Richard III Flashcards
1
Q
Why did Richard III take the throne
belief that England needed him 4
A
- Richard duke of york had been convinced that England has needed him to end the political crisis of the 1450s. perhaps Richard saw himself in the same light a man to mamange the crisis
- Richard was determined to become protector
- he was keen to stress his devotion to the common good and the importance of righting past failures
- once king, Richard did take a serious approach to government
2
Q
why did Richard III take the throne
fear of attack by woodvilles 8
A
- justified the arrest of rivers and grey in late April by claiming they were plotting against him to prevent him from taking a leading part in the young kings council
- 10th June Richard wrote to the city of york
- crownland chronicles wrote that members of the council in 1483 thought that the queens family should be forbidden to have control of the young king until he had come of age
- 1 month before Edward IV death, rivers asked Richard to arbitrate in personal legal dispute
- buckingham and hasting had rivalries with the woodvill
- Richard arrested rivers and then as protector took lots of their land and wealth and gave it to Buckingham
- Elizabeth woodville took her children into sanctuary in Westminster abbey
- Richard thought woodvilles would seek revenge
3
Q
why did Richard III take the throne
ambition for king after Edward IVs death 3
A
- the council appointed Richard as protector. Richard was supported by Edward ivs household men eg Hastings
- the administration of the government continued with few changes in personel
- 6 whole week passed between the arrest of rivers on 30th April and the execution of Hastings on 13th June
4
Q
why did Richard III take the throne
fear of losing northern lands 2
A
- Edward IV had granted Richard this vast territory. the natural owner was George duke of Bedford - montagus son but he couldn’t inherit it because he father was attainted for treason. Bedford died 1483 ending the attainder. Richard would keep his land until his deathbed would be passed to neville heirs not his son
- in 4 years woodvilles would be back in power with Edward V as king it is likely they would weaken him by removing his land
5
Q
why did Richard III take the throne
belief he was the rightful king by inheritance 4
A
- 1484 Richard right to become king was approved by parliament
- it was claimed that Edward was already ,married to Dame Eleanor butler, daughter of Earl of Shrewsbury t the time of his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville. Edward was perceived to be an adulterer and his children bastards unable to inherit. this was the justification Richard circulated in 1483
- this made Richard the next closest line because Edwards children were illegitimate and clarences son was barred from succession by act of attainder
- convenient timing for Richard
6
Q
why did Richard III take the throne
ambition for developed which was developed later 5
A
- seems that Richard had decided to take the throne by June 10th when he wrote to the city of york to ask for armed support
- William lord Hastings was Edward closest friend utterly loyal to Edwards son. Hastings would not countenance Richard becoming king
- 13th June Hastings was arrested and executed without trial
- two weeks later rivers and grey were executed without trail
- silenced opposition
7
Q
why didnt anyone stop Richard III from taking the throne 3
A
- ever after 16th June, three days after Hastings execution, Elizabeth sent her second son to join Edward V for his coronation to join him in the royal apartments - would she do this if she though Richard wanted to take the throne
- hastings and rivers hadnt expected
- Richard had powerful support, in Buckingham and lord Howard. he also had support in the north- the threat of their arrival in London was important
8
Q
Why was Richard III defeated
Henry Richmond 5
A
- only Lancastrians left with a claim to the throne
- 1471 Taken to Brittany by his uncle Jasper Tudor
- The disappearance of the Princes in the tower made him a candidate in becoming king
- Maragret Beaufort his mother and Bishop of Ely John Morton made contact with Elizabeth Woodville and they plotted to marry Elizabeth Woodvilles eldest daughter Elizabeth of York to Henry
9
Q
Why was Richard III defeated
the Princes 4
A
- Edward IV’s sons
- 16th June both princes were in the tower of London
- 1483 July plot to free princes whilst Richard was out of London
- Richard’s subjects were willing to believe that he had killed or ordered the deaths of the princes
10
Q
Why was Richard III defeated
the character Richard III 5
A
- Richard did work hard to reassure Elizabeth and her daughter that they would be safe to leave sanctuary. Christmas 1483 Elizabeth and her daughters at court with Richard
- described as out of his mind when his son died 1484 unorthodox
- Richard gave gifts to those who were loyal to him
- Planned to build a chantry in york showing a personal relationship with york. Suggested he planned to be buried there
- Evidence of impulsiveness - rivers arrest, execution of Hasting, the seizure of the crown and last charge at Bosworth
11
Q
why was Buckingham’s rebellion unusual
A
gentry led they have a lot to lose
had yorkist support despite Henry Richmond being a Lancastrian
12
Q
Why was Richard III defeated
Buckingham’s rebellion 11
A
- plots started in first few weeks to remove Edward IV daughters from sanctuary and rescue the princes by setting fires around London
- members of Edward IV’s household supported the plots
- August rebellion to put Henry Richmond on the throne
- October 1483 leading gentry from Cormwall to Kent involved. For self interest in gaining political favour protecting Edward IV legacy
- Woodvilles involved. Driven by outrage Richard had usurped the throne
- the rebellion failed
- co ordinating a rebellion across the south was difficult and Richard had spies
- Buckingham joined but late. His support weakened the rebellion as powerful families Talbot and Stanley (his rivals) wanted his land not to fight with him
- Henry approached the coast, but the rebellion had failed. Buckingham was executed, Henry sailed back to Brittany with 400 rebels
- rebellion established Henry as a rival to the Thorne , Christmas 1483 he promised to marry Elizabeth of york.
- flight of the rebels gave Henry a core supporters who had authority in their counties that could be used upon a successful invasion.
13
Q
Why was Richard III defeated
The planting of northerns in the south (consequence of rivalry)
A
- Rebellion left a lot of local government fleeing abroad and those left Richard was wary of.
- 97 gentry attaint disinherited heirs mainly southerners
- Used men from the north to fill these gaps. 40 northern lords benefited from the rebellion. Initially men with southern connections eg Ralph Ashton from Lancashire who had married a woman so had lands in Kent. There weren’t enough so had to use men from Yorkshire eg Marmakdue Constable. Newcomers aroused hostility
- newcomers resented as they believed to be Richard’s spies
- not the continuity Richard wanted and was forced to make 2nd choices
- 1485 Henry support from southern gentry
14
Q
Why was Richard III defeated
Richard’s rivalries with northern lords 2
A
- Richard had dominated the north since 1470s- the Stanley family (Lord Thomas and Sir William) in Lancashire and Cheshire had clashed with Richard since 1469 over his support of Stanley’s rivals. Once king, Richard favoured his rivals over the Stanley’s. Stanley’s wife was Henry’s mother - Margaret Beaufort.
- Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland had hoped to become leading power in the north only to find Richard promised Earl of Lincoln (an outsider to the region) alienated Henry Percy lack of support in his stronghold
15
Q
Why was Richard III defeated
Dependence on a narrow group of supporters 2
A
- too small a clique similar to Henry VI and Edward IV
- ‘The cat, the rat and Lovell our dog, rule all England under a hog.’ The Hog was Richard (his badge was the white boar) his advisers were Catesby, Ratcliffe received a rich haul of lands in Devon. By rewarding his supporters Richard had no land to give to returning rebels
- Richard did convince Elizabeth Woodville and her daughters to come out of sanctuary and join the royal court. - but was she plotting her own agenda - marriage of daughter to Henry Richmond
