Henry VII 1485 - 1509 Flashcards
What caused of the Wars of the Roses?
After Edward III died in 1377, he had no legitimate heir which created two sides that were fighting for the crown
What proportion of the population died in the wars of the roses?`
2.5%
What were 2 impacts of the Wars of the Roses?
- The country looked weaker and would be easier to invade
- Only 1/3 of taxes were collected which left any King with little power.
When was Richard III king?
1483-85
How did Richard III become king?
After his brother died, Edward IV, he was named protector of the realm until his nephews were old enough to rule. Yet instead he twisted the stories and (possibly) murdered his nephews to secure the throne for himself.
Who was Margaret Beaufort’s first husband and was it a successful marriage?
Edmund Tudor, she was just 12, this marriage gave birth to her only child, Henry Tudor, but whilst she was pregnant, Edmund died
Who did Margaret Beaufort marry after Edmund?
Henry Stafford
How did Margaret Beaufort protect her son after he became the strongest Lancastrian heir?
She convinced Jasper Tudor to go with Henry (Tudor) into exile in Brittany
Who and when was Margaret Beaufort’s final marriage?
1472 - Thomas Stanley
What was Margaret known as when her son became King?
“My Lady, the King’s mother”
How much power did Margaret hold under Henry VII?
A lot - she was the most powerful woman in the nation, more powerful than Elizabeth of York who was the Queen Consort
What was the scandal of the Princes in the Tower about?
Richard III intercepted his nephews on their way down to London and he put them in the tower of london for protection, however over the period of about a year they were spotted less and less until they were assumed to have been killed
How did Richard’s lack of support help Henry win the Battle of Bosworth?
Only 1/4 nobles turned up and his army was only 10,000
How did the Stanley’s impact the Battle of Bosworth?
They waited whilst the battle was taking place, but just at the pivotal moment they decided to support Henry, which swung the war into his favour
How did Richard’s own actions lead to defeat in the Battle of Bosworth?
He saw a chance to kill Henry himself and recklessly charged, yet this failed and he ended up getting knocked off his horse and being killed
How close did Richard come to winning the battle of bosworth?
He killed Henry’s standard bearer and came within a swords length of Henry
Who did Lambert Simnel pretend to be?
The Earl of Warwick
What were Henry’s first actions as King?
- His coronation
- Summoned Parliament
- Married Elizabeth of York
What were the biggest challenges Henry faced when he became King?
- Dangerous nobles
- Variable Government
- Poor finances
Why was Henry’s coronation before his marriage to Elizabeth of York?
It proved that he had his own claim to the throne and that he wasnt using his wife’s lineage for his gain
Why was the marriage to Elizabeth of York so important?
Henry was the strongest Lancastrian heir and Elizabeth of York was yorkist, it covered both of the powerful houses
What made the nobility so dangerous when Henry came to power?
If they rose together they would easily overpower him. Also the public knew the nobility far better than they knew Henry, making them more loyal to the nobles
How was variable government an issue for Henry?
Because the Wars of the Roses continued for so long, different parts of the country had different laws making it difficult to make and pass policies that everyone would be happy with
Why was his royal progress important in April 1483?
Not many people knew who he was because he was in exile for so long and so this allowed his face to be shown to the public and he could show off his power
Where did Lambert Simnel go first to gain support?
Ireland
What major noble joins the Earl of Warwick’s rebellion and takes charge?
John de la Pole
Why was the Simnel rebellion unsuccessful?
- Henry paraded the real Earl of Warwick through London
Why was the Earl of Warwick’s rebellion unsuccessful?
- Henry paraded the real Earl of Warwick through London
- The rebellion didnt get much support in Yorkist land
-Henry had not been in power long and people didnt dislike him enough to rebel
What battle did Lambert Simnel’s rebellion take part in?
The battle of Stoke Field
What was Henry’s punishment for Lambert Simnel?
He was forced to work in the royal kitchens
Who did Perkin Warbeck claim to be?
The younger of the princes in the tower: Richard Duke of York
What were the two main differences between Lambert Simnel’s and Perkin Warbeck’s rebellions?
