Henry VII Tudors AQA A level

Why was Henry's claim to the throne weak? [2]

His claim came through the maternal line and through the illegitimate son of John of Gaunt.

When was Henry initially proclaimed King?

On the battle of Bosworth- 22nd August 1485 by Lord Stanley

How did the public react to their new king?

The London public was wooed by the pageantry and ceremony. In fact, Richard was so hated because of the disappearance of the princes in the tower that they were happy to see anyone else.

Where had Henry been since 1471?

A fugitive in Brittany as Edward IV had regained power for the House of York.

What was the main concern of Henry initially?

To keep his throne following one hundred years of turmoil- he needed to consolidate his power.

When did Henry date his reign?

21st August 1485 (day before battle of Bosworth)

How did Henry use appointments for his own benefit? [2]

1. He conferred 11 knighthoods to key supporters

2. He made key appointments to the Council and household, such as Sir Reginald Bray and Sir William Stanley

Whom did Henry marry when and how did this help him?

Elizabeth of York in January 1486, the daughter of Edward IV. He exploited the royal propaganda of the union, creating the Tudor rose, in an attempt to symbolise the end of the war of the roses.

The birth of Prince Arthur in 1486 and Prince Henry in 1491 established security.

When was his coronation? (+what was the significance of this)

October 1485, before his first parliament in November, demonstrating his hereditary right to the throne.

How did Henry attack his potential rivals initially? [2]

1. He detained the Earl of Warwick, the nephew of Edward IV.

2. He used parliamentary Acts of Attainder against Yorkists who had fought at Bosworth to take their property.

How did Henry immediately bolster his revenue? [2]

1. The Acts of Attainder ensured the Yorkist property was forfeit to the crown

2. The first parliament granted him the custom revenues of tonnage and poundage for life.

What happened with Viscount Lovell and the Staffords?

In 1486, Viscount Lovell tried to raise support for a rebellion in the North Riding of Yorkshire, while Humphrey Stafford raised forces in the Midlands.

What was the result of the Lovell/Stafford rebellion? Why is this significant?

It was quickly crushed; Humphrey Stafford was executed, although Lovell fled. This is significant as it demonstrates that their was little support for rebellion in the two traditional heartlands of Yorkist support.

What did the Lovell/Stafford rebellion lack that later Yorkists would need? [2]

1. They needed a figurehead to pretend to be a Yorkist prince.

2. They needed significant financial support.

What was the Lambert Simnel and the Earl of Lincoln Rebellion?

In 1487, a rebellion put together by the Earl of Lincoln was being planned with Lambert Simnel as the figurehead, who was pretending to be the Earl of Warwick.

What was the role of Margaret of Burgundy in the Simnel/Lincoln plot?

She harboured them and paid for a force of mercenaries to invade England

How did Henry prepare for the Simnel plot? [2]

1. He reinstated the Earl of Northumberland in the north, who had fought for Richard III at Bosworth. This was a huge gamble, but necessary to ensure that the Howard family (who Northumberland was descended from) did not join the rebellion.

2. He reinforced East Anglian Coastal defences.

How did Henry defeat the Simnel plot?

The Battle of Stoke Field 1487. Henry gathered a group of advisors, including former Yorkists. The two armies met and his army, led by the Earl of Oxford, defeated the other.

What was significant about the Battle of Stoke Field? [2]

1. It effectively ended the Wars of the Roses, making Henry's position more secure.

2. It demonstrated again the lack of support for Yorkist movements- the rebellion had been unable to add any significant number of followers to the army of mercenaries.

Who was Perkin Warbeck?

A continuing irritant to Henry VII, he pretended to be Richard, Duke of York.

When did Warbeck attempt his first landing in England?

1485

What was the result of this?

He was quickly defeated- Henry had heard of the plot from Sir Robert Clifford, a Royal Agent who had infiltrated Warbeck's retinue. Warbeck fled to Scotland.

What was shocking about Warbeck's 1495 landing?

He had the support of Sir William Stanley, the Lord Chamberlain of the royal household, who was a conspirator. This revealed Henry's close weakness.

When was Warbeck's next attempt and how did this go?

A small Scottish force led by Warbeck crossed the border in 1496, but was quickly defeated. Warbeck was forced to flee from Scotland following James's marriage alliance with Henry's daughter Margaret.

