Henry VII (1485-97) Flashcards
(39 cards)
1
Q
Strengths of Henry VII in 1485
A
- decisive victory at Bosworth = Richard III dead without an heir + won claim through right of conquest
- Henry has control/possession of rival contenders = Lincoln + Warwick
- Warwick is only a child
- Margaret Beaufort (mother) was well-connected in England, family well-known + married to Lord Stanley
2
Q
Weaknesses of Henry VII
A
- weak claim to the throne = Beaufort, maternal
- contenders with a strong claim = Lincoln + Warwick
- Yorkist opponents = Margaret of burgundy, Lord Lovell
- relatively unconnected = welsh, exiled in Brittany since 1471
3
Q
Who was the Lovell?
A
- spring 1486
- Lovell had been a close companion of Richard 3 = as minors had spent time together at middleham castle in the household of Warwick
- when Richard 3 seized the throne Lovell was appointed chief butler of England + kings chamberlain
4
Q
What was the Lovell revolt?
A
- spring 1486 = early, Henry VII hasn’t consolidated his rule yet = threat
- attempt to stir up a rebellion was orchestrated by Lovell + sir Humphrey Stafford
- the rising was planned to coincide with H7’s ceremonial progress through northern England
5
Q
How did the Lovell revolt grow?
A
- Stafford tried to raise troops in the West Midlands in the name of Edward, earl of Warwick = strong Neville influence in the region
- Lovell sought to raise the area around middleham (Yorkshire) = north sympathetic of Richard 3
- they were looking to exploit the Warwick/neville connections in these regions
- Lovell raised a significant number of men in middleham + Richmond = former Warwick the ‘kingmaker’ stronghold + Richard’s northern power base
6
Q
Why did the Lovell revolt fail?
A
- H7 revealed he had the real Warwick (Edward, son of Clarence) in the Tower of London = didn’t discourage Lovell or Stafford’s but did discourage the men of Richmondshire
- leading northerners failed to support the uprising = earl of Northumberland imprisoned after Bosworth + released by H7 on bonds = Northumberland supported H7 + not the rebels
- Northumberland prevented an attempted assassination of the king at York
7
Q
When did the Lovell revolt end?
A
- by the time H7 reached York on 20 April 1486 lovell’s rebels had dispersed without a fight
- Northumberland prevented an attempted assassination of the king
- jasper tudor (now Duke of Bedford) put down any signs of a rebellion in the welsh marches
- by 19 May Lovell was believed to be in the isle of Ely (Cambridgeshire) attempting to escape abroad
- many of the rebels were offered pardons by H7
8
Q
Significance of the simnel rebellion?
A
- it may initially seem that the threat posed by the Simnel rebellion was not that important, but it dominated Henry VII’s government from mid-February to mid-June 1487
- December 1486 H7 had already summoned a great council which met in February 1487 to take action against potential conspirators in England
- lambert simnel was a pretender with no claim to the throne BUT powerful backers supported the rebellion + it is feasibly that simnel was a stalking horse for another more serious claimant to the throne (Warwick)
9
Q
Who was lambert simnel?
A
- young boy from Oxford = no claim to the throne + no noble lineage
- simnel was presented to Europe as Edward, earl of Warwick
- it is possible that Lincoln was one of the people behind the plot = had made piece with H7 after fighting against him at Bosworth but during 1486 he began to conspire against H7
10
Q
Why did burgundy support the simnel rebellion?
