Henry VII: Consolidation - Post-Bosworth Problems

Question 1

Weak Claim

Answer 1

• Henry’s claim was matrilineal (through his mother) and through an illegitimate line back to the third son of Edward III, John of Gaunt

Question 2

Other Live Claimants

Answer 2

• Other claimants who had similar or better claims to the throne
• Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick
• John de la Pole
• Edmund de la Pole

Question 3

Princes in the Tower

Answer 3

• With no bodies it couldn’t be proven that Edward IV’s sons were actually dead
• Sons were Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York
• This leads to rebellions and pretenders (Warbeck and initially Simnel)

Question 4

Poor Finances of the Crown

Answer 4

• Depleted by wars

Question 5

Uneven Control

Answer 5

• Crown had more control in more populated areas of the south and east, less power in borderlands and north - especially with lack of local government

Question 6

Nobles

Answer 6

• Many nobles had power to rival the Crown with private armies and power over their localities