellion, ordered their capture before it even commenced
- Lovell fled to Burgundy
- Stafford was captured and executed
Significance
- It spurred Henry to take measures to solidify his position, such as strengthening royal authority and implementing financial reforms.
- short term: exposed the vulnerabilities of the king. Highlighted the deep-seated resentments and loyalties against the Yorkists, despite the end of the Wars of Roses. Made it clear that Henry’s rule was far from secure and still faced considerable opposition.
- Long-term: contributed to setting the stage for future uprisings such as Lambert Simnel, and Perkin Warbeck.
Lambert Simnel and the rebellion of Ear of Lincoln
Events?
Events:
- Lambert Simnel passed off as Earl of Warwick who had been imprisoned by Henry
- The conspiracy was put together by John de la Pole, who was also a potential Yorksit claimant
- In response to the hoax Henry displayed the real Earl of Warwick in London for all to see
- John subsequently fled to Margaret of Burgundy’s court in the Netherlands and joined Lovell
- They persuaded Margaret to support Simnel’s Bogus claim and to pay for a force of Mercenaries to invade England
- Henry noticed that a rebellion conspiracy was in the making and had ample time to plan a response. He reinstated the Duke of Northumberland, and although not entirely trustworthy, his reinstatement helped neutralise the Yorkist power base in the north by drawing powerful noble families to his side
Battle of Stoke Field, 1487
Events?
Significance
- Henry gathered a group of advisors including former Yorkists who were victims of Richard III
- Two armies met at East Stoke in Nottinghamshire
- Henry feared being double-crossed like Richard III but his army led effectively by the Earl of oxford held firm and John de la Pole was killed since he was unable to add sufficient followers to the army of mercenaries with which he had landed in England
Significance
- This Battle rather than Bosworth which brought an end to the wars of the roses, Henry’s position was safer but not completely secure
- Henry faced a crisis which he overcame with shrewdness, hard work, organisational skills and military leadership of his key supporters
- He won over some Yorkists who had previously opposed him
- Developed policy of using bonds of goof behaviour to ensure well-behaved landowners who might otherwise face financial ruin
Perkin Warbeck as Richard the duke of york
Strategies?
events?
Significance?
Strategies:
- Ability to attract patronoge from reign rules = potential threat and demonstrated how fragile Henry’s position was considered by other rulers
Events:
1491: Began to impersonate Richard in Ireland. after a brief appearance at the court of Charles VIII of France, he fled to Burgundy where he was trained as a potential Yorkist prince and began to draw English courtiers into his conspiracies
1495: He lands in England however Henry was informed of Warbeck’s intentions by a royal agent who had infiltrated Warbeck’s retinue. Warbeck was quickly defeated and fled to James IV’s court in Scotland
Sir William Stanley - Henry’s step-uncle was the accomplice of Warbeck who was the Lord Chamberlain and head of the royal household
1496: A small Scottish force crossed the border on Warbeck’s behalf but quickly retreated - Warbeck’s interests were soon sacrificed when James IV gave in the Henry offering his Daughter Margaret Tudor to marry James
–> Failed to invade England from Scotland in 1496 sp tried to exploit the uncertainties created by Cornish rebellion in 1497 but his forces were crushed and Warbeck surrendered to the king.
–> Henry first allowed Warbeck to stay at court, then confined him to the tower when he tried to run away. Allegedly tried to escape with the Earl of Warwick and was accused of treason and both tried and executed
Significance
- Shows the significance of foreign support which Henry did not have. Whereas Warbeck had foreign support from Scotland, France, burgundy and the Holy Roman Empire
Edmund de la pole, Richard de la pole
Edmund fled to flanders seeking refuge at court of Emperor Maximilian who was politically opposed to Henry VII
- Treaty of Windsor 1506: more friendly relations were restored - maxmillian agreed to give up edmund who was imprisoned in the tower of London
- Richard killed fighting fort french forces at battle of pavia in 1525
Yorkshire Rebellion, 1489
Cause
Events?
Consequences?
Cause
- Sparked off by resentment of the taxation granted by parliament in 1489 to finance the involvement of English forces in the campaign in Brittany
EVENTS
- Northumberland was murdered by his tenants he was a victim of resentment against taxation
Consequences
- once the rebellion was extinguished, Henry VII resorted to a stricter enforcement policy
- Henry froze on planned war with France due to rebellion which led to the Treaty of Redon
- Long-term: directed the course of successive fiscal and foreign policies during his reign.
Cornish Rebellion 1497
Cause?
Events?
Significance
Cause
- Triggered by the need for revenue to finance the campaign against Scotland
Events
- sheer numbers - 15,000
- attempt to exploit the rebellion made by Perkin Warbeck
- able to march a long distance without any serious attempt to stop them = concerning as it challenged the security of Henry VII
Significance
- marked a distinct shift in KIng Henry’s Policies - necessity of a strong, central royal power and more direct control over remote regions such as cornwall = stronger centralised monarchy