- Henry VII was able to parade the real Earl of Warwick around London which stopped it gaining much support, the same couldnt be done for the real prince in the tower
- Simnel’s rebellion lasted for a short time whereas Warbeck was over a far longer time period with 3 separate battles
How did Henry try and gain loyalty from the nobility?
He could either buy their support with rewards of lands or titles or show them the consequences of opposition
What were attainders?
Attainders were special laws to allow someone to be declared guilty of treason without a trial. Henry often offered the chance to revoke an attainder if loyalty was sworn to him.
What were retainers and why did Henry pass laws to get rid of them?
They were supposedly service staff but were actually gangs of forces and Henry didnt want nobles to build small armies or get too powerful
How did Henry control his nobles financially?
He forced nobles to behave themselves or leave them with a fine and demanded a financial bond from them
When did Henry date his reign as King from?
21st August 1485 - the day before the Battle of Bosworth
Why was it important that Henry had his coronation before his marriage to Elizabeth of York?
To prove he himself had a claim to the throne and that he was rightfully king and was not relying on his wife’s family
When was Henry VIIs marriage to Elizabeth of York?
18 Jan 1486
Why was Henry’s marriage to Elizabeth so major?
It was the first sign of a unified nation - Henry was a Lancastrian heir and Elizabeth was part of the House of York and it was a marriage that could mark the end of the Wars of the Roses
When did Henry go on his Royal Progress in the North?
April 1486
When was Prince Arthur born?
September 1486
How many nobles were there at the start of Henry’s reign compared to the end?
62…. it dropped to 42
How many acts of attainder were passed and how many were reversed?
138 were passed
46 were reversed
What does oridnary revenue refer to?
Money that was regularly collected each year for Henry VII
What does ordinary revenue refer to?
Money that was regularly collected each year for Henry VII
What does extraordinary revenue refer to?
Money which were one-off measures the King could use to raise finances
What changes did Henry VII make regarding ordinary revenue?
- Enforcing tax, control and ownership of crown lands
- Custom dues on wool, leather, wine
- Wardships
What were wardships?
Looking after young heirs and their lands until they were old enough to rule
How much did his revenue from crown lands increase by?
From £12,000 to £42,000
What was the population of France by 1500?
13 million
What was the population of England by 1500?
2.1 million
Who were the two French kings who ruled at the same time as Henry VII?
Charles VII
Louis XII
What was the Holy Roman Empire?
A collection of nations and cities under the leadership of one person - the emporor
What was the Holy Roman Empire?
A collection of nations and cities under the leadership of one person - the emperor
How did the Holy Roman Empire form?
After the Western Roman Empire fell in 400AD the Eastern empire had some autonomy and under a Frankish ruler in 800 (Charlemagne) they unified and he became the emperor
How many electors voted on who should be emperor?
7
(3 were Ecclesiastical, 4 were secular)
Which were the primary countries that the Holy Roman Empire covered?
Austria, Germany, Switzerland
What was the population of the Holy Roman Empire in 1500?
15 million
Why would France appear to be easier to rule than the HRE?
- It has a capital
- One language spoken in France, hundreds across the HRE
What were the main exports of France, England and the HRE?
France - very varied
England - wool
HRE - famous for its banking empires which leant large sums of money
What were two reasons why Henry avoided war in general?
- Hugely expensive and England was only just recovering economically
- Loss of life. England couldnt afford to lose thousands of young men
What were two reasons that Henry wanted to avoid war with France specifically?
- The Auld alliance meant that an invasion from Scotland was a large threat
- France was a superpower and far stronger than England
What were three reasons that Henry wanted to avoid war with France specifically?
- The Auld alliance meant that an invasion from Scotland was a large threat
- France was a superpower and far stronger than England
- Invading France would be unpopular as people just want peace from war
How did Henry bluff his way to victory against the French?
He sent a large army of 12,000 men into Brittany, hoping they would back down and he was right, they were more concerned about the disrupted isles of Italy
Why was the Breton Crisis such a success for Henry?
