New men and nobility Flashcards
new men
(gentry)
Henry’s reliance on great nobles started to change towards the gentry
gentries power
came primarily from their responsibility over crown lands, rather than their own landownings- dependent on Henry
new men and nobles
their creation restricted the power of the nobles
most were lawyers
they were ambitious to gain new land and worked hard for the king as their power came from him
examples
Reginald Bray - Henry’s chief financial and property administrator
Thomas Lovell - became Chancellor of the Exchequer
aim of new men
to re-establish royal control
they were willing to bend the rules and abuse the law to ensure Henry was in control- Henry’s regime became increasing tyrannical and lawless
jobs of new men
financial administrators
commissions of the peace
tax collection
military leaders
nobility in the war of the roses
more interested in family feuds rather than dynastic destination
Henry mistrusted the nobility because
- lots of power and influence
- Henry had no friends or family he could trust
- the nobles wealth and territorial power made them potential rivals. Land equalled power
Battle of Bosworth
many had supported Richard III
meant gaining some of their loyalty was hard
re-established the order of the garter
created 37 knights like the Earl of Oxford
the prestige did not give them power or land
patronage
Henry limited what he gave out so it became more highly valued
nobles in 1485
the number started to decline due to deaths and acts of attainders
uneven control
control over the south and east was stronger than Henry’s control over the north
impact of great council
included nobles so Henry would not be solely to blame