When was Warbeck finally captured?

In 1497, after he attempted to exploit the uncertainty of the Cornish Rebellion.

When were the Earl of Warwick and Perkin Warbeck executed?

In 1499, after being accused of plotting escape from the Tower.

What happened with Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and Richard de la Pole?

These were younger brothers of the Earl of Lincoln. In 1501, Suffolk entered the court of the Emperor Maximillian. Following the 1506 Treaty of Windsor, Maximillian gave up Suffolk to Henry who imprisoned him. This left Richard de La Pole at large who was killed in 1525 at the Battle of Pavia.

What were the key functions of the Council? [3]

1. To advise the king

2. To administer the realm on his behalf

3. To make legal judgements

What was the form of the council?

It had no established rules and procedures, despite having a permanent body with core membership. The importance of the council depended on the key members- especially Sir Reginald Bray, and the Council Learned.

What was the Council Learned?

An offshoot of the council that developed over the second half of the reign.

What were the main functions of the Council Learned?

To maintain the king's revenue and exploit his prerogative rights.

How did the Council Learned create fear and anger?

It made the system of bonds and recognisances work effectively, and it was not a recognised court of law.

Who were Empson and Dudley?

Two able bureaucrats who perfected extracting money from the king's subjects. Their execution after Henry's death lead to rejoicing in the streets.

How did Henry remodel the Chamber?

He created the Privy Chamber, a new Chamber were the king could retreat to his most intimate servants. This made it more difficult to get close to the king.

What were the two main roles of parliament?

1. To pass laws

2. To grant taxation to the Crown

How often did Henry call Parliament?

7 times, although 5 of these were in the first 10 years of his reign.

What were the first parliaments concerned with?

Acts of Attainder and granting tonnage and poundage.

What did the other parliaments do?

They granted extraordinary revenue for Henry in times of war.

What happened at the last Parliament?

In 1504, Parliament got Henry to agree he would get no more money via extraordinary revenue.

What was the relationship between Henry VII and his Parliament?

The king respected its decisions, and a number of private acts were passed for local improvements. There is little evidence Henry tried to "manage" parliament. The relationship was mutually beneficial.

Who did Henry rely on for maintaining order? How was this difficult?

Well-placed nobles were required in order to exercise power on his behalf. There was a delicate balance to be struck to make sure no noble became too powerful.

Why was maintaining order difficult for Henry?

The number of great Magnates had fallen in the last years of the Wars of the Roses.

How did Henry respond to the murder of the Earl of Northumberland in 1489?

He released the Yorkist Earl of Surrey to rule the north. This was a risky strategy, but Surrey effectively served Henry for 10 years.

How did Henry ensure noble loyalty? [2]

1. Henry's extensive spying network

2. The imposition of bonds and recognisances

Who were the JPs?

Justices of the Peace- they were appointed on a county-basis and upheld law and order in the countryside. They were usually large landowners who fulfilled the unpaid duties with the aim of self-betterment.

How did Henry increase the effectiveness of JP justice?

He passed various Acts of Parliament to increase the powers and responsibilities of the JPs.

What were bonds and recognisances?

Financial obligations to ensure good behaviour. Dudley- the king wished "to have many persons in danger at his pleasure". The king used these bonds to enforce order and obedience.

What were the 6 main sources of royal income under Henry VII?

Crown lands

Profit from feudal rights and the royal prerogative

Customs revenue

Pensions from other powers

Profits of justice

Extraordinary revenue

Was Henry a miser king?

No- although this view, which comes from Francis Bacon, is popular, it is not true. Analysis of sources surrounding Crown finances, such as Henry's accounts, shows a different account.

What did Henry spend money on?

Jewellery and plate, as well as large sums on building projects.

What did Henry's income reach by the end of the year?

£113,000/annum.

What was income from Crown lands in 1489?

Around £12,000/annum

What was income from Crown lands in 1509?

Around £42,000/annum

How did Henry accomplish this? [2]

1. He switched from the Court of Exchequer to the more efficient system of financial administration through the chamber around 1492.

2. He leveraged effective treasurers of the chamber, such as Sir Thomas Lovell and Sir John Heron.

How did Henry improve revenue from feudal dues?

