Henry VII Flashcards
1
Q
Who did Henry’s claim for the throne come from?
A
John Gaunt
2
Q
Why was Richard III unpopular?
A
He imprisoned the two prince’s who mysteriously disappeared
3
Q
Where did Henry flee to during his childhood and who with?
A
Brittany with his step uncle Jasper Tudor
4
Q
What country was Hwnry kept in as a political pawn? What did he do here?
A
Brittany
Spent time hanging around the Dukes court
5
Q
Why did Henry’s claim become stronger in 1471?
A
Henry VI and Edward, Prince of Wales die (only other two direct descendants from John Gaunt)
6
Q
When was the Battle of Bosworth?
A
22nd August 1485
7
Q
Who was Richard III’s Predecessor?
A
Edward IV who married a widow instead of his arranged marriage. This lead to Richard claiming his two sons had illegitimate claims
8
Q
Who supported Henry in seizing the crown?
A
Earl of Oxford (a loyal Lancastrian and experienced war leader)
Jasper Tudor (his uncle)
9
Q
Where did Henry land when he set sail to claim the throne? Who supported him there?
A
Wales
Rhys ap Thomas (one of the most powerful men in Wales)
10
Q
Who arrived first at Bosworth?
A
Richard III
11
Q
Who initially supported Richard but switched sides during the Battle of Bosworth?
A
Thomas and William Stanley
12
Q
What were 4 important demographics in 1485?
A
Total population was 3 million
90% lived in rural communities
Larger Settlemets were not evenly distributed across the country
The largest city was London with a population of 60,000
13
Q
What was enclosure? Was it common during Henry’s reign?
A
Free land was fenced off to mass produce one type of crop or rear livestock
<3% of land enclosed during his reign
14
Q
What was engrossing?
A
The joining together of several farms to make one unit. It was often one farmer buying land off another
15
Q
What was England’s major industry? How much of England’s exports did it account for?
A
Cloth industry
Nearly 80%
16
Q
How many nobles were there?
A
Just over 50
17
Q
Why was Henry different to other monarchs when granting titles?
A
He tried to avoid it where possible
18
Q
Which church men are involved with the government?
A
Archbishops and some bishops
19
Q
What is bastard feudalism?
A
Nobles give annuities to knights instead of land grants
This was often abused as the nobles would employ lots of knights and use them to threaten locals.
20
Q
Why was bastard feudalism good/bad for the King?
A
Good - armies could be raised quickly
Bad - it would allow nobles to create large affinities that threaten him
21
Q
Why was the church an important ally for parliament? (3 things)
A
Owned a third of the land
Had considerable wealth
Highly influential
22
Q
What were the 7 essential sacraments and what do they mean?
A
The Eucharist (commemoration of last supper)
Baptism
Holy Orders (granting the status of priest to someone)
Confirmation (confirming they accepted God’s spirit)
Marriage
Confession leading to Penance
Unction (anointing of the sick)
23
Q
Why was the Church important in communities?
A
Led to a collective purpose as people would maintain it and celebrate Holy days together (St George’s Day and May Day)
24
Q
What were two common types of corruption in the church?
A
Priests claiming their stipend even when absent from their parish
Some were pluralists
25
Why were government advisers often clergymen?
They were well educated and literate
26
What were guilds and confraternities?
Voluntary associations of normal people who promote Christianity
27
What was an erastian belief?
The belief that the State should have authority over the Church
28
What is transubstantiation?
Bread and wine had completely changed into the substance of Christ's body and blood
29
What are the definitions of diocese and chantries?
Diocese - an area under the care of a Bishop
Chantries - Chapels where masses for the Dead took place
30
Who were the Lollards?
Proto-protestant, Christian religion
Founded by John Wycliffe
Favoured English translation of the Bible
Sceptical about transubstantiation
31
What is anticlericalism?
Opposition to the non-secular role of the Church. Assumed to have been widespread but some historians claim it was rare
32
What 6 things did Henry do to consolidate power?
Dated reign as starting from 21st August 1485
Detained Earl of Warwick
Made appointments to his council
His coronation took place before first meeting of parliament
Parliamentary Acts of Attainder against York Yorkists who fought against him
Married Elizabeth of York
33
Who was Margaret of Burgundy and why was she a threat?
Sister of Richard III
Encouraged Yorkist claimants
Had access to significant funds
34
What was significant about the uprising of Viscount Lovell and the Staffords? When was it?
Very little enthusiasm from traditionally Yorksist areas
1486
35
Who did Lambert Simnel claim to be? Who's idea was it?
Claimed to be Earl of Warwick
John de la Pole (Earl of Lincoln)
36
What foreign support did Simnel have?
Margaret of Burgundy - sent mercenaries
Earl of Kildare (powerful Irish leader) - crowned him King Edward
37
What Battle did Simnels actions lead to?