A
- Margaret of burgundy was outraged by the overthrow of R3 + some of her personal lucrative trading rights had been removed by H7
- Maximilian, ruler of burgundy, was first alarmed by H7’s succession as burgundy had enjoyed good relations with yorkist England
- Henry’s invasion had also been supported + aided by burgundy’s enemy, France
11
Q
Growth of support for simnel rebellion
A
- Lovell arrived in burgundy between the summer + winter of 1486 = his revolt had failed + he needed safe refuge
- Margaret gave Lovell shelter + acknowledged simnel as her nephews Warwick = makes simnel more credible
- between December + February 1487 Lincoln defected; breaking his newly sworn allegiance to H7 = joined Margaret + Lovell in burgundy
12
Q
Strengths of Simnel rebellion
A
- January 1487 = simnel is accepted as Warwick by leading magnates in Ireland; most important was Gerald Fitzgerald, earl of Kildare, the most powerful + influential man in Ireland = had been angered by H7 when the king refused to confirm his office as lord deputy in Ireland
- Margaret hired highly experienced mercenary captain Martin Schwarz who bought 2000 mercenaries
- difficult for H7 to prepare for threat as rebels were based in both Ireland + burgundy = had to try + guard entire coastline of England
- 24 May 1487 = archbishop of Dublin crowned simnel as Edward IV in Dublin cathedral
13
Q
Invasion by simnel rebellion
A
- 4 June = rebel army landed at Furness —> advanced into Yorkshire but failed to recruit well due to the fast pace in which the rebels advanced, compared to the steady pace of Henry Tudor in 1485
- the city of York refused to admit the rebels despite a letter from ‘Edward VI’
- lord Scrope attacked the city of York diverting Northumberland away from joining up with H7 = led to a series of clashes between troops led by the Scropes + those of Northumberland + lord clifford around York
14
Q
Leading up to the battle of stokefield
A
- the main rebel army made for Nottingham = army numbered at only 8,000 men with a core of German troops but many ill-trained + equipped Irishmen
- only 12 days after landing in England it met with the royal army at the battle of stokefield on 16 June 1487
15
Q
Battle of stokefield
A
- 16 June 1487
- H7 certainly had a large army = 12,000 men which was strengthened by large contingent sent by the Stanleys
- H7 had the support of lord Stanley’s son, earl of Oxford, earl of Shrewsbury + lord hastings
- it was a fierce engagement = schwarz was an experienced commander = including unexpected crossing of the Trent that surprised Oxford’s division
- Lincoln + schwarz were killed, simnel was captured
16
Q
Post battle of stokefield
A
- attainders were issued for those who had fought against H7 - however only 28 men were attained
- simnel was spared + put to work in royal kitchens as a turnspit
- 25 November Elizabeth of York was finally crowned as queen = symbolic act effectively marked end of the wars
17
Q
What happened in the late 1480s?
A
- H7 decided to re-open the war with France even though the French had been pivotal in helping Henry become king in 1485
- Henry reverted to traditional English policy + supported Brittany against French aggression
- 1489 = parliament voted £100,000 to support a French campaign
18
Q
What led to the Yorkshire uprising?
A
- 1489 = increased taxation to support French campaign
- by tradition northern England was exempt from such taxation due to heavy burden of defending northern border against Scots - but Henry ignored this + demanded the north payed as well
- resentment at the taxation led to serious riots in Yorkshire + Durham which began 20 April 1489
- the leader of the unrest was a yeoman, Robert chamber of Alton
19
Q
How did the Yorkshire uprisings start?
A
- earl of Northumberland informed H7 that the northerners were refusing to pay the tax —> Henry told him to use force
- sir William plumpton + sir William Gascoigne brought armed companies to join Northumberland in Yorkshire on 27 April 1489
- 28 April = Northumberland was attacked by the mob + killed, almost likely lynched
20
Q
Support for the Yorkshire uprising?
A
- the revolt broadened with proclamations against the tax being issued throughout Yorkshire
- at its peak the revolt possibly comprised up to 20,000 insurgents = most of the rebels were yeomen, husband men, artisans, tradesmen
- crucusilly the revolt failed to gain the support from the gentry = most prominent rebel was sir John egremont (illegitimate member of the Percy family + Yorkist sympathiser)
- he led the rebels to the city of York which they seized in May
21
Q
Henry VII’s response to the Yorkshire uprisings?
