What were the strengths and weaknesses of Richard’s regime in 1483?

Question 1

Strengths of Richard III

Answer 1

The senior remaining adult Yorkist
- He was in the best position to actively lead the House of York.
- Richard’s elder brothers were both dead and all of their heirs were children.
- Richard had possession of all of the male Yorkist heirs.

Example: Richard III had the advantage of being the most senior Yorkist remaining after the deaths of his elder brothers.

Question 2

Political dominance of Richard III

Answer 2

The two potential rival centres for power, the Woodvilles and Hastings, had been smashed in Richard’s coup. He also had an extensive range of noble supporters.

Additional information: Richard III had successfully eliminated key rivals and garnered significant noble support.

Question 3

Large landed revenue of Richard III

Answer 3

Richard’s own landed inheritance as well as those of his wife and confiscated lands (from Rivers and Hastings) in addition to Crown lands placed him in an unusually strong financial position.

Example sentence: Richard III’s vast landed revenue gave him a significant financial advantage.

Question 4

Weaknesses of Richard III

Answer 4

Richard’s claim to the throne was weak
- Richard’s claim was based on the probably fictitious and widely doubted idea that Edward IV’s children were illegitimate.
- Richard’s elder brother, George of Clarence, had a son, Edward, with a better claim, his father’s attainder could easily have been reversed.

Example: Richard III faced challenges due to the questionable legitimacy of his claim to the throne.

Question 5

Financial problems of Richard III

Answer 5

Although Edward IV died solvent, much of the surplus wealth he had accumulated had been spent on the Scottish campaigning, 1480-1482.

Additional information: Richard III faced financial difficulties due to previous military expenditures.

Question 6

Buckingham’s rebellion against Richard III

Answer 6

Henry Stafford was Richard’s most powerful and prominent supporter but although well-rewarded he rebelled in autumn 1483, leading to an early crisis.

Example: Buckingham’s rebellion posed a significant challenge to Richard III’s rule.

Question 7

Elizabeth Woodville’s impact on Richard III

Answer 7

The former queen and her daughters remained in sanctuary in Westminster Abbey until March 1484.

Additional information: Elizabeth Woodville’s presence in sanctuary had political implications for Richard III.

Question 8

Richard III’s rule in the North

Answer 8

Richard had ruled there semi-independently in the North in Edward IV’s second reign. Without him there was a power vacuum there. In the south he was an outsider.

Additional information: Richard III’s rule in the North was significant, creating a potential power vacuum in his absence.