Henry VII's position on the throne

Question 1

Who had the strongest claim to the throne?

Answer 1

Elizabeth of York

Question 2

What was the wars of the roses?

Answer 2

A period of civil war that occurred before the Tudors caused by economic and financial pressures between the Yorkist and Lancastrian factions

Question 3

What is the signficance of the Battle of Bosworth in 1485?

Answer 3

It ended the Wars of the Roses

Question 4

How was the Battle of Bosworth an advantage to Henry?

Answer 4

It divided the Yorkists as Richard III was not popular with all Yorkists, Henry played on Richard being a murderer and many Yorkists had been killed in battle

Question 5

What made Henry’s early years so insecure?

Answer 5

The fact that he was a usurper

Question 6

What is Bastard Feudalism?

Answer 6

Could ensure stability/instability, temporary financial payments to nobles although it could give nobles too much power

Question 7

Where did Henry VII’s claim come from?

Answer 7

The female line, Margaret Beaufort who was the only surviving child of Edward III’s children

Question 8

Why was Henry VII’s claim made stronger in 1471?

Answer 8

Edward Prince of Wales died and the Earl of Warwick was in the tower

Question 9

Why was it an issue that Henry’s claim was through his mother?

Answer 9

It was a female line which was frowned upon and there were questions over the legitmacy of her family as they had only been made legitmate again in the 14th Century

Question 10

Why was it made difficult for Henry due to him being a usurper?

Answer 10

It reminded challengers that they could be successful in usurping should they want to usurp Henry

Question 11

Why was Henry VII seen as an outsider and not fit for king?

Answer 11

He had spent a lot of time in exile abroad and was seen not to be competant

Question 12

What caused the wars of the roses?

Answer 12

Weak character of Henry VI, faction tensions, defeat in the Hundred Years War, economic and fincancial pressures, changes in the balance of power between the king and nobility due to BF

Question 13

How did relations between the king and the nobility cause problems in medieval England?

Answer 13

Bastard feudalism gave nobles more power as they could take the law into their own hands with their own private armies

Question 14

Why did Henry predate his reign?

Answer 14

He decided it would be on the 21st of Aug 1485 instead of the 22nd as it would mean Richard usurped him

Question 15

Why did Henry marry Elizabeth of York?

Answer 15

In order to get the Yorkist opponants of Richard III on his side

Question 16

Why did Henry need the backing of the pope to be king?

Answer 16

So that he could be recognised as king by the church

Question 17

Why did Henry need to have children with Elizabeth of York?

Answer 17

To secure the succession with direct heirs that could be welcomed to throne as they would have both Yorkist and Lancastrian blood

Question 18

Why did Henry take progress?

Answer 18

It shows people that he is the king and that he is not afraid - especially in the North

Question 19

Why did Henry get crowned king before he married Elizabeth?

Answer 19

To show that he was king in his own right and not due to Elizabeth’s claim, he delayed her coronation for 2 years

Question 20

When did Henry call his first parliament and why?

Answer 20

7 Nov 1485 to represent his kingship

Question 21

How did Henry reward Jaspar Tudor, his uncle?

Answer 21

He became Duke of Bedford as he was too old to have children and was unlikely to be a threat to the throne

Question 22

How did Henry reward Thomas, Lord Stanley, his stepfather?

Answer 22

He was created Earl of Derby

Question 23

Why did Henry make Sir Thomas Lovell Chancellor of the Exchequer?

Answer 23

Because he had rebelled against Richard in 1483

Question 24

Why did the Earl of Warwick (in the tower) have a stronger claim?

Answer 24

He was the nephew of Edward IV and Richard III, but he was only 10 years old which made him easier to imprison

Question 25

Why did Edward and Richard (princes of the tower) havea strong claim?

Answer 25

They were the children of Edward IV but had disappeared

Question 26

Why weren’t Edward IV’s daughters a threat?

Answer 26

They were female so couldn’t rule in their own right

Question 27

What impact did the Battle of Bosworth have?

Answer 27

Richard was dead so therefore couldn’t take back the throne

Question 28

What was the titulus regious that Henry cancelled?

Answer 28

A declaration that Edward IV’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was invalid, it made Elizabeth of York legit

Question 29

What did the Act of Resumption in 1486 do?

Answer 29

Secured the finances - recovered all property that had been given away since 1455

Question 30

What did he make the houses of lords and commons do?

Answer 30

Not recruit armies illegally