Henry Tudors Consolidation Of Power Flashcards
How did Richard III rise to the throne, and in suspicious circumstances? Pre 1485
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester) acting as protector to Edward V in 1483, imprisoned Edward and his younger brother, Richard, in the tower and probably had them murdered. The act is known as USURPATION
Battle of Bosworth date
22 August 1485
Through whom did Henry VII claim to throne come? - pre 1845
Henry’s claim to the throne came through a subsequent marriage of John of Gaunt (creating the Beaufort family) and an illegitimate child resulting from Owen Tudor and the wife of Henry V, Catherine of valois
Why was Henry VII’s claim to the throne weak? - pre 1485
Henry’s claim to royalty came through an illegitimate child of the wife of a monarch ( a female line) and also through a very weak claim ri john of gaunt both claims were extremely tenuous
How did the balance of Bosworth tilt in Henry’s favour?
Having been under pressure of attack from Richards forces and those of the Stanleys, Thomas Stanley, Henry’s stepfather, decisively changes sides and forced his troops on Richard, leading to his demise
Who proclaimed Henry to be king at Bosworth
Lord Tomas Stanley, his stepfather
When did Henry arrive in london? How did Henry attempt to gain the approval of the public after Richard III’s death and when?
Henry arrived in london on 3rd September 1485. He wooed the public with pageantry and ceremony
Why is it no surprise that Henry was accepted as king following the death of Richard?
By the time of Bosworth, Richard had become so unpopular due to his cruel ways and his usurpation of his nephew that the public ( apart from the Yorkists and their supporters) were happy he had been deposed and it mattered not who his replacement was
Henry’s upbringing was not to be-a ruler . Why?
When he was 14 1431 . Edward IV became king again following victory in battle in the war of the roses. Henry was forced into exile, fearful of execution, as a fugitive in Brittany for 14 years , where he lived around the court
How might Henry’s experience of the court at Brittany have Benefited him? - pre 1485
Henry was able to observe the inner workings of the court - both how a court should and shouldn’t be run . He was paid little attention so could slip under the radar
How was Henry’s position as an exile, in fear of capture, beneficial in shaping his character - pre 1485?
Henry was able to act very secretly, hiding his thoughts and feelings as well as developing a lack of trust which marked his rule as being ruthless and calculating in his decision making.
When did Henry date his reign from in his first parliament? Why did he do this
Henry dated his reign 21st august 1845 a day before the battle of Bosworth to effectively brand anyone who had opposed him as a traitor who committed treason
How did Henry maintain the loyalty id supporters at Bosworth? Give examples
Henry conferred 11 knighthoods , giving other tirles ro notable suporters:
- made William Stanley: lord chamberlain and his uncle Jasper Tudor Duke of Bedford
How did he deal with Earl of Warwick and Elizabeth of york
Henry detained both of these Yorkists, imprisoning the Earl of Warwick , permanently who could be seen to have a greater claim than himself. He later married Elizabeth to unite the 2 roses
How did Henry reward his supporters in terms of government?
Henry made Sir William Stanley his lord chamberlain, effectively the head of his household government. Sir Reginald Bray was made chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster.
On what date was Henry’s coronation?
30th October 1485
On what date was Henry’s first parliament? - consolidation
7th November 1485
What was the significance of having his first parliament after his coronation - consolidation
Having his first parliament after the coronation was significant as only the king could call parliament, demonstrating how he was the monarch based on hereditary right and not due to parliamentary approval
What where acts of attainder - how where they used? - consolidation
Acts of Attainder were acts passed by parliament at the kings request to remove as titles and lands from an individual (who had been disloyal to Henry) as well as to disinherit their heirs. All went to the crown
When did Henry marry elizibeth of York?why was this important after his coronation as king? - consolidation
Henry marries Elizabeth in January 1486. By waiting until after his coronation to marry her, he ensure that any claim to the throne was made through him, and not dismissed as due to him being married yo the daughter of Edward IV
What was the political benefit of Henry and Elizabeth marriage in 1486? Who was the living embodiment of the Tudor rose? - consolidation
Henrys marriage to Elizabeth signifies the unification of the houses of York and Lancaster and seal the end of the war of the roses. The Tudor Rose was created as a result (emblem)
Prince Arthur, the child of Henry and Elizabeth, was the embodiment of the Tudor Rose
When did the Lovell rebellion tale place? Who helped him? Where was this rebellion- consolidation
The Lovell rebellion led by Viscount Lovell occurred in Easter 1486, in the traditional Yorkist Heartland of the North Rising of Yorkshire, assisted by Humphrey Stafford
Why did the Lovell rebellion fail? How were the perpetrators dealt with? - consolidation
The lovell rebellion lacked any sort of foreign support and, crucially, drew little support from traditional Yorkist heartlands (NRoY/Midlands)
Henry failed to capture Lovell at the time, so he lived but Humphrey Stafford was executed, perhaps setting an example for other rebellions
When did the lambert simnel conspiracy occur ? Who did he draw patronage from and in what form? Who was his key Yorkist supporter? - consolidation
The lambert simnel conspiracy happened in 1487. He drew patronage from Margaret of Burgundy, the sister of Richard III. She supplied a force of mercenaries to help their cause.
