Evaluation of Henry 7th as Monarch Flashcards
Explain general reasons it can be argued Henry was successful + had consolidated his power by 1509
1) Henry’s tenacity enabled his 17 year old son and heir to succeed peacefully onto the throne far easier than his own emergence to power came. Thus brought an end to the Wars of the Roses which dominated England for over a century of instability. His physical survival before his defeat of Richard 3rd at Bosworth gave him a strong claim to miracle king and his weak claim only through his mothers royal blood(but via illegitimate line) meant he had extremely slender link + claim to the throne.
- The battle of Bosworth henry only had 5000 men far less than Richards 15,000 men and the odds were dramatically stacked against him and nevertheless won with the aid of Sir Staley’s men. But its one thing to win a crown + another to keep it which he equally successfully did until his death.
Give the 1st Key reason to argue Henry did successfully consolidate his power by 1509
1) Consolidation of power + Defeating threats to his security
Henry came to the throne with weak claim to the crown w numerous nobility surrounding him it far better claims than his own + position was extremely unstable. He immediately took swift action to aid this security - married Elizabeth of York uniting Red + White rose + long period of hostility + pre-dated his reign to before Bosworth enabling anyone who fought against him to be treason.
He successfully suppressed 5 major threats to his security;
- Many of the threats were very early on in his reign in 1486-8 and therefor wasn’t fully established or secure such as Lovell in 1486
Lambent Simnel 1486-7 huge threat to henry as had well analysed + calculated figurehead + plan posing as
Lincoln killed + Simnel made kitchen boy. Remarkably pardoning 29 nobles who fought against him stripping them of all lands, titles + money which actually only served to make Henry more wealthy + increased his financial security and crown lands.
Give the 2nd Key reason to argue Henry did successfully consolidate his power by 1509
2) Foreign Policy + Diplomacy
Created + maintained a generally Peaceful Diplomatic Environment throughout his Reign
+ His diplomatic monoverses reinforced idea od a dynasty that was here to stay.
- Alliance w Spain - Treaty of Medina Del Campo 1489
- Treaty of Estaples 1492
Well calculated and strategic move invading France as been informed by royal agents French more pre-occpied + interested/fixated on Italy not interest in fuelling war w England so would quickly offer peace treaty which they did. Treaty of Estaples was incredibly beneficial to Henry + England - Truce of Ayton w Scotland 1497
Saw end to decades of hostility between England + Scotland and prevented invasion by Warbeck increasing Henry + England’s dynastic + international security through marriage alliance between daughter Margaret Tudor + James V1 eliminating Scottish threat. Also consequently resulted in Warbeck surrendering and later attempting to escape allowing Henry to execute Warbeck + earl of Warwick eliminating 2 Yorkist threats +consolidating his own power.
Give the 3rd Key reason to argue Henry did successfully consolidated his power by 1509
3) Financially successful + administered crow finances
- Increased running for kingdom + crown finances hugely;
Royal Estates - royal estates revenue increased from £29,000 upon death of Richard 3rd in 1485 to £42,000 by 1509
Acts of Attainder
Extraordinary revenue - Took advantage of Catholic church + supplied him w huge sums finances
- He left the crown solvent upon his death, proving stability and a sound base for Henry V111 to succeed leaving crown coffer of £300,000 to son
Give the 1st Key reason to argue that Henry did NOT successfully consolidate his power by 1509
1) Left England Isolated diplomatically
The Treaty of Medina Del Campo was largely log + successful even after Arthurs death and yet henry in an attempt to gain perhaps better and further alliances decided to support Joanna of Castile during the Castilian succession Crisis from 1504-06.
He left England largely isolated by 1509 w long Spanish alliance ruined which did noting for England’s chivalric image which in the final years was a worry for his international security heed worked so hard to build. And though passed on throne in 1509 it was by skin of teeth as by 1509 was deeply unpopular.
Give the 2nd Key reason to argue that Henry did NOT successfully consolidate by 1509
2) Luck played a major role in Henrys dynastic position
Upon Arthurs death i 1502 the dynastic security heed built with Spain was entirely threatened and heed lost the future heir to throne leaving only Henry a child left to succeed him - without him his monarchical rule would have been servery weakened + dynasty insecure. Henry was simply lucky Spain wanted a continuation of alliance + allowed cathine to marry Henry.
Henry was also lucky that henry was the age he was - 17- by 1509 otherwise it could have sparked uprisings and another wars of roses continuation with no Male heir and monarchical authority would have potentially been irrelevant
Its suggested He was also lucky to die when he did in 1509 as by the end of reign the severity of financial penalties was enough to from a rebellion against his rule and merely a matter of time thus if heed lived loner there would have likely been more rebellions + discontent in England. Even in later part of reign there were rebellions partially over taxation + finances which could have been easily avoided if heed been more acute. He never escaped the consequences of being a usurper + lost popularity.
Overall how successfully did Henry V11 develop monarchical authority by 1509?
By 1509 Henry had achieved;
- Dynastic security + suppressed 5 major threats to his security
- Strong Foreign relations w Spain + Scotland for much of reign - however by 1509 largely isolated England by breaking alliance w Ferdinand in hope for better one after Castilian succession crisis which failed.
- Stable Economy + Finances - expert at raising finances - but suggested this (extraordinary revenue etc + taxation) played huge role in many uprising which could easily been avoided + never escaped consequences of being a usurper.
- Kept England Safe + secure very little threat f invasion by any country internationally.
- Passed on Throne successfully + peacefully to Henry V111 - luck played big role however as lucky henry was 17 and age he was otherwise instability would ahve been created + lucky alliance w Spain continued after Arthurs death.