A
- Henry took an army north with Thomas Howard
- this army included sir William Stanley, earl of Shrewsbury + Lord Hastings
- the city of York was quickly retaken + chambers were hanged along with the rebel leaders
- Thomas Howard was subsequently given command of northern England, being more acceptable to the northerners as he had served R3
22
Q
What did the Yorkshire uprising show?
A
The rising suggested H7’s control of England was far from secure
23
Q
Threats to Henry VII after stoke field?
A
- Henry had poor relations with both Scotland + France
- Yorkshire uprising 1489 + Cornish uprising 1497
- foreign powers, including burgundy, used the threat of Warbeck (conspiracy lasted from 1491 to 97) to exert pressure on Henry VII
24
Q
Was the simnel rebellion or warbeck a greater threat?
A
- both focused on a pretender to the throne = warbeck was chosen as a suitable imposter for Richard Duke of York ( Ed V’s younger brother)
- warbeck possibly more dangerous for Henry as he can’t disprove this like he could with the Warwick pretender + Richard had a much better claim to the throne then Henry
- simnel was crowned in Ireland + gets further with an actual battle = more dangerous? Multiple invasion in warbeck one but none are successful
- HOWEVER = Henry clearly viewed warbeck as a serious threat e.g. executed Stanley —> elements of warbeck were alarming but overall it didn’t get far
25
Who was warbeck?
- warbeck was a pretender to the throne = chosen as a impostor for Richard Duke of York (Ed V’s younger brother)
- rumour reached the English court that the assassin sent to kill the princes in 1483 took pity on Richard
- supported by Margaret of burgundy
26
How did the threat of warbeck start?
- 1491 = began in Ireland but there was very little support = suggests that since 1487 Henry had secured his position in Ireland
- March 1492 = warbeck sailed to France = traditional enemy of England = highly welcomed by French court along with 100 dissident Yorkists = Charles VIII addressed Warwick as ‘cousin’ + ‘Duke of York’
- December 1492 = warbeck arrives at the court of Margaret of burgundy = she acknowledges him as her nephew + called him ‘white rose’ = financed him + his growing circle of supporters
27
Henry VII’s response to growing warbeck threat in the beginning?
- Henry prepared to invade burgundy
- but on 14 august 1493 = terms agreed with archduke Philip the fair = promised not to harbour warbeck
- however this did not bind Margaret or Maximilian (Maximilian had become Holy Roman Emperor in 1493 + had been running burgundy on behalf of Philip until he was off age)
- Maximilian recognised warbeck as Richard IV
- Henry imposed a trade embargo on burgundy —> Maximilian responded by banning the import of English wool BUT he lacked the money to finance warbeck
28
Henry’s actions 1494-5
- Henry had spies watching warbeck sympathisers in England
- Nov 1494 = Henry bestowed the title of Duke of York on his second son Henry = attempt to prove/confirm the real Richard Duke of York is dead
- Jan + Feb 1495 = Henry moved against those aspected of involvement = number of men were arrested + put on trial accused of having contact with warbeck
29
Support for Henry 1495
- doubt in people’s minds about if Richard is still alive = can’t support Henry if it’s true
- one of those implicated to have had contact with warbeck is sir William Stanley = alarming for Henry = people closest to the king starting to think warbeck is dark of York —> creates more of a threat as more could follow + it will spread
- sir Robert Clifford was a plotter turned double agent when he discovered warbeck wasn’t York + claimed that John Radcliffe + sir William Stanley were plotting to overthrow Henry
- it was alleged that Stanley said he would not fight against warbeck if he was really Richard
- Stanley was attained + executed in feb 1495 = an example to deter others
- key moment for Henry = became more suspicious + increasingly withdrew from inner household + started using men of lower status
30
What did warbeck promise in 1495 to gain support?