He accepted a pay-out of 50,000 crowns a year from France a promise that France would not support Perkin Warbeck
What was the treaty called that ended the Breton Crisis?
The Treaty of Etaples - 1492
Why might Henry have felt loyalty to brittany and extra keen to protect them?
He had spent 14 years in exile there
The east coast of England would be more at risk of an invasion if France absorbed them
What did Henry do to increase trade in the Meditteranean?
He initially increased trade with Florence and Pisa. This angered the Venetians to start with but when they realised they need the trade, they accepted trade of English wool
How did Henry made England’s trade more profitable in 1489?
He limited wool exports so that it could be turned into the more expensive cloth and then sold. By the end of his rule there was 30% less wool trade
What was Intercursus Magnus?
An agreement to trade freely with all parts of Burgundy apart from Flanders
How might Henry’s hopes for exploration have been unsuccessful?
He funded Jon Cabot’s exploration but he died on the way back and he also funded Sebastian Cabot’s trip which was more successful but came back to a new king who didn’t care about exploration
What system did Henry introduce instead of relying on the nobles?
A system of bureaucracy
What were the 3 functions of the council?
1 - To advise the King
2 - To administer the realm on the Kings behalf
3 - To make legal judgements
What were the two types of councillor?
“Professional Councillors” and Courtiers. Some who were there because of their ability and others were there because of their wealth
What was the council learned?
A body of the council, that was mostly responsible for the “shady” parts of the government. Originally founded by Brady, Empson and Dudley took over from them and became a feared partnership
Why were Empson and Dudley such an unpopular partnership?
They had the extraction of money to a fine art and angered many people
Why is it dangerous for a king if he allows nobles to rule on your behalf in different parts of the country?
The nobles could become very powerful and think that they could challenge the king’s authority. And the king had to keep these nobles happy
Why war releasing the Earl of Surrey such a risk in 1489?
He was a known supporter of Richard III and was asked to rule in the centre of his power. He proved to be an effective noble for 10 years
What evidence is there that Henry might not have trusted his nobles?
He employed a spying network to report on magnate performance and he also kept nobles under his control using bonds and recognisances
What two things affected your societal standing the most?
Land Ownership and Any Recognition from the King
When did Henry VII date his reign from and why?
21st August 1485
The day before the Battle of Bosworth
What was the renaissance?
A rebirth of learning, and a new interest in looking back to Ancient Greek and Roman teachings. It was massively impacted by the invention of the printing press
What was humanism?
A belief that it was possible to improve human knowledge and behaviour though education. Literature, architecture and discussion were valued
What evidence is there that humanism was present in England in Henry VII’s reign?
- Polydore vergil was commissioned to write a history of England
- Over 100 schools were set up
- Classics such as Greek were studied again
What did humanists say about the Church and the clergy in England?
They were hugely critical, they believed that the church had many exploitative practices and that exploitation led souls away from God, money should be spent on education not luxurious living
What was Henry VII’s character like?
Respected, Efficient, Intelligent but not popular
What was Henry VII’s attitude towards governing?
He understood court politics and only trusted a small number of people. He involved himself in everything and made sure to check all the account entries
What were Henry VII’s aims when he came to power?
- Establish his right to the throne
- Control the nobility
- Strengthen the Crown’s control
What 4 events did Henry VII do to consolidate his dynasty, in chronological order.
- Dated his reign to before the Battle of Bosworth
- His coronation
- Convened Parliament
- Married Elizabeth of York
When did Henry VII date his reign back to and why did he do this?
21 August 1485 - the day before the Battle of Bosworth. It allowed him to declare all the Yorkists as traitors, try them for treason and take their land
When was Henry VII’s coronation and why was this significant?
30th October 1485 - it was a highly symbolic event that annointed him by God’s grace and involved all the nobles taking an oath of loyalty
When did Henry VII convene Parliament and what was significant about when he chose to do this?
7th November 1485, he wanted to make sure he had been crowned to prove his power was individual and not reliant on Parliament
When did Henry VII marry Elizabeth of York and why was it an important marriage?