Parliament granted a feudal aid in 1504- an ancient method of generating revenue. The Statute of Uses in 1489 also cut a loophole for avoiding paying tax on landed property.

How much money did Henry leave at the end of his reign?

£300,000 in plate and jewel, and £10,000 in cash (a far cry from Bacon's £1.8m figure which created the miser king myth)

How much did customs revenue increase?

From £34,000 to £38,000/annum over his reign.

How much did the Treaty of Etaples give?

From its signing in 1492, £5,000/annum

How much did Henry get from extraordinary revenue overall? How did this lead to problems?

£400,000. This helped provoke rebellion in 1489 and 1497, and Henry had to promise not to raise more this way in 1504.

What were Henry VII's foreign policy aims?

- National security

-Recognition of the Tudor dynasty

-Defence of English trading interests

What led up to the Treaty of Redon?

The French invaded Brittany in 1487, and Henry summoned a Parliament to raison extraordinary revenue for an army due to a sense of obligation to the Bretons and fear French control would lead to invasion.

What (+when) was the treaty of Redon?

February 1489- a treaty between England and Brittany in which Duchess Anne would pay for a small English army to defend Brittany from the French.

What did Anne do after the Treaty of Redon?

She surrendered and married Charles VIII of France, leaving the English army stranded- Perkin Warbeck also began to seek French aid.

What did Henry do in France in 1492?

Invaded, knowing that Charles was more interested in invading Italy, so the French quickly sought a peace settlement and agreed to pay £5,000/annum in the Treaty of Etaples and withdraw support from Warbeck.

Why was the Netherlands important to Henry VII?

The bulk of English exports went through Netherlandish ports, such as Antwerp and Bruges. Margaret of Burgundy, however, was a leading Yorkist and the stepmother-in-law of Maximillian the HRE.

What did Henry VII do in response to Maximillian and Phillip the handsome of the Netherlands?

He put an embargo on English trade to the Netherlands. Henry showed himself willing to sacrifice the interests of London merchants for dynastic security.

Was the Netherlands trade embargo a success?

Yes- Warbeck left Burgundy and the Intercursus Magnus of 1496 brought the embargo to an end.

What were the terms of the Treaty of Medina del Campo in 1489?

- England and Spain (Ferdinand and Isabella) promised mutual protection, they promised not to harbour rebels or pretenders, and a marriage was agreed between Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon.

How did Arthur's death complicate the Treaty of Medina Del Campo 1489?

Henry suggested Catherine marry Prince Henry but Ferdinand was reluctant. A war in Spain emerged between Ferdinand and Juana, with Henry supporting the latter.

What happened in 1506 with the Spanish?

Juana and her husband Phillip of Burgundy set sail for Spain, but were forced to take refuge in England, which Henry capitalised on, leading to the Treaty of Windsor.

What were the terms of the Treaty of Windsor (1506)?

- The Intercursus Malus, which gave English merchants extremely good trading rights.

- The return of the Earl of Suffolk

- An alliance between Henry and the Archduchess Margaret.

- Henry's recognition of Juana and Phillip.

What was the consequence of Phillip of Burgundy's death?

Juana grieved so much that Ferdinand declared her as mad and took over as regent of Castile. Ferdinand ensured the marriage between Henry and Catherine was not to happen in Henry VII's lifetime.

What happened with Scotland in 1495?

James IV came of age and began offering hospitality to Perkin Warbeck, offering him a pension and an aristocratic marriage.

What did Warbeck do in 1496?

Crossed the English border with an army. He received no support, however, and retreated on hearing word of an approaching English force.

What did Henry do with Scotland in 1497?

Raised an army to invade, but was forced to stop after a rebellion in Cornwall opposed the extraordinary taxation.

What were Anglo-Scottish relations like from 1498-1507?

Pretty good- James had no further use for Warbeck , who was captured and executed. James married Henry's daughter Princess Margaret in the 1502 Treaty of Perpetual Peace.

How did Henry VII initially govern Ireland?

Henry had no direct power beyond the Pale, and relied on the support of the Earl of Kildare, leader of the Geraldines/Fitzgeralds. He had Yorkist sympathies, however, and crowned Simnel king of Ireland in 1486 and supported Warbeck in 1491.

