EP: Henry VII and the Yorkist threat Flashcards
1
Q
Intro
A
Intro:
- Only 1 major battle during Henry’s reign- Stoke Field (June 1487)
- Warbeck, Simnel and Suffolk never really posed a threat
- Given his weak claim and lack of support in 1485, the very fact he survived to establish one of the most successful dynasties in British history is a testament to Henry’s effectiveness in dealing with the Yorkist threat
- Henry VII crowned 30 October 1485
- 21st April 1509- Henry VII dies and Henry VIII succeeds him without challenge or opposition
2
Q
3 paragraphs
A
- Weakness of Henry’s position and extent of Yorkist support
- Foreign Involvement
- Plots/conspiracies were all successfully suppressed (1)
3
Q
Conclusion
A
Conclusion:
- Given the longevity of his reign and achievement of establishing a successful dynasty following his death in 1509, he must be considered successful
- But, arguably it was only after 1506 that he was secure on the throne from opposition, but even then he was ill and it was not certain if his line would continue
- Dealt well with the potential foreign threat
4
Q
All of Weakness of Henry’s position and extent of Yorkist support
A
Weakness of Henry’s position and extent of Yorkist support:
- Lack of legitimacy and what his claim is based on- Through his mother Margaret Beaufort. (Probs. 6/7th in line for the throne)
- Narrow powerbase in 1485 and overreliance on a few key supporters such as Sir William Stanley made him vulnerable
- Also strong Yorkist support in England in 1485, although Carpenter contests this
- Even by 1495 his position remained weak with the suspected plot at court and the downfall of Sir William Stanley
- Remained under threat towards the end of his reign with his own illness as well as the deaths of his sons and wife, was unsure whether the Tudor dynasty would continue or not
- Whilst Henry possessed an uneasy relationship with Henry Percy the Earl of Northumberland, following his death he was able to implement his son Henry Percy who was only 12 and as a consequence was made a ward of the Crown, enabling Henry to appoint Surrey as his lieutenant of the Council of the North → thus greatly enhancing the support he had in the North
- Parliament of 1504, he passed 51 acts of attainder and the deal he struck (Treaty of Windsor 1506) with Philip of Burgundy/ Castile to ensure the return and imprisonment of Suffolk reflect the constant threat he remained under
- Whilst largely inactive, some leading nobility (Lincoln, Warwick, Northumberland, etc.) still posed a threat
- J: Given the weak position he was in at the start of his reign, it is highly commendable how he negotiated a 24 year long reign largely unchallenged
- Churchill: “The best businessman ever to sit upon the English throne”
5
Q
All of Foreign involvement
A
Foreign Involvement:
- Yorkist threat was greatly exacerbated by the extent of foreign support that they pretenders managed to secure
- Margaret of Burgundy supported Simnel and Warbeck
- Composition of Simnel’s invasion force in 1487 was largely multinational, with 2,000 German mercenaries together with Irish and English troops
- Warbeck received assistance from Charles VIII of France between 1491 and 1492 and from James IV of Scotland from 1495 to 1497
- In this regard, Henry failed to prevent foreign powers assisting the pretenders, arguably leading to the invasions in 1487, 1495 and 1496, all involving foreign powers
- BUT: He did manage to neutralise some threat through his foreign policy.
- Treaty of Etaples in 1492 ensured France would not support Warbeck
- Intercursus Magnus in 1496 caused Burgundians to cut ties with Warbeck
- Poynings’ Law and reinstatement of Kildare neutralised Irish threats
- Treaty of Medina Del Campo 1489 - Alliance between England and Spain
- Treaty of Ayton 1497- pacified James IV in Scotland and cemented peace by marriage in the Treaty of Perpetual Peace in 1502
- Burgundians handed over Suffolk (Last Yorkist threat) with Treaty of Windsor in 1506
- J: Largely successful
6
Q
All of Plots/conspiracies were all successfully suppressed
A
Plots/conspiracies were all successfully suppressed:
- Ultimately all the pretenders failed and Yorkist threat was extinguished, so have to argue it was a success
- Victorious at Stoke Field against Lincoln
- Also captured and executed Warbeck
- Other Yorkist threats of Warwick and Suffolk were imprisoned and executed
- Vaughan’s rebellion and Stafford & Lovell rebellion 1486 easily crushed
- Yorkshire rebellion 1489 quelled easily (Earl of Northumberland killed by rebels)- Was in response to huge tax call in an effort from Henry to deter a French attack on Brittany
- Especially impressive for a usurper with limited support
- BUT: He was fortunate at Stoke Field and victory was far from guaranteed
- Also considerable longevity of Warbeck’s threat- highlights weakness
- Arguably Henry was responsible for Suffolk’s emergence in 1501
- Dynasty was not actually secure until 1506, 21 years after Bosworth due to the persistent threat that the pretenders posed
- J: However, the fact that he survived and successfully bequeathed the throne means he must be considered successful in overcoming and dealing with the Yorkist threat
7
Q
Quote from Churchill
A
- Churchill: “The best businessman ever to sit upon the English throne”
8
Q
When did Henry VIII gain the throne
A
- 21st April 1509- Henry VII dies and Henry VIII succeeds him without challenge or opposition
9
Q
When was Henry VII crowned
A
- Henry VII crowned 30 October 1485
10
Q
What and when was the only major battle during Henry VII’s reign
A
- Only 1 major battle during Henry’s reign- Stoke Field (June 1487)
11
Q
Where did Henry’s claim come from
A
- Lack of legitimacy and what his claim is based on- Through his mother Margaret Beaufort. (Probs. 6/7th in line for the throne)
12
Q
Powerbase in 1485
A
- Narrow powerbase in 1485 and overreliance on a few key supporters such as Sir William Stanley made him vulnerable
- Also strong Yorkist support in England in 1485, although Carpenter contests this
13
Q
Parliament of 1504- What deal did he strike
A
- Parliament of 1504, he passed 51 acts of attainder and the deal he struck (Treaty of Windsor 1506) with Philip of Burgundy/ Castile to ensure the return and imprisonment of Suffolk reflect the constant threat he remained under
14
Q
Which nobility posed threats
A
Lincoln, Warwick, Northumberland, etc.
15
Q
Role of Margaret of Burgundy
A
- Margaret of Burgundy supported Simnel and Warbeck
