Henry VII's Reign

The beginning of his dynasty

When was the Battle of Bosworth?

August 22nd, 1485

What happened during the Battle of Bosworth?

Henry’s rebel army defeated the royal army of Richard III and killed him, making Henry VII king of England. This marked the start of the Tudor dynasty

Why was Henry VII’s claim to the throne weak?

Henry was only the nephew of the last Lancastrian king (Henry VI), his mother’s (Margaret Beaufort) side of the family

How did Henry VII secure his claim to the throne and his dynasty?

• Married Elizabeth of York & produced an heir

• Won the Battle of Bosworth

How did Henry VII use money to solidify his reign?

Henry VII introduced the gold Sovereign (original pound coins) in 1489 which were gifted to foreign dignitaries and noblemen to display his power and status

How did Henry VII convince England that he was the rightful king?

• Trained hard to become an adept monarch

• Changed historical records to portray Richard III as the wrongful king

What family initially opposed Henry VII’s rule and why?

The De La Pole Family

Edmund (3rd duke of Suffolk) and Richard De La Pole opposed Henry VII’s rule and legitimacy, claiming that they had a claim to the throne since they were the only remaining credible Yorkist descendants

How did Henry VII deal with the threat of the De La Pole family?

Henry VII arrested many of the De La Pole’s family and friends. In 1506, he negotiated with the Holy Roman Empire to have Edmund De La Pole transported back to England and kept him in the Tower of London until his execution in 1513