Henry VII Flashcards
What is H7’s maternal claim to the throne
Mum (Margaret Beaufort) grand-daughter of Edward III
Why is a maternal claim weak?
through female line & father (John of Gaunt) had children bastardised for being out of wedlock
What is H7’s paternal claim to the throne
Owen Tudor ( paternal grandfather) was the second husband to Henry V’s ex
What were H7’s aims coming into power
- Remain king and establish his dynasty
- keep out of foreign affairs as are $$$ and might challenge his dynasty
- establish effective gov.
- maintain law and order
- control the nobility
- secure the crown’s finances
How H7 established authority after Battle of Bosworth - Elizabeth of York
Put her and Earl of Warwick in tower to prevent rebellion and from marrying a Yorkist
Married her after coronation (January 1486)
Gave birth to Arthur - embodiment of the Tudor Rose (22nd September 1489)
How H7 established authority after Battle of Bosworth - Coronation
Took place before 1st Parliament to show legitimacy from God not Parliament (divine right of Kings)
Coronation - 30th October
Parliament - 7th November
How H7 established authority after Battle of Bosworth - backdated
Officially backdated Battle of Bosworth to 21st August so anyone fighting for Richard could be called a traitor
How H7 established authority after Battle of Bosworth - patronage
gave out 11 knighthoods
made key appointments e.g. Sir William Stanley to Lord Chamberlain of the Household
Dynastic ambition and political opposition was a reason for rebellion
Lovell and Stafford rising 1485-6
Simnel and Warbeck
Taxes/ demands for money was a reason for rebellion
Yorkshire Rebellion 1489 - funding for Brittany/France
Cornish Rebellion 1497 - funding for Scotland
Foreign support to remove H7 was a reason for rebellion - Burgundy
Margaret of Burgundy - supported pretenders e.g. recognised PW as rightful King in 1490
Foreign support to remove H7 was a reason for rebellion - Ireland
Ireland supported pretenders e.g. Simnell proclaimed King in 1487
Foreign support to remove H7 was a reason for rebellion - France
France - Charles 8 supported Warbeck
Foreign support to remove H7 was a reason for rebellion - HRE
Holy Roman Empire - Maximilian I persuaded PW to try invade England (failed 1495)
Foreign support to remove H7 was a reason for rebellion - Scotland
James 4 allowed PW to take refuge and marry his cousin, September 1496 tried to invade ENG but failed - lost all support
Claiming to have a better claim to the throne was a reason for rebellion
Simnel - Earl of Warwick
Warbeck - Richard, Duke of York (Princes in the tower)
H7 controlled nobility with attacks on retaining
1485 - Lords and Commons had to swear oath they wouldn’t illegally retain
1504 - Nobles had to get a special licence from King and if didn’t were fined £5/retainer/month
Lord Burgavenny fined £70,000 in 1507 for illegally retaining 471 men - put under bond of £5000 for 10yrs
H7 controlled nobility through Act of Attainders
138 passed - 51 in last 5 yrs of reign
41 reversed
Sir Thomas Tyrell had to pay £1738 to reverse his and his Dad’s attainders
H7 controlled nobility through patronage
rare for him to give titles - Edward 4 created 9 earls and H7 only 3
titles meant reducing crown income as less crown lands
Influence of Churchman John Morton
ABofC in 1486 (had worked hard against R3) and Cardinal in 1493
Important for ‘Morton’s Fork’ - exploited by tax commissioners as ‘The rich were told that they could afford to contribute, and the poor were accused of having concealed wealth’
Influence of Richard Empson
member of King’s council from 1494
chaired Council Learned in Law and associated with ruthlessness of H7’s reign
executed immediately under H8
Influence of Edmund Dudley
came in after Reginald Bray death in 1503 (SAME YEAR AS ELIZABETH OF YORK DIES) and exploited financial opportunities with Council Learned with increasing ruthlessness
executed immediately under H8
Functions of King’s council
- advise the king
- administer the realm on the King’s behalf (collect taxes)
- make legal judgements
Extent of Council’s influence
227 men recorded as attendees BUT H7 only rlly listened to 6/7
Mum (Margaret Beaufort) often seen as most influential
Council had no established rules or procedures
Professional councillors that weren’t courtiers often met separately without King e.g. Empson and Dudley
Meaning of personal monarchy
Political power and influence of a person depends upon their relationship with the King
Why was the privy chamber introduced?
Sir William Stanley (Lord Chancellor) betrayed him with PW in 1495