18th January 1486, significant as it united both houses and meant that a child would be a descendant of both families. Also was made deliberately after his coronation to prove he was King in his own right
Describe the threat of Lambert Simnel.
He pretended to be Edward, Earl of Warwick. He was welcomed in Ireland and crowned King of England there. A rebellion erupted led by John de la Pole, the Earl of Lincoln and the rebels were defeated at the Battle of Stoke in 1487. The rebellion was subdued as the real Earl of Warwick was paraded around London so Simnel was obviously a pretender. Several leading Yorkists were killed in the battle and Simnel was forced to work in the royal kitchens
Talk to me about the threat of Perkin Warbeck.
He pretended to be Richard, Duke of York who was the younger son of Edward VI ( and a prince in the tower ). Warbeck was welcomed in France until the Treaty of Etaples and later Burgundy. In 1497, Warbeck allied himself to James IV of Scotland. He landed in England to gather support but failed multiple times and had to launch several ‘invasions’. He was imprisoned in 1497 and executed in 1499
What did Henry VII use effectively to nullify the threat of Perkin Warbeck?
Foreign Alliances
Other than the two pretenders, who else posed a threat to Henry VII?
Edmund de la Pole
Talk to me about the threat of Edmund de la Pole.
He was a threat because he had a genuine claim to the throne and disliked Henry VII for losing land, paying a £5,000 fine and being demoted from Duke to Earl. He fled to the Holy Roman Empire in 1501. Henry arrested members of his family and friends. In 1506 Henry negotiated the handling over of Edmund from the HRE, promising not to execute him. He then stayed in the Tower of London until he was executed under Henry VIII in 1513
What was the chronology of the domestic threats to Henry VII?
- Lambert Simnel - Battle of Stoke in 1487 (early threat)
- Perkin Warbeck - a threat from 1491-1497, executed in 1499 (threat in middle of the reign)
- Edmund de la Pole - had fled to HRE in 1501 and was imprisoned in England from 1506 (threat by the end of his reign)
What did the Royal Council do?
Advised Henry and helped him with day-to-day government.
227 men were listed as members, but a much smaller group met
Who were important councillors in the Royal Council?(Henry VII)
John Morton and Reginald Bray
What did the Council Learned in Law do?
Pursued Henry’s feudal rights - the various financial payments and soldiers that were owed to the monarch in return for the land he owned and distributed. Some of the rights that would be investigated were old and had lapsed
They also enforced bonds and recognisances
Was the Council Learned in Law effective?
- Yes: increased Crown revenue and kept nobles under scrutiny
- No:it was massively unpopular
Where did Henry VII regionally have a much stronger hold over?
The south and east of England
How did Henry VII apply regional government?
He recognised that he needed the co-operation of local noblemen who were more popular than him. He allowed for different systems of government for different regions - variable government
What evidence is there of Henry VII using variable government?
- Wales was controlled by a Council of Wales
- Henry often relied on JPs ( Justices of the Peace ) to maintain order
What was the Privy Chamber?
A council based in Henry’s private rooms, it saw to Henry’s personal needs and had good access to him. The staff were able to influence the King’s decisions. It was staffed by lower ranking members and not the nobility
How did the importance of the Privy Chamber vary under Henry VII’s reign?
He relied on it more after the treason of William Stanley in 1495
How did Parliament help Henry VII consolidate his power?
- Passed Acts of Attainder against those who fought against Henry.
- Passed the Act of Resumption in 1486 which returned all crown lands from before the Wars of the Roses back to Henry
What could only be done by Parliament and when was this done?
Only Parliament could allow extra taxation and this was done for Henry’s foreign policy for the Breton Crisis.
How did the dependence of Parliament change under Henry VII’s reign?
As the Crown got wealthier, it became less dependent on Parliament
How did Parliament strengthen law and order under Henry VII?
- The Star Chamber was established in 1487
- Laws were passed to give JPs more power
- Acts of Attainder
When did Henry VII rely on Parliment?
