Richard III

Question 1

How well did Richard III establish himself as king?

Answer 1

• He had to reward his supporters well to keep them on his side
• William Catesby and Lord Howard were rewarded well
• However, the Duke of Buckingham had been rewarded well but he rebelled against Richard

Question 2

What was Richard’s style of ruling?

Answer 2

• Richard attempted to build on the system that he inherited from Edward IV
• He centralised administration further
• Much of the work was done by the king himself and his most trusted advisers
• He visited areas that witnessed lawlessness

Question 3

What changes in government did Richard make?

Answer 3

• Showed a genuine interest in justice
• Established an early form of legal aid so that the poor could have access to the legal system
• This later developed into the Tudor Court of Requests
• He introduced the Council of the North to fill the void left by him
• The council’s role was to ensure that the king’s laws were obeyed, to keep the peace, and to punish lawbreakers
• He used men of ability to advise him in his council
• He also introduced northerners into the king’s council (Thomas Barowe)

Question 4

Financial Administration

Answer 4

• He spent most of his time focused on financial administration because he was running low on fundds
• The Scottish War was expensive and he didn’t want to ask parliament for a tax
• He tried to exploit all possible sources of income
• He was reduced to demanding forced loans

Question 5

Buckingham Rebellion

Answer 5

• October 1483
• In support of Henry Tudor
• South of England
• The parliament of January 1484 saw over 100 people attainted
• 2/3 had their land confiscated, these lands were given to northerners he could rely on

Question 6

Other Rebellions

Answer 6

• Edward IV’s household men (e.g., William Norreys) rebelled
• They supported Richard because they both hated the Woodvilles
• After Richard’s coronation they attempted to rescue the Princes in the Tower but they were missing
• They moved to support Tudor as he said he would marry Edward IV’s eldest daughter, Elizabeth

Question 7

Richard’s aims in foreign affairs

Answer 7

1. To continue to back the Duke of Albany in his quest for the Scottish throne
2. To prevent Henry Tudor from receiving any foreign assistance

Question 8

Albany + Scotland

Answer 8

• Albany’s raids on Scotland proved useless

- In 1484, Richard signed a 3year truce with Scotland

Question 9

Henry Tudor

Answer 9

• Henry Tudor was living in Brittany where Francis, Duke of Brittany provided him with supplies for an attempted invasion
• In retaliation, Richard attacked the Breton marine
• Richard promised that Francis could have Tudor’s earldom of Richmond if he were to hand him over
• Brittany abandoned Tudor and he went to France where he received more support
• When Henry successfully invaded England in 1485 he was supported by a French army made up of Frenchmen, Bretons and Scots