Consolidation of power

Question 1

When was the battle of Bosworth ?

Answer 1

• 22nd Aug 1485

Question 2

Why was HVII’s claim to the throne weak ?

Answer 2

1. Through a female line descended through his mother Lady Beaufort)
2. The line came through John Gaunt’s third wife and there son was born before their marriage so was seen as illegitimate

Question 3

Why was there little public support for Richard III ?

Answer 3

• Suspicion regarding the Princes of the tower

- Other presumed crimes

Question 4

Where did HVII live and how did this influence his skillset ?

Answer 4

• Lived abroad since the age of 14 when Edward IV regained power for the House of York
• Fled to Brittany and his ability to think like a fugitive proved useful training for his future as a ruler

Question 5

What was HVII’s main aim ?

Answer 5

• To consolidate his throne

Question 6

When did HVII date his reign from and why ?

Answer 6

• 21st Aug 1485 (day before battle of Bosworth) to ensure anyone who fight against him could be designated as a traitor

Question 7

How did HVII consolidate his reign through family ?

Answer 7

• Made his step uncle William Stanley the chamberlain of the household
• Jan 1586 : Married Elizabeth of York (daughter of Edward IV) waited so their were no claims he got the throne through his marriage and also used it as propaganda due to the union of York and Lancaster (Tudor rose)
• Sept 1586 : Arthur was born

Question 8

How did HVII eliminate claimants to the throne ?

Answer 8

• Arranged for supporters to detain the Earl of Warwick who was seen as having a greater claim than HVII

Question 9

How did HVII reward his supporters ?

Answer 9

• Publicly rewarded his key supporters eg 11 knighthoods

- Made key appointments to his household and council eg Reginald Bray to Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Question 10

How did HVII use parliament to consolidate his power ?

Answer 10

• Parliamentary acts of attainder against Yorkists who fought at Bosworth (lost title, lands etc) and their property was forfeited to the crown
• Parliament granted HVII the customs revenue of Tonnage and poundage for life (right to raise revenue for the whole reign from imports and exports)

Question 11

When was HVII’s coronation and why ?

Answer 11

• 30th Oct 1485 : before the meeting of parliament for the first time on 7th Nov 1485
• Demonstrated the throne was based on hereditary right and not because parliament sanctioned it

Question 12

Who did HVII fear and why ?

Answer 12

• Margret of Burgundy (Edward IV and Richard III’s sister)

- She had access to funds which enabled her to encourage the ambitions of Yorkist claimants

Question 13

When was the first rising against HVII and who led it ?

Answer 13

• Easter 1486

- Led by Viscount Lovell and the Staffords

Question 14

Where was the Lovell and Stafford rising and why was this significant ?

Answer 14

• North riding of Yorkshire (Richard’s heartlands) and the midlands (area of Yorkist support)
• Showed how there was little enthusiasm at this stage for a Yorkist rising in their traditional heartlands

Question 15

How easily was the Lovell/Stafford rising suppressed ?

Answer 15

• Easily
• Stafford was captured and executed
• Lovell managed to escape

Question 16

Who was Simnel being passed as ?

Answer 16

• Earl of Warwick who had been imprisoned by HVII

Question 17

When was Simnel crowned King of Ireland ?

Answer 17

• May 1487

Question 18

Who put together the conspiracy of Warwick, how did HVII disprove this hoax and what did this result in ?

Answer 18

• John de la pole, Earl of Lincoln
• HVII exhibited the real Earl of Warwick for everyone to see in London
• Lincoln fled and joined Lovell at the court of Margret of Burgundy in the Netherlands

Question 19

How did Margret of Burgundy assist Simnel/Warwick ?

Answer 19

• Supported his bogus claims and payed for a force of mercenaries to invade England

Question 20

How did HVII respond to the threat of foreign mercenaries and an invasion of Simnel ?

Answer 20

• Reinstated the untrustworthy Earl of Northumberland (supported Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth)
• this helped neutralise Richard’s old power base and ensured the Howard family wouldn’t join the conspiracy
• also reinforced coastal defences in East Anglia

Question 21

Where did the rebels land before the Battle of Stoke field ?

Answer 21

• North West Coast in Cumberland and crossed the penines to drum up support from the North Riding of Yorkshire

Question 22

Where did the 2 armies meet at the Battle of Bosworth and when was the battle of Stoke Field ?

Answer 22

• East stoke

- June 1487

Question 23

Why was HVII apprehensive at the Battle of Stoke field ?

Answer 23

• Feared he may be double crossed as Richard III was at the Battle of Bosworth

Question 24

Why did HVII win the Battle of Stoke Field and why was it significant ?

Answer 24

• Lincoln was killed in battle having being unable to add sufficient followers to the army of mercenaries
• Earl of Oxford led HVII’s army effectively
• Brought an end to the war of the roses

Question 25

How did HVII treat his opponents and supporters following the Battle of Stoke field ?

Answer 25

- Mild treatment of those who rebelled so won over some Yorkists who previously opposed him (due to his hard work, organisational skills and military leadership) - Developed the policy of bonds of good behaviour (sum didn't have to be paid back providing the conditions were observed) to ensure land owners were well behaved

Question 26

What happened to Richard de la pole ?

Answer 26

- exiled but still at large | - Killed fighting for French forces in the Battle of Pavia

Question 27

What happened to Suffolk ?

Answer 27

- Fled to Flanders in 1498 then returned but fled in 1501 and this time seeking refuge at the court of Maximilian - 1506 Treaty of Windsor : Maximilian agreed to give up Suffolk who was imprisoned in the Tower of London + executed under HVIII (1513)

Question 28

How was the actual Earl of Warwick dealt with ?

Answer 28

- Having being imprisoned since the Battle of Bosworth - Executed in 1499 having being accused of plotting with Warbeck - HVII was able to conveniently get rid of the most obvious Yorkist claimant

Question 29

Who was Warbeck ?

Answer 29

- Cloth trader from Flanders - 1491 began to impersonate the Duke of York in Ireland, briefly appeared in France and was then forced to flee to the court of Margret of Burgundy

Question 30

When did Warbeck attempt to land in England ?

Answer 30

- 1495 : HVII had been informed of his intentions and Warbeck was quickly defeated and fled to the court of James IV of Scotland

Question 31

Who was involved in the Warbeck plot that was significant ?

Answer 31

- Sir William Stanley (step-uncle) was Lord Chamberlain and headed the Royal Household when the Household government was still the normal model of political operation

Question 32

What were the final moves of Warbeck ?

Answer 32

- 1496 : small force of Scottish troops crossed the border but had to retreat quickly - Auld Alliance (HVII's daughter was to marry James IV to secure the northern border) - Tried to exploit the Cornish rebellion in 1497 but was forced to surrender

Question 33

How did HVII deal with Warbeck ?

Answer 33

- Leniently at first, allowing him to stay at court but when he tried to abscond he was sent to the tower - Having allegedly tried to escape with Warwick, he was accused of treason and they were both executed