henry - VII Flashcards
1
Q
what was henry VII’s claim to the throne? how did he become king?
A
- claim was weak because it was through his mother + she was descended from a once legitimate branch of lancastrians
- became king from winning bosworth - he was an usurper if he could overthrow a king so could many others
2
Q
what were henry VII’s main aims?
A
- establish right of the throne
- control nobility - war of the roses caused by them
- strengthen crown’s control of england - to achieve had to build a financially strong crown
3
Q
how did henry VII secure his reign?
A
- dated his reign from august 21st 1485 - day before bosworth - meaning anyone who fought against him now traitors + could have estates seized which would also add to king’s wealth
- arranged coronation for 30th october 1485 - before parliament met so that it could not be claimed he was king because of them + authority not dependent
- 7th november 1485 - called the first parliament of his reign as only monarch could call parliament - demonstration of kingship
- also needed their recognition of his position - parliament duly obliged by recognising henry’s title to the throne
4
Q
what was henry VII’s coronation like?
A
- coronation highly symbolic event anointed him by god’s grace - involved england’s nobles all taking a public oath of loyalty to him
- golden opportunity to create powerful image - no expense spared - aim - surpass festivities accompanied richard III’s coronation
5
Q
what was henry VII’s marriage like? how were his wife’s 4 sisters a potential threat?
A
- asked papal dispensation to allow him to marry elizabeth of york (distant yorkist cousin) + unite houses of lancaster + york - any descendant will be from both houses
- marriage - january 1486 - after crowned king to show he claimed throne in his own right + not elizabeth - perhaps worried subjects confused about claim if married before coronation
- henry so determined to have individual claim - delayed elizabeth’s coronation until 1487
- mindful of elizabeth’s four sisters - undoubtedly have children if married - might result in threatening claims to throne - relief arthur born along with margaret + mary
6
Q
what protection did henry VII set up for himself?
A
understood need to act + look like a king - but realised need for personal protection squad - the yeomen of the guard - by end of reign number increased to some 200
7
Q
how did henry VII deal with opponents at bosworth?
A
- had to decide what to do with them - being too draconian in actions may sow seeds of discontent among already disgruntled ricardians but if too lenient might damage standing as king + make him look weak
- lucky for him less than 1/4 of england’s temporal peers sought against him + those who did - many captured/killed
- not all yorkists staunch supporters of richard, as duke of buckingham’s rebellion against him in oct 1485 had shown
- henry not vengeful man + so if former yorkists prepared to accept him could expect to be treated with dignity + consideration - aim was to use loyalty to enhance security - demonstrated to be merciful + gained some support amongst the people
8
Q
what were henry VII’s key threats?
A
- although war of the roses killed some better claimants to the throne - still a number of yorkists alike who had equal/ better claims as henry had most importantly richard’s nephews : edward, earl of warwick + john de la pole
- he was challenged by yorkists who had seen their monarch richard III defeated + nobles who wanted to maintain influence
9
Q
how did henry VII deal with threats?
A
- earl of warwick - sent to the tower but lived in relative comfort
- john de la pole (earl of lincoln) - professed loyalty to henry + later invited to join king’s council
- edmund de la pole - unlike simnel+warbeck genuine claim to the throne - arrested members of family+friends - eventually executed in 1513
10
Q
how difficult was henry’s reign?
A
- enormous advantage of replacing a king who had been widely disliked although lingering affection for richard in north
- unlike henry VI + edward IV - predecessor already dead
- noble house which gained the most was stanley’s house - but henrys mother married into it - rebellion from them improbable
- weak claim - reign unlikely to last
- could be argued england weary of war + would support king who offered peace+stability despite weak claimant esp as replaced increasingly unpopular richard also not dependent on nobles like edward IV thus not beholden to another noble family
11
Q
how did henry reward his supporters?
A
- jasper tudor - his uncle - became duke of bedford one of few to be elevated to peerage + given many other titles + powers - posed little threat as 55 not likely to have children
- lord stanley - henry’s stepfather - created earl of derby
- sir thomas lovell - rebelled against richard 1483 - made chancellor of exchequer, treasurer of household + speaker of HofC
