Richard's Ascension to Power Flashcards
1
Q
10 points
Breifly Summarise how Richard took the crown.
A
- In May 1483, he and Buckingham and E5 entered London.
- E5 was taken to the tower to await coronation, and Richard was made Protector by the King’s Council.
- Richard promoted Buckingham, Howard and Lovel to positions of power, something which concerned the Woodvilles and Hastings.
- On June 10th Richard requested military assitance of his notherners to put down what he called a Woodville conspiracy against him.
- Three days later, Hastings was executed as a traitor.
- Richard removed some of E4’s closest supporters from power, e.g. Thomas Rotherham (Archbishop of York) and John Morton (Bishop of Ely), as well as Thomas Lord Stanley.
- Archbishop of Canterbury reluctantly convinced Elizabeth Woodville to have her younger son, Richard, join E5 in tower.
- Sermons took place questioning legitimacy of E4’s sons (since he was engaged to someone else when he married Elizabeth).
- On 26th of June petition was submitted by Parliament asking for Richard to take the crown.
- Richard crowned King of England July 6th.
2
Q
5 points
What were Richard’s motives for taking the crown?
A
- Fear of attack by the Woodvilles
- Fear of losing his northern lands
- Belief that he was the rightful king by inheritance
- Belief that England needed him
- Ambition for power as king
3
Q
3 points
Why did Richard fear an attack from the Woodvilles?
A
- Richard feared the Woodvilles more for what they might to in the future once E5 began to rule and they were reinstated rather than any danger they posed to him in 1483.
- Two of his closest friends, Buckingham and Hastings, had rivalries with the Woodvilles.
- Richard further angered them when he arrested Rivers and Grey (in April), and also when he became protector and gave many of the Woodville lands to Buckingham.
4
Q
Why did Richard fear losing his Northern lands?
A
- His lands were given to him by E4, and could be taken away just as easily once E5 came to the throne.
- The real heir to his Neville lands was the Duke of Bedford, who couldn’t inherit as his father had been attainted for treason. However, Bedford died and this changed the situation. Richard would keep his lands until his death, but instead of passing to his children they would pass to the next Neville heir, Richard Lord Latimer.
5
Q
4 points
Why did Richard belive that he was the rightful king by inheritance?
A
- A document appeared showing that E4 was already engaged to Eleanor Butler, daughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury.
- This would make Elizabeth Woodville’s children illegitimate.
- Not many believed this, as it came out of the blue and sounded fake.
- Bastardy wouldn’t have necesarily stopped E5 from taking the throne, as he could have legitimised himself.
6
Q
3 points
Why did Richard believe England needed him?
A
- He could have been motivated by a sense of duty.
- His own published claim to the throne emphasised his devotion to the common good.
- However he must have known that his taking the throne would have led to more instability.
7
Q
5 points
Why did Richard have ambitions to be king?
A
- It seems Richard had decided to take the throne by June 10th, when he wrote to the city of York asking for aid.
- Hastings, one of E4’s closest friends wouldn’t stand for this, so on the 13th of June Richard had him arrested and executed, without trial, in a matter of hours.
- He also executed Rivers and Grey (also without trial).
- Clear he was ambitious to be king, and sudden shock of violence kept any other opposition quiet.
- Probable that Richard was also responsible for disappearances of princes in the tower.
8
Q
2
Which reasons are most likely to be the actual reason Richard took the throne?
A
- Richard’s fear of what the Woodville’s would do to him once reinstated.
- His own personal ambition.
9
Q
5 points
Why did no one stop Richard from taking the crown?
A
- E4’s style of relying on a small group to run the country, which did occasionally lead to rivalries and jealousy.
- Circumstances of the Minority.
- The suddeness of Richard’s manouvers.
- Richard’s powerful supporters.
- Uncertainty of the opposititon.
10
Q
5 points
Why did E4’s style of government mean no one opposed Richard taking the crown?
A
- E4 relied on a small group of trusted family members and friends who were given substantial regional authority.
- This sometimes led to rivalries, e.g. between Hastings and Dorset.
- Buckingham also felt very bitter at being excluded from this inner circle.
- E4’s governance also allowed these individuals to amass great personal power.
- However, this is not a key reason why Richard was able to take the crown, since none of the people with great power as a result of this opposed him.
11
Q
4 points
Why did the circumstances of the minority mean Richard could take the crown?
A
- Edward V was 12 years old. This was an awkward age since if he was slightly older, he could rule in his own right, but if he was slightly younger, there would be a definite need for a protector.
- The Queen and Thomas Grey argued that E5 could rule through a council.
- Hastings said that this council should be led by Richard, and that he should have charge of the E5, not the Queen.
- This situation was the context for the usurption, since when E5 was crowned, Richard would be at the mercy of the Woodvilles.
12
Q
3 points
How did the suddeness of Richard’s actions lead to no one opposing him?
A
- In the beginning he took every opportunity to stress his loyalty to E5 - to the point where Elizabeth Woodville even sent her second son to join his brother in the tower.
- Both Rivers and Hastings were completely taken by suprise - three days before his execution Hastings remarked that things were going very well and that they had dealt with the Woodville uprising with as little bloodshed as possible.
- Richard’s sudden violence shocked everyone. The fact this all happened over a period of ten days meant that there was no time to organise opposition.
13
Q
Why did the strength of Richard’s supporters lead to him taking the crown?
A
- Hastings’ support made it far easier for Richard to become protector.
- He also had the support of Buckingham and Horward, which gave him credibility.
- News of him summoning a Northern army spread around London on June 10th. By the time they arrived, Richard had already taken the crown, but they still acted as a deterrant.
14
Q
How did the uncertainty of his opponents aid him in getting the crown?
A
- Some would have believed the story about E5’s illegitimacy; or at least used it as an excuse to support Richard.
- Others would have been to worried about their own possitions under a child-king to unite against Richard.
- People had bad memories of Henry VI’s minority and the instability this brought.