- he promised to pay off the outstanding sum owing from Margaret’s dowry
- repay all the expenses of himself + those incurred supporting simnel
- grant land in England to Margaret
- promised Maximilian + Philip would be the heirs to England, France, Ireland + wales if warbeck had no children of his own
31
Warbeck invasion 1495
- July 1495 = invasion force of 14 ships with over 6000 troops
- decent sized army = bigger than the one Henry Tudor had when he invaded + largest expeditionary force launched from the continent during the wars
- contained contingent of profession mercanerjes led by experienced commander Rodriguez de lalaing
- the plan was to land striking distance from London but by error instead made for Kent
32
Why did the warbeck invasion in 1495 fail?
- landed in Kent by error
- when the advance guard made landfall on 3 July 1495 it was defeated by a local English militia force
- advance guard of 150 men destroyed, 8 captains + 40 soldiers not killed in skirmishes subsequently executed
- Henry had feared the landing would be accompanied by uprisings but this never materialised
33
Warbeck + Scotland 1495
- 20 Nov 1495 warbeck arrived in Stirling + was welcomed by Jame IV of Scotland
- James provided warbeck with a pension + arranged his marriage to lady Katherine Gordon (king’s cousin) which took place on 13 January 1496
- in return for an indemnity paid over 5 years, surrender of Berwick + paging 50,000 marks of james’ expenses, the Scottish king invaded Northumberland in sept 1496 with 1500 troops
34
Scottish invasion 1496
- Scottish king invaded Northumberland in sept 1496 with 1500 troops
- warbeck issued a proclamation/manifesto as the army crossed the river tweed denouncing Henry Tudor’s as a usurper + tyrant + asserting his own legitimacy as Richard Duke of York
- HOWEVER = short invasion = James IV had never intended a prolonged invasion + promptly withdrew from Northumberland after 4 days
- no Englishmen had joined warbeck when he crossed the tweed = very reliant on foreign support
35
Henry VII’s campaign on Scotland 1497
- Henry raised troops + prepared for substantial retaliatory invasion of Scotland in summer of 1497
- imposed heavy taxation
- planned a two pronged invasion BUT Cornish uprising occurred + threatened London
- campaign never took place + same year a seven year truce between England + Scotland was agreed at Ayton = this proposed a marriage between James + H7’s daughter
- James agreed not to give refuge to English pretenders + warbeck had to move on
36
Warbeck 1497
- had to leave Scotland = no longer supported him after truce with England
- 6 July = briefly in Ireland = still firmly controlled by Henry + when Ireland received news of Cornish rising the rebels sailed for Cornwall
- sept = by time time warbeck landed in Cornwall the rising had been long suppressed but did manage to raise a partial rebellion involving 8000 men, besieging Exeter
- Henry sent troops to crush rebellion —> warbeck abandoned his followers at Taunton + took sanctuary at beaulieu abbey in new forest = taken into custody in august
37
How did the threat of warbeck end?
- taken into custody in august but difficult to accuse him of treason due to him being foreign - instead Henry allowed him to remain at court
- 1498 = warbeck attempted to flee + was recaptured = June put in tower
- 1499 = warbeck was accused of trying to escape —> it was alleged he had plotted with Warwick in the tower + sought to overthrow Henry VII
- 23 nov = found guilty + hanged
- following week Warwick was beheaded —> alleged plotting between Warwick + warbeck may have been staged to provide a reason for their execution
38
Why would Henry want warbeck + Warwick executed?
- Henry was under pressure from the Spanish rulers who wanted to guarantee the Tudor dynasty was secure before allowing their daughter Katherine of Aragon to marry Prince Arthur
39
Cornish uprising 1497
- originated in Cornwall, quickly led to an uprising throughout the entire south west of England
- popular rising against heavy taxation + was NOT planned to coincide with Scottish campaign + perkin warbeck
- possibly as many as 15000 rebels were involved at the peak of the uprising
- rebels advanced on London under the leadership of Lord Audley
- 17 June = kings troops confronted the rebels at Blackheath + rebels were soundly defeated
- more than 4500 were fined in the aftermath + pardons were granted afterwards but many rebels did not submit as they feared harsh punishment