The Battle of Stoke Field 1487
38
Why was Stoke Field significant? (3 things)
Last Battle of the Wars of the Roses
Showed he could trust Earl Oxford
Won over more Yorkists due to his mild treatment of Simnel (he gave him an appointment as a kitchen boy)
39
Who was posing as Richard, Duke of York? How long was he a nuisance for?
Warbeck
8 years (1491 - 1499)
40
Who supported Warbeck?
King Charles France - didn't last long as Henry signed an agreement with him
Margaret of Burgundy
James IV Scotland - didn't last long as Henry agreed to let his daughter marry James
William Stanley (Lord Chamberlain)
41
How was the Warbeck imposter stopped?
He made one final attempt for the crown during the Cornish rebellion but his forces were crushed. After a failed escape with the Earl or Warwick, they were both tried and executed
42
What happened to Edmund de la Pole (Earl of Suffolk) and his brother?
Edmund - fled to Flanders in 1498 then fled to the court of Maximilliam in 1501. The Treaty of Windsor in 1506 led to Maximillian giving up Suffolk to England
Richard - killed whilst fighting for France in 1525
43
What are the rights/powers the monarch can exercise without approval from parliament?
Prerogative Rights
44
What is bureaucrat?
And official person in government who is concerned with political correctness at the expense of others
45
What is a magnate?
A member of the nobility
46
What were the three main functions of the council?
Advise the King
Administer the realm
Make legal judgements
47
What are the three main types of councillor?
Nobles
Church men
Skilled administrators/lawyers
48
What was the significance of the Council Learned? (4 things)
Very ruthless
Led by Empson and Dudley after Brays death
Maintained the King's revenue and exploited his prerogative rights
Sometimes seen as a shady operation as it wasn't a recognised court of law
49
What was the Great Council?
A meeting of the House of Lords without the House of Commons. No clearly defined function
50
What were the 2 main roles of parliament?
Pass laws
Grant taxation
51
How many parliaments did Henry hold during his reign?
7 (5 during the first 10 years)
52
What did the power/influence of an individual rely on?
The relationship they had with the monarch
53
What was the Star Chamber?
A court of law made up of the royal council that could bring even the most powerful nobles to trial
54
Who was John Morton?
A highly respected churchman/lawyer who served on the council. He became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1486
55
Who was Sir Reginald Bray?
A faithful friend of Henry who supported him even before Bosworth. He led the Council Learned in Law and became the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
56
Who were Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley?
They chaired the Council Learned together (Dudley joined after Brays death) and became increasingly ruthless in extracting money for the King
57
Who was William Stanley?
Henry VII's step-uncle who became Lord Chamberlain after Bosworth. He had significant political influence but he allied with Warbeck and was executed in 1495
58
Who was Margaret Beaufort?
Henry VII's mother, who remained an important unofficial adviser to the King
59
What were Henry's 3 main problems?
Nobles - their wealth and power made them potential rivals to the Crown
Uneven Control - the Crown had stronger control over more populated areas in the south and east but looser control in the borderlands
Poor finances
60
Who were Justices of the Peace (JP's)?
These were local gentry (who relied on the King for resources unlike the nobility). Henry relied on these at the local level to maintain public order by implementing laws and dispensing justice
61
What laws were passed to increase the power of the JP's?
1485 - powers of arrest extended to hunters/poachers
1491 - powers to grant bail
1495 - powers to vet juries
62
What was land along the English-Welsh border known as?
Marches
63
Who was on the Welsh council?
Welsh nobles who were led by Jasper Tudor and the honorary leadership of Prince Arthur
64
What were the two main rebellions? When were they? What happened?
The Yorkshire Rebellion - 1489 - triggered by the need to finance forces in Brittany. Duke of Northumberland killed by the rebels.
The Cornish Rebellion - 1497 - triggered by the need to finance the campaign against Scotland. Henry was forced to withdraw forces from the Scottish border. Very alarming for Henry
65
What were attainders?
Special laws that proved someone guilty without trial. They were used to seize the titles and possessions of nobles suspected as disloyal.
66
How many attainders were passed during his reign?
138 passed and 46 reversed
67
What were the two laws against illegal retaining and when were they passed?
1485 - members of parliament swore not to retain illegally
1504 - nobles had to obtain special licences to retain large numbers of men (fines of £5 per month per illegal retainer)
68
What was one of the main ways in which Henry's reign was different from those that ruled before him?
He largely abandoned the idea of patronage as he didn't want a large group of nobles to rebel against him. This caused the number of nobles to fall by about 25%
69
What was a financial bond?
A noble would be placed in debt to the crown to ensure loyalty. If they weren't loyal, they'd face a ruinous fine
70
What proportion of the nobility was held under bonds?