Simnel was also aided by John de la Pole, a Yorkist claimant who was Richard III’s heir.
Who was Lambert simnel? What was the issue with his supposed identity? - consolidation
Simnel was a pretender to the throne, posing as the Earl of Warwick. Henry had the actual Earl of Warwick imprisoned so in response to this threat he exhibited the detained Warwick in london.
How did Henry attempt to deal with the threat posed by Simnel PRIOR to simnel’s arrival. - consolidation
Henry took the risk of reinstating the risky earl of Northumberland, a Yorkist sympathiser, into power on the North of England to prevent John DLP and Simnel from raising an army of Richard III’s supporters.
When was the battle of Stoke field?- consolidation
The battle of stoke field took place on the 16th june 1487.
who led the army at the battle of stoke field
henry’s army was effectivley led by the Earl of Oxford - Lincoln killed in batle
what did the battle of stoke end?
Arguably ended the war of the Roses
What happened to Simnel and Earl of Lincoln (john DLP) after the battle? - consolidation
Simnel was at first imprisoned, but Henry later showed mercy, employing him in the kitchens of the royal household. Earl of Lincoln was killed in battle, crucially removing a major threat to Henry.
Why was Henry nervous about the outcome of Stoke Field? Why did the Yorkist forces not prevail? - consolidation
Henry was nervous about his chances at Stoke field as he was wary of the fact he could be double crossed by yorkists now fighting for the Tudor cause.
Yorkist side crucially could not add to their Burgundian mercenaries with English support, therefore lacking the power to defeat Henry.
Who was Perkin Warbeck? What ability made Warbeck such a threat? - consolidation
Perkin Warbeck was a cloth trader from Flanders, who, posed as Richard, Duke of York. Warbecks ability to draw patronage from foreign rulers was crucial to his threat.
Where did Warbeck draw his patronage from? - consolidation
Warbeck was able to draw patronage from France, Ireland,Scotland,England (Cornwall) and crucially from Margaret of burgundy, who trained him in the ways of court and being a Yorkist prince.
Who did Warbeck use as his accomplice in Henry’s government? What impact did this have? How did Henry deal with this? - consolidation
Warbeck had recruited Sir William Stanley, Henry’s Lord Chamberlain, to aid his cause as an imposter. This cause Henry to become reclusive, paranoid and untrusting of close allies. He later executed Stanley.
How was Warbeck pushed out of scotland and into Henry’s control? - consolidation
After Warbeck had Failed to infiltrate England, Henry negotiated a treaty which would see his daughter, Margaret, marry king James IV of Scotland. This sacrificed Warbecks sanctuary, who fled to England. He was later captured by Henry on 1497
How did Henry deal with Warbecks initially and the subsequently? - consolidation
Initially Warbeck was imprisoned in the tower but allowed to live. Hewas however later, accused of conspiring with the Earl of Warricj in 1499 and both were executed
When dud the Perkin Warbeck imposture last from and until - consolidation
1491- 1499
Who was the Earl of Warwick? How dis Henry deal with his threat to the throne? - consolidation
The Earl of Warwick was Edward IV’s nephew, amd the most obvious Yorkist claiment, although only a chil. Henry imprisoned his after Bosworth and cats and confined most of his life, he was accused of plotting with Warbeck in 1499 and was executed
Who were Edmund and Richard de la pole? Where did each other make death threat from? - consolidtaion
Edmund and Richard were younger brothers of the Earl of Lincoln. Edmund had been forced into exile at court of Emperor Maximilian, and Richard also spent time abroad.
How did Henry deal with the threat of Edmund and Richard de la pole? - consolidation
Edmund spend time with your kids, sympathiser and Henry’s arrival Margaret of Burgundy who provided sanctuary however, the treaty of Westminster 1506, so that he was overturned to Henry and he was imprisoned in the tower. Richard remained the next sale in France and was killed in 1525, fighting for French forces.