How did Henry change Irish governance in the 1490s?

He attempted the costly approach of rule of the Pale through armed English force, and appointed Sir Edward Poynings as deputy of Ireland.

How successful was Poynings?

Initally, fairly succesful. He required the Irish parliament to pass "Poynings law" in 1495, which forced the parliament to pass no law without approval from the Crown.

What happened with Ireland after 1495?

The previous strategy was proving too expensive, and Warbeck was forced to recall Poynings. by 1496, Kildare released there was no benefit in supporting the Yorkist cause and served Henry loyally.

What was the state of the nobility during Henry VII's reign?

The peerage comprised around 50 men. The Crown relied on these families to maintain order. Henry was reluctant to create new peerage titles due to his distrust of the nobility- only trusted military commanders such as the Earl of Oxford held sway.

What was retaining?

The system in which noblemen recruited large numbers of knights and gentlemen, often becoming like private armies.

How did Henry crack down on retaining?

In 1486 peers and MPs were required to take an oath against illegal retaining, although what counted as illegal was very vague. A law against retaining was passed in 1487.

What were the knights?

500 slightly lower-down figures who owned around 15-20% of the country's land and formed a homogenous elite. "mere gentry" were much more common- a gentlemen was anyone recognised as such by his neighbours.

How were regions characterised in terms of agriculture?

In the south and east, mixed farming predominated, whereas pastoral farming was more common in the north and west. There were areas of notable exceptions, such as wood pastures in Kent and grain and fruit in the Welsh border counties.

What was the Yorkshire Rebellion?

A rebellion in 1489 against taxation for the invasion of Brittany in which rebels killed the Earl of Northumberland. Details are sparse.

What was the Cornish Rebellion?

A rebellion in 1497 sparked by taxation efforts for an invasion of Scotland. It was a huge threat due to 3 factors; 15,000 participants, the involvement of Perkin Warbeck, and the fact the rebels reached London. Henry was forced to withdraw his troops led by Lord Daubeney from the Scottish border, although these forces crushed the rebels. Henry executed the leaders but was lenient with the regular rebels.

How big was the population of England in Henry VII's reign? How many of these lived in cities?

2.2 million people, with around 10% urban, although most of this were in small towns. London had 50,000 inhabitants.

How did agrarian patterns change over Henry VII's reign?

There is evidence of a move toward sheep farming reflecting increasing demand for wool.

What were the different forms of agriculture and where were they practiced?

Mixed farming- livestock and animals- in the lowlands

Pastoral farming- animals- woodland areas

Open-field husbandry- grain growing areas of the southeast

What proportion of English trade came from cloth? How did this increase?

Cloth was 90% of the value of English exports, and it has been estimated it rose 60% over Henry's reign.

How did the cloth market change under Henry VII?

The market demanded more finished cloth, which led to the development of domestic and industrial practices.

Who were the key London cloth exporters?

the Merchant Adventurers. They were the most powerful English business organisation of the age.

Why could the Merchant Adventurers not achieve complete cloth trade domination?

They were unable to match the trading privileges enjoyed by the Hanseatic League which had been reasserted by treaty in 1504 in an attempt to ensure the Hanseatic League would not support the Earl of Suffolk.

What other industries existed in England?

Not a huge amount- England was unable to compete with continental competitors, and industrial activity remained at the small-scale including brewing and weaving as they required little capital investment. Some mining took place- tin in Cornwall and Iron in Sussex and Kent- were there was a blast furnace from 1496.

What did Henry do in 1486 vis a vis trade?

He removed trading restrictions which had existed since Edward VI. They were reimposed as a result of Henry's support for Brittany, but removed by the 1492 Treaty of Etaples.

What and when were the Navigation Acts?

1485 and 1489. They attempted to encourage English shipping by ensuring only English ships could carry certain products to and from English ports. In actuality, foreign vessels continued to transport a large proportion of English exports.

Where was the centre of British exploration?

Bristol, whose merchants were interested in transatlantic discovery.

Who was John Cabot?

An explorer who was authorised by Henry VII to go on an expedition in 1497.

How successful was Cabot?

Somewhat- he discovered Newfoundland and reported the existence of extensive fishing grounds, but never returned from his voyage in 1498.