2 thirds
71
What were the 6 ways that Henry earnt money?
- crown lands
- profits from feudal dues
- customs revenue
- pensions from other powers
- profits from justice (law courts)
- extraordinary revenue
72
When did Henry take control of his own finances?
1487
73
Was Henry a miser?
No. He used very normal means of gaining money, but he was just very efficient
74
When did Henry become obsessed with gaining wealth?
After the death of Prince Arthur (1502) and Elizabeth (1503)
75
What was England's annual revenue like compared to other countries in Europe?
England - £113,000 (similar to the 14th/15th century)
France - £800,000
HRE - £1,100,000
76
What were the 5 key points of his extraordinary revenue?
- Bonds and Recognisances
- Loans/benevolences
- Feudal Dues (single extraordinary occasions
- Clerical Taxes
- Parliamentary Taxes
77
What were the 4 key points of ordinary revenue?
- Crown Lands
- Feudal Dues
- Customs Duties
- Legal Dues
78
What was the purpose of parliamentary taxes?
Usually used to finance military action
79
What marriage led to the creation of a new power in Spain?
Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon
80
What were Henry's 3 main aims regarding foreign policy?
- Security
- Recognition
- Prosperity
81
What happened with Brittany and France?
- in 1487, Francis II died, leaving Anne as his only heir. This gave France the opportunity they needed to invade Brittany
- 1489 - The Treaty of Redon stated that Anne would pay for a small English force (3000 to 6000) to protect her borders
- 1491 - Maximilian married Anne by proxy
- 1492 - Anne's marriage was annulled and she married Charles VIII, surrendering Brittany
- 1492 - Warbeck was given protection by France
- Henry launched an invasion (ensured that France was more interested in Italy)
- 1492 - The Treaty of Etaples - Charles would no longer assist pretenders and he would pay Henry a pension of £745,000
82
What was the Medina del Campo? When was it?
A Treaty between England and Spain.
They agreed to offer mutual protection, not harbour rebels and have a marriage between Catherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur
1489
83
What were the problems with the Medina del Campo?
Ferdinand was reluctant for the marriage to go ahead while Warbeck still threatened Henry and the two monarchs argued over the size of Catherine's dowry. When Arthur died, Henry proposed she should marry Prince Henry but Ferdinand had little need for an English alliance
84
What were the main events with Burgundy?
- Henry put an embargo on all trade to Burgundy to try and stop their support of Warbeck
- the Magnus Intercursus restored normal trading links
85
What was the Castilian Succession crisis?
Ferdinand was only king in Aragon and Isabellas will stipulated that Juana (their eldest) would inherit the larger, more important territory of Castile
86
Who did Juana marry? What did this mean for Castile?
Philip of Burgundy
Castile would be absorbed into the Hasburg Empire
87
When was the Treaty of Windsor? What was it?
1506
It proposed the Incursus Malus (trade between England/Burgundy), the return of the Earl of Suffolk (edmund de la pole), a proposed marriage between Henry VII and Philps sister, Archduchess Margaret and Henry's recognition of Philip and Juana as the rulers of Castile
88
What happened when Philip died?
Ferdinand became regent of Castile.
Ferdinand ensured that Catherine would never marry Prince Henry during Henry VII's reign
89
What happened with Scotland?
- 1495/96 - James IV offered hospitality to Warbeck
- 1496 - James encouraged Warbeck to invade England. Henry raised a larger army and invaded Scotland
- 1497 - Cornish Rebellion and the Treaty of Ayton
- 1502 - Treaty of Perpetual Peace
- 1503 - agreed that James should marry Margaret (Henry's daughter)
90
What happened with Ireland?
- 1486 - Kildare supported Simnel
- Henry gave control of the pale to an Englishman instead of Irish asristocrats
- he appointed his infant son, Henry, as lieutenant and Sir Edward Poynings as his deputy
- Poundings was initially successful but became too expensive
- Kildare decided to abandoned his Yorkist cause in 1495 and support Henry loyally
91
What was the Pale?
The area in Ireland that Henry had control over
92
Why was Henry sidelined?
The other countries became more focused on Italy
93
What was the League of Cambrai?
Louis XII (France), Ferdinand (Spain), Archduke Charles (Burgundy), Maximilian (HRE) and the Pope formed an alliance against Venice
94
When were the Navigation Acts? What were they?
1485-86
Encouraged the use of English ships to carry goods instead of foreign ships
95
How much more cloth was being exported in 1509 compared to the beginning of his reign?
60%
96
How did Venice try to stop him trading with Florence? How did Henry overcome this?
Imposed heavy tariffs on all English goods entering Ventian ports
He signed a Treaty that allowed English wool to be imported at Pisa (Florence) and restricted sales to Venice