Why had England experienced political instability in the 15th century?
The unsuccessful reign of Henry VI had culminated In 1455 in the outbreak of the wars of the roses between the houses of
Lancaster and house of York
Between 1455 and 1485 England suffered 30 years of civil war
What allowed Henry Tudor to seize the thrown in 1485?
The unpopularity of the Yorkist King Richard III (with added suspicion about disappearance of princes in the tower) allowed Henry to seize the thrown at the Battle of Bosworth in August
1485. Richard was killed in battle
Why was Henry’s claim to the throne weak?
He was descended through the female line - though his mother
Lady Margaret Beaufort
The Beaufort line came through John of Gaunt’s third wife - their son had been born before marriage so was considered illegitimate
Henry was the Lancastrian claimant only because there was no other suitable candidate
What were the early years of Henry’s reign characterised by?
Insecurity and fears of a potential Yorkist challenge
What did Henry do in august 1485 to help secure the throne?
He dated his reign from the 21st of August (day before battle)
allowing anyone who fought on the Yorkist side to be accused of being a traitor
He publicly rewarded his key supporters (conferred 11 knighthoods)
He detained the earl of Warwick and Elizabeth of York whose claims to the throne could be seen as much greater than this
What did Henry do in October to help secure the throne?
He arranged his coronation for a week before the first meeting in parliament on 7th of November to show his right to the throne was hereditary not just based on parliamentary sanctions
Made key appointments to his councils as household e.g. Sir Reginald Bray as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
What did Henry issue in October to help secure the throne?
Parliamentary Acts of Attainder against Yorkists who fought at the Battle of Bosworth so they’re property became forfeit to the
crown
Hoe did Henry initially increase his income?
By demanding the customs revenues of tonnage and poundage for life at his first parliament
What did Henry do in 1486 having consolidated his power?
Married Elizabeth of York. This enabled royal propaganda to exploit the union of the houses of Lancaster and York Having This led to the Tudor rose - a combination of the colours of York
and Lancaster and this was put everywhere a symbol of his authority
What happened in September 1489 and why was this significant?
Arthur was born - an heir to the throne - fully securing the dynasty
What were Acts of Attainder?
This declared the a landowner guilty of rebelling against a monarch, the attained noble lost his title, lands and sometimes his head, heirs were also disinherited
What was tonnage and poundage?
The right to raise revenue for the whole reign from imports and exports
What is a parliamentary sanction?
An official confirmation or ratification of a law given by Parliament as the acclaimed body of state
Why was John de la Pole a threat?
He was a Yorkist claimant.
He was nephew of Edward IV and Richard III
Designated successor of Richard III
Regarded as the Yorkist leader after Bosworth
Why was Edward (earl of Warwick) a threat?
He was a Yorkist claimant
He was nephew of Edward IV and Richard III
Imprisoned in tower of London 1485 (aged 10)
Beheaded for alleged conspiracy with Perkin Warbeck, 1499
Who were two main threats?
Yorkist supporters (e.g. Lovell and Stafford)
Margaret of Burgundy (sister of Edward IV and Richard III) as she was able and willing to fund Yorkist ambitions
Who were the pretenders?
Lambert Simnel
Perkin Warbeck
What did Viscount Lovell and the Staffords do and when?
1486- Minor rising focused on traditional Yorkist Heartlands of Yorkshire and midlands
Led by Viscount Lovell and Humphrey Stafford with his brother
Thomas
Attracted little support and was easily suppressed
Lovell escaped to Burgundy, Humphrey Stafford was captured and executed (Thomas was pardoned)
Why was the Lovell rebellion significant?
It showed there was little support for a
Yorkist rising at this point
Who arranged a Yorkist conspiracy in 1487 and who was the figurehead?
Arranged by Earl of Lincoln (John de la Pole) - used Lambert
Simnel as a figurehead
What did Simnel do?
He impersonated the Earl of Warwick and was crowned as King
Edward in Ireland (may 1487)
What were the results of the Simnel plan?
Henry exhibited the real Earl of Warwick in London
Lincoln fled to the court of Margaret of Burgundy and joined
Lovell - persuading Margaret to support Simnel and pay for a force of mercenaries (hired soldiers who work for pay with no commitments to the cause) to invade England
How did Henry neutralise Yorkist support in the North?
Took risk by reinstating the Earl of Northumberland (a traditional
Yorkist supporter) to power in the north as his supporter (who was untrustworthy - supporter of Richard III in Battle of B
Also ensured the traditionally Yorkist Howard family had no intention of joining the conspiracy, as Northumberland was one of their descendants
Also reinforced coastal defences in East Anglia
Where did the Simnel rebels land and what was the outcome?
