Henry VII: Establishing Power

Question 1

Problem 1:

Henry has not been officially crowned.

Answer 1

He was crowned on the 30th of October in a ceremony in which no expense was spared. £8 was paid for gold cloth and purple velvet for the kings robe cost 40 shillings per yard. This surpassed Richards coronation.

Question 2

Problem 2:

Henry has not united the two houses of Lancaster and York.

Answer 2

Henry married Elizabeth of York in 1486 (after his crowning so no one was confused with who was the claimant and this was further as she was not crowned till 1487)
Strengthened ties by marrying Elizabeth’s sisters to other Lancastrians and annulled her older sisters marriage to a yorkist and married her to Henry’s half-uncle.

Question 3

Problem 3:

Henry’s supporters at Bosworth expect a reward.

Answer 3

• Henry’s uncle Jasper Tudor was awarded Duke of Bedford , elevated to a peerage and constable of all royal castles in wales Chief Justice is wales.
• Henry’s step father lord stanley became Earl of Derby
• Henry was careful not to give away too much land so over-mighty subjects could not be created.
• Bishop Fox made keeper of the privy seal (in exile with Henry)

Question 4

Problem 4:

Henry must decide how to deal with his opponents in the nobility who supported Richard at Bosworth.

Answer 4

• dated his reign to the day before the battle of Bosworth allowing him to name his opponents traitors as they were betraying their king.
• sent the earl of Warwick to the Tower of London
• Earl of Surrey imprisoned until he was satisfied he was not a threat and released in 1489
• Earl of Northumberland (given) releases to try and control the north which payed off

Question 5

Problem 5:

There are other Yorkists who pose a threat to Henry’s position with a claim to the throne.

Answer 5

• Henry recognised that not all Yorkists had been supporters of Richard
• He himself married Elizabeth and her sister were married to other Lancastrians
• Allowed John de la Pole to swear loyalty to him
• The 10 year old Earl of Warwick (nephew of Richard) sent to the Tower of London

Question 6

Problem 6:

Many of the common people see Henry as a usurper.

Answer 6

Henry went on a progress (tour) which used propaganda to glorify his new reign.

Question 7

Problem 7:

He has no heir to the throne.

Answer 7

Within one year of marriage Elizabeth gives birth to a son in 1486 named Arthur. He also had a daughter Margaret (1488), another son Henry (1491) and a daughter Mary (1496)

Question 8

Problem 8:

Parliament have not officially recognised him as king.

Answer 8

In November 1485 (a month after his crowning) he called parliament for the first time whom quickly obliged to his demand to recognise him as king.