Henry VII Flashcards
Essay plan for assess the career of one historical figure. Why should they be remembered?
Introduction: Henry VII Military success Political expertise Control of nobility Eradicating opponents Forging foreign alliances Conclusion
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Introduction paragraph for: assess the career of one historical figure. Why should they be remembered?
The career of the historical figure I’m going to discuss is Henry VII.
Henry should be remembered for restoring England to peace and stability after several war-torn decades, known now as the Wars of the Roses.
However, his success was not assured from the start. He had a weak claim to the throne of England and had spent over half his life in exile in the French court.
This makes the length and stability of his rule a remarkable achievement.
His reforms in government paved the way for a new and more powerful monarchy which increased England’s power in Europe.
In the end, Henry’s exceptionally well organised rule allowed him to pass on the throne peacefully after 24 years to his son, Henry Tudor.
Where did Henry land in Britain to avoid discovery by his enemies?
He cleverly landed in Pembroke in Wales to avoid immediate detection by Richard III.
What battle did Henry win against Richard III to take the crown?
On 22 August 1485 Henry won the battle of Bosworth.
What clever tactics did Henry employ to surprise the Yorkists (his enemies) at the battle of Bosworth?
Henry’s forces were outnumbered three to one by Richard’s force of 15,000 men. However, Henry’s step father, Sir William Stanley, brought in 6,500 troops on Henry’s side in mid-battle, to surprise the Yorkists.
This was probably arranged between Henry and Sir William in advance and shows Henry understood strategy and tactics on the battlefield.
Did Henry manage to keep control after rebellions?
Henry faced two tax rebellions in 1489 and 1497 which were quickly and successfully defeated by Henry’s royal forces.
How was Henry’s rule different from the preceding 30 years?
Henry effective military leadership and battle strategy ensured that peace was established and maintained in his reign.
This marked a significant departure from the bloody decades which preceded Henry’s coronation, and previous rulers’ inability to end the Wars of the Roses.
What action when Henry came to power demonstrates his astute political judgment that made sure the friction between houses of York and Lancaster was diminished?
He married Elizabeth of York, the daughter of Edward IV.
This successfully united the Lancastrian and Yorkist factions in the English nobility, and firmly placed Henry at their head.
Did Henry have a strong claim to the throne?
No, his claim to the throne was weak, his mother Margaret Beaufort was great grand-daughter of John of Gaunt, son of Edward III.
What changes did Henry make that reduced the power of the nobility?
In his reign, Henry reorganised the Court of Star Chamber and increased its power to deal with cases of rebellion.
In addition, he limited retaining (keeping of private armies). Although the private armies of nobles could be useful to a King as he could call upon them, they could also be dangerous, since it allowed nobles to raise forces against the monarch. Henry had witnessed this first hand at the Battle of Bosworth.
Additionally, Henry took away the right of nobles to attend the Council.
Increasingly Henry used lesser nobility and educated men from the growing classes of professionals and merchants to help him run his government rather than nobles.
What effects did Henry’s type of rule have on royal power?
Henry restored Royal power in England, and paved the way for future monarchs, such as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, to further increase the authority of central government.
Henry should be remembered for the development of a more efficient and bureaucratic form of government.
Which 2 pretenders to the throne tried to threaten Henry?
- Lambert Simnel. He claimed to be the Earl of Warwick who had a strong claim to the throne as Richard III’s nephew. So, he travelled to Ireland where he was crowned king of England. Henry had great control over his nobles, because we see that virtually no nobles supported Simnel’s cause.
- Perkin Warbeck. He claimed to be Prince Richard, one of the two princes who had probably been murdered in the Tower of London by Richard III. Warbeck was a huge irritation to Henry. He had support from foreign kings such as Maximillian the Holy Roman Emperor and King Janes IV of Scotland. However, he was easily defeated during the Cornish rebellion in 1497.
Was Henry threatened by the pretenders?
No, Henry should be remembered for his ability to eradicate opponents to his reign and to put down conflict in his own realm which secured his place on the throne and increased the power of his monarchy.
How did Henry use foreign policy to increase his power?
Henry successfully protected England against foreign invasion by forging alliances with key European countries through marriage and diplomacy.
Give an example of Henry’s ability to form an alliance with Spain:
In 1489 he signed the Treaty of Medina del Campo with Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
In this treaty the marriage of Henry’s eldest son Arthur and Catherine of Aragon was agreed.
This achieved an alliance with one of the most important dynasties in Europe and an important ally against England’s traditional enemy, France.
