History - Henry VII

What important things did Henry VII have to address upon becoming King?

• Moving his reign a day earlier than it actually began (opponents were therefore traitors)

• Move Yorkists in with Henry’s mother to avoid them being opponents, marry Elizabeth

• Travel the kingdom

• Get Papal support

• Be crowned King and get Parliament to acknowledge you

• Get heirs

• Decide how to treat supporters, opponents and rival claimants

What did Henry prioritise doing?

• Moving reign back

• Coronation - Custom, symbolic and making him officially ruling

• Call Parliament to give him legitimacy, revoke some of Richard III’s laws and pass his own legislation

• Marry Elizabeth after having a male heir and fighting off a rival claimant

What happened during the Lovell Rebellion? How serious of a threat was it?

• Humphrey and Thomas Stafford supported Yorkists, along with Francis Lovell - the latter was a friend of Richard descended from the two families, who wanted the throne and had fought with Richard but fled

• 1486

• Spies monitored Lovell who attempted to flee. At Stoke they battled, were defeated and Lovell fled, returning to help future rebellions

• Humphrey executed, Thomas set free on good behaviour promise

• Sir John Coyers, a supporter of Lovell, loses position and has to pay £2000, Abbot of Abbingdon (helped the brothers) has to pay £3000

• Loss of sanctuary appeal for committing treason

• Failed to become a full uprising but also resulted in an execution, Henry realising internal weakness and

What happened during Lambert Simnel’s rebellion? How much of a threat was it?

• Pretender tutored by a priest called Richard Symonds

• February 1486-June 1487

• Edward, Earl of Warwick (true Yorkist claimant) in Tower of London

• Margaret of Burgundy (brother of Richard III) supports Simnel along with John de la Pole and Lovell, claiming Simnel was Margaret’s nephew

• Lambert crowned Edward VI supported by Earl of Kildare in Ireland

• Conspirators land soon after, 12,000 of Henry’s men defeat 8,000 of the rebels

• Lincoln is killed and Lovell dies soon after - Simnel is captured and hired by Henry

What happened during the Yorkshire Rebellion and how much of a threat was it?

• 1489

• Taxes from Henry requested to fight France, though the north had poor harvest and raids from Scotland - unable to pay

• 2-3000 rebels rise up led by John Egremont and Henry Percy (Henry VII’s ally sent to tax collect) is murdered

• Earl of Surrey stops rebels, foces Egremont to flee

• Surrey made Lieutenant of the North

• Why a threat? Henry gave in to demands and Northumberland was killed? Perhaps not? Small numbers, it ended quickly

What happened during Perkin Warbeck’s rebellion? How much of a threat was it?

• Claimed throne as one of the Princes in the Tower (Richard, Duke of York)

• Supported by Scotland, France and Margaret of Burgundy, attempts to take advantage of English unrest

• Lands in Cornwall with 8000 men at peak

• Crowned King in 1491, failed to invade twice in 1495 and 1496, captured 1497, executed 1499

• Threat? International support, several attempts, dangerous threats backing him

• Not a threat? Defeated quickly, all attempts failed, France and Scotland made peace

What happened during the Cornish Rebellion of 1497?

• Taxes towards fighting Scotland

• Michael An Gof and Thomas Flamank march 15,000 people to London (not aiming to coup)

• Defeated in battle by 25,000 - leaders executed, others pardoned

• Threat? Large army

• Not a threat? Poor arming, lack of noble support

• Tax collectors gain power post-revolt