Henry VII: Consolidation Of Power Flashcards
Why was Henry’s claim to the throne weak
- he was the ONLY Lancastrian claimant to the throne
- Beauforts line came through Gaunt’s third marriage seem as illegitimate to some
-he was descended through female line
Describe Henry’s personality
Shrewd
Calculating
Self restrained
How did Henry’s personality benefit himself
- improved crowns financial powers
- reduced power of novels who had often used periods of instability to enhance their own power
- secured recognition from foreign powers
Recall events and their significant from AUG 1485
- dated his reign from day before battle of bosworth (21st August)
ANYONE WHO FOUGH YORKIST CLAIM COULD BE ACCUSED OF BEING A TRAITOR - publicly rewarded key supporters through eleven knighthoods
- detained earl of Warwick who had a greater claim to the throne
PREVENT REBELLION SND REDUCE YORKIST THREAT
SECURE HIS CLAIM TO THE THRONE BY REMOVING A RIVAL WITH A STRONGER CLAIM
GAINED CRUCIAL INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FROM SPAIN
PROJECTED STRENGTH DURING VULNERABLE YEARS OF HIS REIGN
Recall events and their significance from OCT 1485
- arranged his coronation a week before first parliament
SHOWED HIS RIGHT TO THE THRONE WAS HEREDITARY NOT WHOLEY BASED ON PARLIMENTARY SANCTION - made key appointments to his council and household
SIR REGINALD BRAY: Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
SIR WILLIAM STANLEY: Chamberlain of household - issued acts of attainder against Yorkists who fought at Bosworth
THEIR PROPERTY BECAME FORFEIT TO THE CROWN - increased his income by demanding custom revenues of tonnage and poundage at his first parliament
Recall events and their significance from JAN 1486
- married Elizabeth of York
ENABLED ROYAL PROPAGANDA TO EXPLOIT THE UNION OF THE HOUSES LANCASTER AND YORK
Recall events and their significance from SEPT 1489
- price Arthur was born
ESTABLISHED A LEGITIMATE HEIR REDUCING THE THREAT OF CIVIL WAR
FURTHER UNITED THE HOUSES OF YORK AND LANCASTER
STRENGTHENED THE TUDOR CLAIM BY LEGITIMISING THE DYNASTY IN THE EYES OF NOBLES AND FOREIGN POWERS
BOOSTED INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE
Recall Henry VII threats
YORKIST CLAIMANTS
- John de la Pole
Nephew of Edward IV and Richard III
Designated successor of Richard III
Regarded as Yorkist leader after Bosworth
- Edward earl of Warwick
Nephew of Edward IV and Richard III
Imprisoned in ToL, 1485,
Beheaded in 1499 for alleged conspiracy with warbeck
PRETENDERS
- Lambert Simnel
- Perkin Warbeck
1486: Viscount Lovell and the Staffords
Minor rising focused on traditional Yorkist heartlands of Yorkshire and the Midlands
- led by viscount Lovell (Yorkshire) and Humphrey Stafford with his brother Thomas (Midlands)
- attracted little support and was easily suppressed
- Lovell escaped to Burgundy ; Humphrey was captured and executed; Thomas was pardoned
YORKISTS REALISED THE NEED FOR A FIGUREHEAD AND FUNDS
1487: Lambert Simnel and the rebellion of the Earl of Lincoln
Yorkist conspiracy arranged by Earl of Lincoln using Simnel as a figurehead
- Simnel impersonate earl of Warwick and crowned as King Edward in Ireland in May 1487
- Henry exhibited real earl of Warwick in London
- Lincoln fled to burgundy —> persuaded Margaret to support Simnel and pay for mercenaries to invade England
- Henry neutralised Yorkist support in north by reinstating earl of Northumberland who was a traditional Yorkist supporter
- rebels landed on the north west coast of England and tried to muster support in Yorkist heartland of the north riding of Yorkshire however they failed to attract followers
- henry’s army defeated the mercenary army at the Battle of Stoke Field in June 14 87 the Earl of Lincoln was killed
Reasons for HVII victory
- shrewdness and hardwork
- organisational skills and military leadership of his key supporters
- willingness of landowners in many parts of the country to support his cause
1491-99: Perkin Warbeck imposture
Imposture of a cloth trader from Flanders who claimed to be Richard Duke of York
1491: Warbeck began to impersonate Duke of York in Ireland
1492: fled burgundy trained as a potential Yorkist prince and began to draw English courtiers into his conspiracies
1495: he attempted to land in England but was quickly defeated. He fled to the court of James IV of Scotland.
1496: tried to invade England with a small Scottish force this soon retreated and James IV agreed to marry Margaret Tudor
1497: tried to claim the throne by exploiting the Cornish rebellion.
His forces were crushed.
Warbeck surrendered.
1499: tried and executed
1506: Edmund de la pole and Richard de la pole: the white rose
Younger brother of the Earl of Lincoln
-Edmund lived in exile from 1498 to 1506 under the protection of Margaret of burgundy
1506: returned and was imprisoned in ToL
1513: executed
- Richard de la Pole exiled until his death fighting for France at the battle of Pavia (1525)
IMPRISONMENT OF EDMUND EFFECTIVELY ELIMINATED THREATS LEAVING ONLY RICHARD AT LARGE IN EXILE
What was the impact of the Lovell and Stafford Rebellions on Henry VII’s government?
Highlighted the need for stronger control over the nobility
