Consolidation of royal authority Flashcards
Why did Henry have a weak claim to the throne?
- Henry had not been brought up to rule
- He had lived in exile in The Duchy Brittany (france) since the age of 14, following the Yorkshire victory at the battle of tewksbury
- Many Lancastrians had died or been exacuted so he had no ally’s
How did Henry VII strengthen his dynastic claim to the throne?
1485 Oct:
1. He dated the start of his reign from 21st of august, the day before the battle of Bosworth; thus any yorkist who fort against him could be accused as a traitor
2. He publicly rewarded many key supporters E.G 11 knighthoods
3. He detained the earl of Warwick (Edward IV’s Nephew), whis claim to the throne was a threat
4. He arranged his coronation for a week before the first meeting with parliament, to show huis claim to the throne was hereditary nt based on parliamentary sanction
5. He made key appointments to his council and household E.G Sir reginald Bray as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Sir William Stanley as Chamberlain of the household
6.He issued parliamentary Acts of Attainder against yorkists who had fought at Bosworth, Their property was forfeit to the crown
7. He further increased his income by demanding the customs and revenues of Tonnage and Poundage for life
1486 Jan:
8. After consolidating his power in his own right Henry married Elizabeth of york to unify the York and Lancaster houses
1486 Sept:
9. Elizabeth gave birth to the heir, Prince Arthur
To what extent did Henry VII control the nobility?
Control:
1. The earl of Surrey Led troops in for Richard III in battle, Henry stripped him of his land and titles. When John De La Pole offered him a chance to escape he refused. He was rewarded with his land back in 1489
2. John De La Pole was was a possible claimant to the throne, he swore loyalty to Henry after betraying him and He was put on the council
3. The Earl of warwick, Richard III’s nephew was imprisoned then executed in 1499
4. Rewarded supporters- Daubeny as Lord chamberlain, John Morton (former yorkist0 as archbishop of Canterbury
Not in Control:
1. Henry Percy did not commit his troops and his father was a loyal lancastrian so he was imprisoned until 1486. Then he was restored to Northern titles and sent on mission for the king
2. William Stanley was involved with Perkins Warbeck and executed in 1495
What was the Lovell rebellion?
When, Where, Led by?
When-1486
Where- Yorkist heartlands and midlands
Led by: Viscount Lovell and Humphrey Stafford with his brother Thomas
How threatening was the Lovell Rebellion 1486?
Threatening:
1. Lovell escaped to Burgundy
2. Yorkists realised they needed a figurehead and funds
Not Threatening:
1.Minor rising focussed on traditional yorkist heartlands of Yorkshire and the midlands
2. Attracted little support and was easily suppressed
3. Humphrey Stafford was captured and executed
Showed there was little support for yorkist rising at this point
What was the Lincoln rebellion?
What, Where, Led by?
When: 1887
Where: East Stoke
Led by: Earl of Lincoln and Lambert simnel
How threatening was Lambert Simnel and the rebellion of John de la Pole?
Threatening:
1. Simnel was crowned king in ireland in may 1487
2. Lincoln fled to the court of Margaret Burgundy and joined Lord Lovell, They persuaded her to support Simnel pay for mercenaries to invade England
3. The rebels Landed on the north-west coast of England, Cumberland, and tried to gain support in North riding
4. Henry’s army defeated the mercenaries at the battle of stoke field (June 1487), the Earl of Lincoln was killed
Not Threatening:
1. Henry had the real Earl of Warwick in imprisoned in his tower
2. Henry neutralised Yorkist support in the north by reinstating the Earl of northumberland (yorkist) to power as his supporter (gamble)
3. The mercenaries in cumberland failed to raise support for yorkist uprising
4. Henry’s army defeated the mercenaries at the battle of stoke field (June 1487), the Earl of Lincoln was killed - this battle ended the war of the roses
5. The treatment of the rebels won over yorkist support for Henry who previously opposed him
What was the Perkin Warbeck imposter?
When, Where, Led by?
When: 1491-99
Where: Began in Ireland, went to Burgundy, attempted to land in England, fled to Scotland
Led by:
How threatening was Perkin Warbeck?
Threatening
1. Claimed to be Richard Duke of York, one of the two murdered princes in the tower- there bodies were never found
2. Fled to the court of Margaret Burgundy and trained a potential Yorkist prince
3. Drew English courtiers into his conspiracies
4. Fled to the court of James IV of Scotland- enemy of English
5. He tried to escape after being treated leniently
Not Threatening
1. He attempted to land in England in 1495 but was quickly defeated
2. Tried to invade north England with a small army button retreated and James IV agreed to marry Henry’s daughter Margaret
3. He tried to claim the throne by exploiting the Cornish rebellion but his forces were crushed- Warbeck surrendered
4. Executed in 1499 along with the Earl of Warwick
What was the Edmund de la Pole?
When, Where, Led by?
When: 1506
Where: Burgundy/ London
Led by: Edmund de la Pole (Earl of suffolk), Richard de la Pole
How threatening g
Summary of Consolidation of royal authority?
- Having successfully seizes the throne at the battle of bosworth in 1485, Henry’s immediate aim was to consolidate his power
- His shrewdness and skill at planning allowed his to achieve this to a great extent in the first years of his reign, through a series of astute political moves
- However his position remained insecure and in the years 1486-99 saw a succession of threats to his rule, including rebellions and claims by yorkist rivals and pretenders; almost all of which he had successfully defeated by 1506
