Consolidation of Power

Question 1

How did Henry come to power (facts)?

Answer 1

• political instability 15th century
  -War of Roses 1455 (between 2 royal houses Lancaster and York)
  -1455-85 Civil War
  -unpopularity Richard III
  -Henry seized throne Battle of Bosworth 22 Aug 1485
  -crowned on battlefield by Lord Stanley

Question 2

What was Henry VII life like? and how did it contribute to his character?

Answer 2

-brought up in exile in Brittany since age of 14 (due to Yorkist victory at Battle of Tewkesbury- relations between houses declined Lancastrians died and executed)

-shrewd, calculating and self restrained

Question 3

What were Henry’s 4 main aims?

Answer 3

consolidate power through political action and military success
1)maintain throne and establish Tudor dynasty
2) reduce power of nobles and enhance his own authority
3) improve Crowns financial position
4) secure recognition of foreign powers

Question 4

Why was Henry’s claim to the throne weak? (3 reasons)

Answer 4

1) defended through female line of mother (Lady Margaret Beaufort)
2) Beaufort line from John of Gaunts wife (son born before marriage therefore illegitimate)
3) Henry only Lancastrian claimant no other suitable candidate

Question 5

What was Henry’s early reign like?

Answer 5

insecure and fear of potential Yorkist challenges

Question 6

What is Parliamentary sanction?

Answer 6

tenuous claims to throne normally had to be fortified by official confirmation from parliament

Question 7

What is the Act of Attainder?

Answer 7

Yorkists who fought at Bosworth (guilty of rebelling monarch) forfeit land, title, hires disinherited and sometimes lost head to the Crown

Question 8

What is Tonnage and Poundage?

Answer 8

right to raise revenue for whole reign through imports and exports

Question 9

What were the 9 Steps Henry did to secure his throne?

Answer 9

1) Aug 1485- dated his reign 21st Aug (day before Bosworth) anyone fought on Yorkist side =traitor
2) publicly rewarded supporters (11 knighthoods)
3) detained Earl of Warwick (Edward IV nephew (potential claim greater than own)
4) 30th Oct 1485= coronation week before first parliament showing his own right to throne not parliamentary sanction
5) appointments of councillors (e.g. Sir Reginald Bray= Chancellor, Sir William Stanley= Chamberlain)
6) issued parliamentary action: Act of Attainder
7) increased income during first parliament (tonnage and poundage)
8) Jan 1486 =marriage to Elizabeth of York (enhance royal propaganda and exploit union between houses)
9) Sept 1489= birth first heir Arthur

Question 10

What were the 6 threats to Henry’s throne?

Answer 10

1) John de la pole/ Earl of Lincoln
2) Edward/ Earl of Warwick
3) Margaret of Burgundy
4) Yorkist supporters (Lovell and Stafford)
5) Lambert Simnel
6) Perkin Warbeck

Question 11

Who was John de la Pole?

Answer 11

-nephew Edward IV and Richard III
-successor of Richard
-regarded Yorkist leader after Bosworth

Question 12

Who was Edward/ Earl of Warwick?

Answer 12

-nephew Edward IV and Richard III
-imprisoned tower 1485, aged 10
-beheaded alleged conspiracy with Perkin Warbeck 1499

Question 13

Who was Margaret of Burgundy?

Answer 13

-Sister Edward IV and Richard III
-able and willing to fund Yorkist ambitions

Question 14

When was the Viscount Lovell and Stafford’s rebellion?

Answer 14

1486

Question 15

What happened during Lovell and Stafford’s rebellion?

Answer 15

-tried raise rebellion Richard III heartlands North Riding Yorkshire
-stafford raise forces of Yorkist support in Midlands
-easily suppressed
-Lovell escaped
-Stafford captured and executed

Question 16

What was the significance of the Lovell and Stafford’s rebellion of 1486?

Answer 16

-showed little enthusiasm for Yorkist risings at this point in traditional heartlands

Question 17

What did the Lovell and Stafford’s rebellion make the Yorkist rebels realise?

Answer 17

the need for figurehead and funds

Question 18

When was the Lambert Simnel and Earl of Lincoln impersonation?

Answer 18

1487

Question 19

What happened during the Lambert Simnel and Earl of Lincoln impersonation?

Answer 19

-Simnel impersonated imprisoned Earl of Warwick
-crown as King Edward in Ireland May 1487
-Henry exhibited real Earl of Warwick in London

Question 20

What was the result of the Lambert Simnel impersonation?

Answer 20

-Lincoln fled to Court Margaret of Burgundy +joined Lovell to persuade her support Simnel and pay for mercenaries to invade England
-Henry reinstated Earl of Northumberland in North (traditional Yorkist supporter) to neutralise north as power of supporter
-rebels land in North try raise support in Cumberland and failed attract followers
-Henrys army defeat mercenary at Battle of Stoke field, June 1487
-Earl of Lincoln killed

Question 21

Why did Henry win the Battle of Stoke Field, June 1487?

Answer 21

1) own character and hard work
2) organisation skills and leadership
3) willingness landowners support his cause

Question 22

What was the significance of the Lambert Simnel impersonation and Battle of Stoke Field?

Answer 22

battle effectively ended War of Roses and his position secure for time being

Question 23

What did Henry do following the Battle of Stoke Field?

Answer 23

• lenient treatment of rebels (win support of Yorkists)
• BONDS OF GOOD BEHAVIOUR

Question 24

What were Bonds of Good Behaviour?

Answer 24

provide lump sums of money to landowners who did not have to repay him if they behaved

Question 25

When was the Perkin Warbeck imposter?

Answer 25

1491-99

Question 26

Who was Perkin Warbeck?

Answer 26

cloth trader from flanders claimed to be Richard Duke of York (one of Edwards sons of the ‘Princes in the Tower’

Question 27

When and Where did Warbeck begin to impersonate Richard Duke of York?

Answer 27

1491 in Ireland

Question 28

Explain each date of the Perkin Warbeck imposter
1492:
1495:
1496:
1497:
1499:

Answer 28

1492: fled Margaret Burgundy court and trained and Yorkist Prince
begun draw English courtiers
1495: attempted land in England quickly defeated
fled to James IV Scotland court
1496: tried invade England small Scottish forces soon retreated
James IV agreed marry Henry’s daughter Margaret
1497: tried claim throne by exploiting cornish rebellion forces were crushed Warbeck surrendered treated leniently then tried to escape
1499: tried and executed with Earl of Warwick

Question 29

What was the significance of the Perkin Warbeck imposter?

Answer 29

-support of foreign rulers made him serious threat and demonstrated how fragile Henry’s position was
-involvement of Sir William Stanley 1495 (Step uncle and Lord Chamberlain of Henry) showed how vulnerable he was within his household

Question 30

Who were Edmund and Richard de la pole and what happened to them?

Answer 30

brother of Earl of Lincoln
Edmund= lived in exile 1498-1506 returned to england 1506 imprisoned in tower and executed 1513
Richard= exiled until death 1525

Question 31

What was the significance of imprisoning Edmund de la pole?

Answer 31

effectively eliminating remaining threats