Henry VII Flashcards
What were Henry VII’s priorities?
Sort out other claimants Have many heirs End wars of the roses Get involved in Europe ( Spain, France, Scotland, the pope) Nobility Retainers Law and order Financially secure (land) Pass on the throne
When was Henry crowned king?
Oct 1485
How did Henry VII become king?
Defeated Richard III at the battle of bosworth
Why was there so much unrest in the early years of Henry’s rule?
He had a weak claim to the throne
Why was Henry’s claim to the throne weak? (2)
He gained the throne only through battle, killing the previous king, Richard III
His claim was weak through his mother, Margaret Beaufort, who was a descendant of Edward III by the marriage of his third son, duke of Lancaster, to Catherine swynford. However the children were born when Catherine was a mistress of the duke of Lancaster.
His claim was to be challenged by Yorkists who saw their king killed at bosworth
How did Henry attempt to secure his position?
He dated the start of his reign a day before bosworth meaning anyone who fought against him was a traitor and their estates would be seized, which added to the Kings wealth
He arranged his coronation for 30 October, which was before parliament met, so that he could not be claimed that he was only king because of parliament
Henry asked for papal dispensation to allow him to marry Elizabeth of York, a distant cousin, to unite the Yorkists and Lancastrians. He married her after he was crowned so it could not be claimed that he owed the crown to his wife
How Henry’s actions to score his throne didn’t mean his position was secure?
Although the wars of the roses had killed many who had a better claim to the throne, there were still some Yorkists with at least the same strength claim.
The most important of these Yorkist claimants were two of Richard iii’s nephews, Edward (earl of Warwick) and John de la pole ( earl of Lincoln). Warwick was sent to the tower but Lincoln professed loyalty and was invited to join the Kings council.
Henry gave those who still supported Richard at bosworth a second chance
Earl of Surrey was kept in prison until 1489 but duke of Northumberland was released at end of 1485
How was Henry’s position weakened by his years in exile?
He spent 14 years in exile in France after the Lancastrian defeat in Tewkesbury, when he won at Bosworth he was largely unknown in England. People thought his weak claim and lack of knowledge of the country meant his reign was not going to last
Advantages to Henry as a king?
It could be argued the country was weary of war and would cup port a king who could offer peace and stability, even if his claim was weak.
Christine carpenter argued that not only was Henry replacing an unpopular king, but a dead one.
Henry, unlike Edward IV, had not been dependent upon a powerful noble to make him king and therefore was not beholden to another noble family.
How serious a threat was the Yorkist challenge to Henry’s rule?
Was serious because Margaret of burgundy, sister of Edward III and Richard III, offered safe haven for Yorkist exiles and was willing to fund enterprises and provide mercenaries to fight against the Tudor state.
Suitable candidates who could impersonate one of the Yorkist ‘princes in the tower’ were found which resulted in the warbeck and simnel affair
Although it is unlikely that the supporters of the pretenders ever gen believed they were who they claimed, they still gained support from Yorkist supporters and also foreign powers who wants to destabilise the country
When was the simnel rebellion?
1486-87
When was the warbeck rebellion?
1491-99
Explain the lambert simnel affair…
Lambert simnel claimed to be the earl of Warwick, it was a serious threat as it came within a year of Henry seizing the throne.
Simnel raised support, first in the Yorkist stronghold of Oxford and then in Ireland where he was crowned Edward VI. He also received support from Margaret of burgundy who sent money and a force of 2000 mercenaries.
Although the conspiracy began in 1486, Henry was not aware of it until 1487, indicating his vulnerable position. Fearful of the support the rebellion might gain in England, Henry offered the rebels a pardon and also paraded the real earl of Warwick in London to show simnel was an imposter.
However the rebellion continued which became more dangerous as another Yorkist joined, the earl of Lincoln.
The simnel rising became more dangerous in June when the rebels landed in Lancaster and marched South, it failed to gain widespread support maybe because ordinary people were fed up of the chaos of the wars of the roses or because they disliked the Irish force which accompanied it and its reputation for brutality
The rebel army faced Henry at Stoke, Henry won.
Explain the warbeck rising…
S.B Chrimes : ‘it is likely that warbeck a arrival in Ireland 1491 was not an accident, but a result of the plan in which Charles VIII of France and Margaret of burgundy were involved.
The international dimension of plot was dangerous as Henry’s relations with Scotland and France were poor. Both countries could use warbeck to undermine the Kings position and exert diplomatic pressure on him not to become too anti-French over their wish to Annex Brittany.
Lincoln appeared in the Yorkist stronghold of Ireland and claimed to be Richard, duke of York. This claim added to Henry’s difficulties as he could not parade the real Richard as he was already dead.
Warbeck was unable to gain large scale support, but was welcomed at French court where he was joined by 100 Yorkist supporters. The signing of treaty of etaples between France and England 1492 forced warbeck to move to Flanders where he was supported by Margaret. In response, Henry broke off the lucrative cloth trade, showing his concern as he sacrificed a considerable income.
Warbeck gained support of holy roman emperor, Maximilian, who recognised him as Richard III. However Maximilian lacked financial resources to support warbecks plans and with France more concerned about Italy, Henry was able to act without fear of European intervention.
Henry passed series of attainders against those implicated in the plot. One of those implicated was sir William Stanley, Lord chamberlain of the Kings household who helped Henry at bosworth meaning the conspiracy went right to the heart of Henry’s court.
1498, Henry put warbeck in the tower.
What does the warbeck rising indicate?
As the rising was never able to force Henry into a pitched battle, unlike simnel, it indicated that his position was much more secure than in 1487.
The rising also indicated the desperate situation the Yorkists were in that they were willing to support a pretender.
However it was an expensive nuisance and embarrassment as the king had been unable to catch warbeck
