How effectively did Henry Tudor secure his hold on the throne in the years, 1485-87?

Question 1

Who did Henry battle for the crown at the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 1

Richard III

Question 2

Why was Henry Tudor’s claim to the throne weak? (3)

Answer 2

• Had beaten Richard for the crown and was not seen as inheriting it from the divine right of king
• He was illegitimate
• Henry’s claim to the throne was based on his descent from a woman

Question 3

Henry’s illegitimacy:

Answer 3

The Beauforts were illegitimate as John of Gaunt had conceived with Katherine Swynford out of wedlock

Question 4

When and on what condition were the Beauforts made legitimate?

Answer 4

At the end of the 14th century, on the condition that they, and their descendants would not be able to claim to the English throne

Question 5

John de la Pole’s claim to the throne:

Answer 5

Nephew of Edward VI and Richard III, and during Richard’s reign had been the heir presumptive

Question 6

Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick’s claim to the throne:

Answer 6

Nephew of Edward VI and Richard III

Question 7

Richard, Duke of York and Edward V of York’s claim to the throne:

Answer 7

Children of Edward IV and were placed in the tower at the start of Richard III’s reign

Question 8

Elizabeth of York’s claim to the throne:

Answer 8

Daughter of Edward IV and could still pass on their claim to their children

Question 9

When was the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 9

22nd August 1485

Question 10

What was the size of Henry’s force during the Battle of Bosworth in comparison to Richard’s?

Answer 10

5,000
Richard had twice this amount

Question 11

Who watched the battle from the sidelines and why?

Answer 11

Thomas and William Stanley, Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland

Question 12

Why did Thomas and William Stanley watch from the sidelines?

Answer 12

Thomas Stanley had married Henry’s widowed mother, Margaret Beaufort

Question 13

What mistake did Richard III make?

Answer 13

His impetuos actions had led him to become separated from his army in an attempt to kill Henry

Question 14

How did Sir William Stanley intervene?

Answer 14

When Richard III was separated from a majority of his troops, Stanley directed his troops to attack Richard

Question 15

Why was Henry to be cautious? (2)

Answer 15

• Not able to trust his nobility completely as Richard’s own nobility betrayed him
• ## Henry drew some support from the Yorkists, who he could not trust completely

Question 16

Positive impacts of the Battle of Bosworth:

Answer 16

Richard III’s defeat at the Battle of Bosworth was seen as God’s punishment for the methods he had used in seizing the throne - Helping Henry to enhance his position

Question 17

What fraction of the nobility actually fought for Richard at the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 17

less than a 1/4

Question 18

What was Henry’s first move after the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 18

Ensured that he was crowned in a formal ceremony

Question 19

After Henry’s coronation, what did Henry do?

Answer 19

Followed it up with his first Parliament as it was part of the royal prerogative to summon Parliament

Question 20

Why did Henry get coronated and call up Parliament immediately after the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 20

Reasserts his God-given right to be king to secure and justify his claim to the throne

Question 21

How did the parliament of 1485 react to Henry?

Answer 21

Declared that Henry was king and confirmed the event of the past two months

Question 22

How did Henry use parliament against his opponents?

Answer 22

This turned Richard into an usurper and Henry into the rightful king on the day the battle was fought and so all those who had fought for Richard were traitors and could be punished as such.

Question 23

How did else did Henry use Parliament?

Answer 23

Henry cemented his dynastic position

Question 24

How did Henry cement his dynastic position?

Answer 24

Cancelled Titulus Regius which had been passed by Richard III

Question 25

What was Titulus Regius?

Answer 25

Declared that Edwards marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was invalid and that their children were illegitimate

Question 26

How would have Titulus Regius affected Henry’s reign?

Answer 26

Henry’s future wife, Elizabeth of York (Edward and Elizabeth Woodville’s daughter), would have been illegitimate under the law

Question 27

Impact of Henry marrying Elizabeth of York:

Answer 27

United the two factions (Lancaster and York), which was cemented when they gave birth to the new heir Arthur, which made the House of Lancaster more loyal since the children had both Yorkist and Lancastrian blood

Question 28

How did Henry secure his throne?

Answer 28

Rewarded his supporters

Question 29

How was Thomas Stanley rewarded?

Answer 29

Made Earl of Derby

Question 30

How was Sir William Stanley rewarded?

Answer 30

Given the position of Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Household

Question 31

A yorkist that Henry rewarded:

Answer 31

Sir Thomas Lovell who rebelled against Richard III in 1483 was made Treasurer of the Household

Question 32

What happened to John de la Pole after the Battle of Bosworth?

Answer 32

Swore loyalty to Henry and was allowed to join the Royal council

Question 33

What did Henry embark on in 1486?

Answer 33

On a progress in the Midlands and the North, where Ricardian support was strong.

Question 34

What did Henry force the House of Commons and Lords to do?

Answer 34

Swear an oath that they would not retain (recruit) men illegally

Question 35

How did Henry make the Crown’s finances more secure?

Answer 35

Passing an Act of Resumption

Question 36

When was the Act of Resumption passed?

Answer 36

1486

Question 37

Act of Resumption:

Answer 37

Allowed Henry to take back all Crown lands which had been granted away since 1455

Question 38

What did Thomas and Humphrey Stafford and Francis, Lord Lovell hope for?

Answer 38

Restoration of a Yorkist monarchy

Question 39

What occured in 1486?

Answer 39

Rumours began to spread of plots against Henry. One suggesting that the Earl of Warwick had escaped from the Tower and fled to the Channel Islands; agents of the Earl of Lincoln were caught smuggling gold and silver out of the country, perhaps to raise an army abroad

Question 40

Where did the Stafford brothers and Lovell stay?

Answer 40

Sanctuary at Colchester

Question 41

Where did the Stafford brothers and Lovell try to raise an army?

Answer 41

in the Midlands in the name of the Earl of Warwick

Question 42

Where did Lovell flee to?

Answer 42

Burgundy, to find refuge with Margaret of Burgundy

Question 43

What happened to the Staffords after the failed rebellion? (3)

Answer 43

• Forcibly removed from sanctuary by Henry
• Sir Humphrey Stafford was executed
• Thomas Stafford was pardoned