Only when necessary as Statute laws passed by Parliament were stronger than royal proclamations and were used to enforce important, unpopular policies
What did the Court of Chancery do?
Heard cases on feudal land disputes and complaints about mistakes of the Crown. Sometimes these mistakes were acknowledged and compensation was given if needed. But the Council Learned in Law became far more powerful where feudal dues were concerned
What did the Star Chamber do and when was it created?
Created in the Star Chamber Act 1487, the Star Chamber prosecuted riots,rebellions, retaining and the corruption of justice
What was the reaction to the Star Chamber by the upper classes?
It undermined Henry’s reputation for justice
What were bonds and recognisances?
Payments made to guarantee good behaviour
Who were bonds and recognisances usually applied to?
Members of the nobility whose loyalty was uncertain
Who enforced bonds and recognisances?
The Council Learned in Law
What were JPs responsible for?
The implementation of laws, government and public order
How may JPs were there per county?
about 18
What could JPs do?
Their power grew under Henry’s reign, from 1487 they could grant bail to people awaiting trial and from 1495 they could vet juries and replace jury members who were suspected of bribery
What were 4 methods in which Henry VII tried to restore law and order which had been weakened over the Wars of the Roses?
- The Court of Chancery
- The Star Chamber
- Bonds and recognisances
- JPs
What ordinary revenues did Henry VII have?
- Customs duties - tax on products from abroad
- Profits of justice such as fines or fees for legal documents
- Feudal Dues: relief (tax paid when inheriting land), wardships (control of the land and revenue of underage heirs) and livery (paid by wards when they were old enough to take control of their land)
- Rent and sale of crops from Crown lands
How did Henry VII increase Crown lands (to therefore increase ordinary revenue) ?
He used the 1486 Act of Resumption and Acts of Attainder. The Acts of Attainder were never fully reversed as he always kept some land.
He also didnt really give much land away to family or friends
Other than increasing Crown land, how did Henry VII increase ordinary revenues?
- Improved the management of Crown estates
- Council Learned persued feudal dues and bonds and recognisances
What extraordinary revenues did Henry VII have?
- Bonds and recognisances
- Loans and Benevolences
- Feudal dues on specific occasions
- Special taxes agreed by Parliament for specific needs
How did Henry VII increase extraordinary revenues?
- Council learned in law enforcing long-forgotten feudal dues and bonds and recognisances
What did Henry VII introduce to investigate wardships?
the Surveyor of the King’s Wards
How did Henry VII personally improve financial administration?
He used the chamber system more than the Exechequer because it was more efficient and gave him more control. He also kept a close eye on royal accounts, checking every entry
What was introduced to monitor wider government spending?
The Court of Audit
What was passed in 1485 to promote trade and what did they do?
The 1485 Navigation Acts - no English merchants were allowed to use foreign ships if an Englishg one was available, boosting English shipping
How did Henry VII promote trade in the Meditteranean?
He cut exports of wool to Venice (who was taxing them heavily) in 1490, but increased them to their rivals, Florence which forced Venice to cut their taxes
How much did cloth exports increase by under Henry VII?
60%
How much did English wool exports decrease by under Henry VII?
30%
How did Henry VII move away from the wool trade?
In 1489, the export of raw English wool was limited so instead they could sell cloth which was more profitable
What did Henry sign in 1496?
The Intercursus Magnus - allowing free trade with all of Burgundy except Flanders
How did Henry VII respond to retaining?
He cracked down on it, acts were passed against livery and mintenance and he fined nobles heavily if they were caught illegally retaining
What was Henry VII’s relationship with Burgundy?
The two nations weren’t close at the start of Henry’s reign as Richard III’s sister, Margaret of Burgundy hated Henry VII and was very influential. She suuported Perkin Warbeck until 1496 when the Intercursus Magnus was signed
What and when did Henry VII sign with Spain?
The Medina del Campo in 1489
What did the Medina del Campo agree?
