‘Foreign policy was the key reason for the consolidation of Henry VII’s authority’. Explain why you agree or disagree with this view.

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

F.p was a key reason for establishing authority - tied in with international prestige = recognized power
- Used to contain pretenders
- Other methods also used which were of equal importance but were to do with back home

Question 2

FP WAS KEY TO ESTABLISH AUTHORITY

Answer 2

• Helped to secure his position on the throne
• Intercursus Malus - pretenders
• Treaty of Perpetual Peace - pretenders
• Treaty of Medina del Campo - pretenders and prestige

Question 3

Other reasons:

Answer 3

• Actions at the start
• Due to large personal revenue
  Crown Lands
  Money from Parliament
• Controlling nobility
  Act of Attainders
  Bonds + Recognizances

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

• Overall was a key reason for consolidation power
• other reasons were also of equal importance thus must be discussed when talking about his consolidation of power

Question 5

Fp was key: Helped to secure his position on the throne

Answer 5

• Henry’s desire for prestige was an obvious consequence of his disputed claim to the throne
• He wanted to impress European rulers who would recognise his legitimacy.
• Henry was reluctant to involve England in expensive foreign entanglements
• Alliance with foreign powers might increase prestige at the same time as keeping England safe from foreign adventure

Question 6

Fp was key: Intercursus Malus

Answer 6

pretenders
- Located in present day Netherlands and Belgium - was a local power of England
- Not a great powers but important ally: majority of English exports - Antwerp + Bruges / under jurisdiction
- Wool exports went through Antwerp - key thus so was support of Burgundy
- Margaret Of Burgundy - Sister of Edward IV + R3 / last major torchbearer for Yorkist
- Margaret / Maximillian / Philip gave hospitality to Warbeck - he gained support
- Henry imposed a risky trade embargo w. Burgundy in order to ease Warbeck matters
- 1496: Intercursus malus - after Warbeck left in 1495 and brought trade embargo to an end

Question 7

Fp was key: Treaty of Perpetual Peace

Answer 7

pretenders
- Margaret Mary James IV of Scotland in 1503
- Strengthen alliances with Scotland during his reign
- Weakened Perkin Warbeck’s threat to Henry’s throne
- Overall: successful marriage + Warbeck executed 1499

Question 8

Fp was key: Treaty of Medina del Campo

Answer 8

• pretenders and prestige
• Catherine of Aragon + Prince Arthur
• Gave Henry international peace
• Two monarch offered mutual protection in case of attack
• Agreed not to harbour rebel’s ore pretenders

Question 9

Other reasons: Actions at the start

Answer 9

• From 21st August 1485 - day before the Battle of Bosworth - anyone fought on Yorkist side = traitor
• Publicly rewarded may of his key supporters = 11 knighthoods
• Arranged for supporters to detain Elizabeth of York + Earl of Warwick - greater claim to the throne
  Daughter + nephew of Edward IV
• Coronation to take place on 30th October before meeting his first parliament on 7th November
  Right to parliament = heredity and not only because parliament had sanctioned it
• January 1486: married Elizabeth of York
  after everything - henry was able to ensure his consolidation not brought about by wife’s own claim

Question 10

Other reasons: Due to large personal revenue

Answer 10

CROWN LANDS
- policy of bring back as much land as possible to the crown / land in 15th century = power
- 1486: act of resumption - removed all propertied granted away since before WotR (1455).
- JJ Gunn: estimates that the amount of crown land was x5 larger by latter years of reign

MONEY FROM PARLIAMENT
- First parliament: granted tonnage and poundage
- First two parliaments: passed many acts of attainders
- Others granted extraordinary revenue and enabled him to go to war e.g. fifteenths and tenths
- Made in 1487 / 1489-91 / 1491-2 and 1497 = £203,000
- Very important: helped him acquire wealth / showed stability + security he had within his reign
FOREIGN POLICY WAS THE KEY REASON FOR THE CONSOLIDATION OF HENRY VII’S AUTHORITY
Other reasons: Controlling nobility
ACTS OF ATTAINDER
- family losing the right to possess its land and attended familied would lose right to inherit its land
- reversible by good behaviour e.g.- passed 138 but reversed 42 / 9 passed against nobles
- Thomas Tyrrell - pay £1738 for reversal of him and father attainment: less noble thus more harsh

BONDS + RECOGNIZANCES
- Bonds: written agreement in which a sum of money payed if failed a promise
Recognizances: formal acknowledgment of debt that already existed
- Guaranteeing good behaviours and keeps peace towards fellow subjects
- Thomas Grey - not trusted - support Richard in 1485: 1492 required to transfer all lands but 2 to trustees
- ‘terrifying system of suspended penalties’