The Tudors - Henry VII (Consolidation of Power)

How and when did Henry VII become King?

Defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485

Why was Henry VII insecure about his position on the throne after defeating Richard?

He had a very weak claim to the throne, this was for two reasons:

* He was desenced from the female line of the House of Lancaster
* He came from the line of John of Gaunt, his son was born out of wedlock as was therefore seen an illegitimate

Who proclaimed Henry as King on the battlefield?

Lord Stanley

What was Henry’s primary aim at the beginning of his reign?

He was eagre to consolidate his power as he was fearful that his weak position could lead to contest from other claimants

How did Henry VII consolidate his power after becoming King in 1485?

* He dated his reing from the day before the Battle of Bosworth so that nayone who fought against him could be named a traitor
* Publicly rewards many of his key supporters - he conferred 11 knighthoods to those who had supported him
* The Earl of Warwick, who could be seen to have a greater claim than Henry, was detained
* He appaointed close allies to key positions in his household - Reginald Bray was made Chancellor of the Ducky of Lancaster
* He was crowned before the first meeting of Parliament - this was to make sure that it did not apppear that he was only King becuase Parliament had sanctioned it
* He found ways to increase the revenue of the Crown to ensure financial independence from Parlaiment:
* Acts of Attainder against Yorkists who fought at Bosworth - property forefit to the Crown
* Parliament granted Henry tonnage and poundage (customs revenues) for life
* In January 1486, Henry married Elizabeth of York which united the Houses of York and Lancaster who had been at war for the past century - this was done last so that it did not appear that his crown was not brought about by his wofe’s claim to the throne
* Prince Arthur was born in September 1486, securing the Tudor succession

Who was the biggest threat to Henry’s position on the throne?

Maragret of Burgundy (sister of Richard III and Edward V), she was never able to reconcile with Henry and she was eagre to fund Yorkist claimants looking to overgthrow Henry

When was the risisng of Viscount Lovell and the Stafford?How was it dealt with? What was its significance?

Viscount Lovell and Humphrey Stafford attempted to raise a rebellion agaisnt Henry at Easter 1486, they attempted to draw on Yorkist support in North Yorkshire and the Midlands.

Lovell escaped from Henry’s forced but Stafford was captured and executed while his younger brother was pardoned.

The significane of this rising was that there seemed to be little appetite for a Yorkist rising, even in their traditonal heartlands.

Lambert Simnel and the rebellion of the Earl of Lincoln

The conspiracy was put together by John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln.

Lambert Simnel was used as a figurehead for the rebellion. Acting as the Earl of Warwick he was crowned King Edward in Ireland in May 1487. In response Henry exhibited the real Earl of Warwick in London.

Lincoln fled to the court of Margarte of Burgunady and along with Lovell concovnced her to pay for a mercnary forced to invade England in support of Lambert Simnel.

The mercenary force landed in the North West and marched across the Pennines gathering support, however, the Yorkist gentry in North Yorkishre were reluctant to offer their support.

The rebels and the King’s forces met at the Battle of Stoke field in 1487.

How did Henry VII sure up his position in the North?

He reinstate the untrustowrth Earl of Northumberland who led Richard’s army at the Battle of Bosworth. This pacified Yorkist support in the North.

When was the Battle of Stoke Field? What happened and why was it signifiacnt?

The Battle of Stoke field took place in 1487. Henry’s army, led by the Earl of Oxford, defeated the rebeles who were led by the Earl of Lincoln - he was killed in battle.

The victory at Stoke Field was hugely significant as it ended the Wars of the Roses. It deomstarted the shrewdeness of Hnery VII and the skills of his militray leadership.

How did Henry ensure good behaviour of land owners?

He began using bonds of good behaviour which promised fianncial ruin to those who rebelled against him.

What happened during the Perkin Warbeck imposture? Why was it actually quite costly to Henry?

In 1491, Warbeck began to impersonate Richard Duke of York in Ireland. He was able to attract patrongae from foreign rulers, spedning time int he courts of Charles VIII of France and Maragret of Burgundy where he was trained as Yorkist prince.

Warbeck attempted to land in England in 1495 but Henry has been informed of his plans and the invasion was easily defeated. Warbeck was forced to flee to James IV of Scotland.

Whilst the invasion was easily defeated, it was bad for Henry as a number of ministers in Henry’s government has been drawn into the conspiracy, including William Stanley (Lord Chamberlain). This revealed Henry to be weak where he sould have been most secure.

In 1496, a small Scottish force invaded England on behalf of Warbeck but soon retreated when James acrificed Warbeck’s interest to accept a marraige pproposal between himself and Henry’s daughter Margaret.

Warbeck made one final attempt in 1497 where he looked to expaid the Cornish Rebellion to his advantage. His forces were crushed, he surrendered and after trying to escape was executed along with the Earl of Warwick who was accused of conspiring with Warbeck.

Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk and Richard de la Pole

Richard and Edmund de la Pole were the sons of the Earl of Lincoln. Suffolk had been in exile in Flanders, then returned and then went into exile again at the court of Emperoro Maximillian.

The Treaty of Windsor in 1506 mad epeace between England and the HRE, one of the consitions was that Maximillian would give up Suffolk. Suffolk was imprisned in the Tower and executed in 1513 by Henry VIII.

Richard de la Pole was exiled, ending all of the dynasitic challenges to Henry VII and the new Tudor dynasty.