- Spain and England would not make treaties with France without checking with each other first
- There would be equal trading rights for each other’s merchants
- Prince Arthur would marry Catherine of Aragon to cement the alliance
What was the Breton Crisis?
France had invaded Brittany in 1489, where henry VII had sheltered for 18 years. In response, Henry took a gamble and sent 26,000 troops and alid seige to Boulogne. The French quickly cut a deal and the crisis was ended in November 1492 with the Treaty of Etaples
What did the Treaty of Etaples agree?
- The French would keep Brittany, but in return they would end any support for Perkin Warbeck
- The French would pay up a huge sum to Henry providing him wih a pension of £5,000 a year – about 5% of the king’s annual income.
What did England join in 1496?
The Holy League
WHen did Scotland and England make a truce?
1486
What happened between Scotland and England in 1496-97?
Perkin Warbeck was welcomed by James IV and they then disastrously invaded England
What treaty was signed with Scotland in the late 1490s?
The Truce of Ayton in 1497 which became the Treaty of Perpetual peace in 1502
What was agreed with Scotland in 1503?
A marriage alliance between Henry’s daughter, Margaret and James IV
When did Arthur marry Catherine of Aragon?
1501
Who was Mary, henry VII’s daughter betrothed to?
Charles of Burgundy in 1507 but it was called off in 1513
What happened in 1502 which threatened Henry VII’s dynasty?
Arthur died
What had led relations with Spain turning sour by the end of Henry VII’s reign?
After Arthur died, the marriage alliance between him and Catherine of Aragon was off but Henry VII would not let Catherine of Aragon return to Spain as he looked for alternative options for Henry his son to marry
How did Henry VII maintain order over different regions?
he established councils such as: the Council of the North, the Council of Wales and the Council of Ireland
What was the effectiveness of Henry VII’s regional governement?
The councils that were implemented were often unpopular and the King’s authority was still quite varied over different regions but he had strengthened the control massively
What was the Yorkshire Rebellion?
In 1489 Henry raised taxes in Northern England to support Brittany in the Breton Crisis. But it was particularly badly recieved in Yorkshire. The King’s tax collecctor, the Earl of Northumberland put the case to Henry but when he returned to Yorkshire having been rejected, he was murdered. Rebellion broke out, led by Sir John Egremont but the rebels were quickly defeated by the Earl of Surrey’s forces
How did Henry VII react to the Yorkshire rebellion?
He pardoned most of the rebels and didn’t raise another tax in the North
What was the Cornish Rebellion?
In 1497 Henry raised taxes in the South to pay to defend England’s northern border from Scotland and Perkin Warbeck. A rebellion erupted and the rebels reached Blackheath, near London before being defeated in battle in June.
What did Spain discover in 1492?
The New World - which allowed them to develop rich colonies
How did Henry VII encourage exploration?
He funded the Cabots to explore America and they found Newfoundland but one never returned and the next one came back to an uninterest King in Henry VIII
What was the religious demographic of England under Henry VII?
Catholicism was dominant and the Church was popular and central to daily life
What was Lollardy?
An alternative branch of Christianity which challenged Catholicism in England. The Roman Catholic Church condemned it as heresy, some consider it a predecessor to Protesantism
What problems were faced by the Catholic Church under Henry VII?
- Absenteeism - some priests rearely visited their parishes
- Pluralism - some clergy had multiple positions in the Church
- Simony - selling posotions in the Church for money
- Quality of the clergy, poorly educated, not observing vows
What was humanism?
An intellectual movement that focussed on the potential of mankind and believed knowledge and education could improve the power of mankind
How did humanism impact religion?
Humanists criticised the low levels of education in the Church and laity. They also accused the Church of corruption. Their ideas were important but the Catholic Church was still very strong and no changes were made
Why did Humanism rise under Henry VII?
He encouraged a cultural renaissance in England meaning scholars from Italy would come at teach at English universities like Oxford and Cambridge
What did Erasmus, a key Humanist, write?
“The Praise of Folie”
“On the Freedom of the Will”
What invention was starting to influence society by the end of Henry VII’s reign?
The Printing Press