Landed in Cumberland supported by 2,000 German mercenaries provided by Margaret of Burgundy, and crossed the Pennines and tried to muster support in the Yorkist heartland but they failed to attract followers
Henry’s army defeated the mercenary army at the battle of stoke field (June 1487)
Simnel captured but Henry recognised him as harmless and employed him in the royal kitchens
Who was killed at the Battle of Stoke?
The earl of Lincoln
What were the reasons for Henry’s victory at the Battle of Stoke?
His own shrewdness and hard-work
Organisational skills and military leadership of his key supporters
Willingness of landowners in many parts of the country to support his cause
What did the Battle of stoke effectively end?
The war of the roses
For what two reasons did Henry’s support grow?
His lenient treatment of the rebels won over some Yorkists who
had previously opposed him
He began to use the policy of bonds of good behaviour
What were bonds of good behaviour?
Providing lump sums of money to landowners that they did not have to repay if they behaved well but if the condition was broken they had to pay it as a penalty
For what two reasons did Henry’s support grow?
His lenient treatment of the rebels won over some Yorkists who
had previously opposed him
He began to use the policy of bonds of good behaviour
What was the Perkin Warbeck imposture?
Imposture of a cloth trader from Flanders who claimed to be
Richard - duke of York one of Edward IV’s sons and one of the two
murdered princes in them tower)
What happened with Warbeck in 1491 and
1492?
1491-Warbeck began to impersonate Richard in Ireland
Brief period in France but forced to flee
1492- He fled to the court of Margaret of Burgundy - was trained as potential Yorkist prince and began to draw English courtiers into his conspiracies
What happened with Warbeck in 1495 and
1496?
1495- He attempted to land in England but was quickly defeated as Henry had been informed of his intentions by royal agent
Robert Clifford and fled to the court of lames IV of Scotland
1496- He tried to invade England with a small Scottish force - this soon retreated and James IV agreed to Marry Henry’s daughter,
Margaret
What happened with Warbeck in 1497and
1499?
1497- He tried to claim the throne by exploiting the Cornish rebellion- his forces were crushed - Warbeck surrendered he was treated leniently at first but tired to escape so confined to tower
1499- He was tired and executed a long with the Earl of Warwick
Who were Edmund de la Pole and Richard de la Pole and what
happened to them?
Younger brothers of the earl of Lincoln (Edmund = earl of Suffolk)
Edmund largely lived in exile 1498-1506 under the protection of Margaret of Burgundy,
Treaty of Windsor 1506 - meant more friendly relations restored with Burgundy, including Maximillian agreeing to give up Suffolk
SO
He returned in 1506 and was imprisoned in the tower of London and executed in 1513 by Henry VIlI
Richard was exiled until his death fighting for France at the Battle of Pavia 1525
What was the significance of the Perkin
Warbeck imposture?
Patronage from foreign rulers made Warbeck a potentially serious threat and demonstrated how fragile Henry’s position was considered to be by foreign rulers
The involvement of William Stanley (Head of the royal household and was Lord Chamberlain) showed Henry’s vulnerability even within his own household
What is the significance of the Earl of Lincolns (John de la pole)
brothers?
The imprisonment of Edward (Suffolk) effectively eliminated the remaining threats, leaving only Richard de la Pole who was at large in exile
Why was Henry’s victory at the Battle of
Stoke Significant?
It was this battle, rather than Bosworth which really brought an end to the Wars of the Roses
Henry had overcome a crisis and therefore his position became safer (not secure though)
What happened to the Earl of Warwick and why was this significant?
Convenient for Henry that Warbeck’s final conspiracies allowed him to get rid of the Earl of Warwick (most obvious Yorkist claimant to the throne)
Warwick was in many respects an innocent victim of political problems but In 1499 having been accused of plotting with Warbeck against Henry, he was beheaded
What was household government?
Medieval system of governance where the head of the household, invariably an adult male, had authority over the property, labour and mobility of everyone living on his land
who was Thomas Stanley
Stanley, Henry’s VII’s stepfather initially stood aside from the battle (of Bosworth). His intervention on Henry’s side proved crucial and he was rewarded with the title of the Earl of Derby. Excersided royal power in the northwest of England and north wales under this title, during Henry VII’s reign
Sir William Stanley
Stanley, brother to Henry’s stepfather was rewarded the post of Lord Chamberlain following the Battle of Bosworth. Gave him significant political influence and also enabled him to develop his landed estate in cheshire and North Wales - therefore a shock when he was accused of treason
