Henry VII and Succession

Question 1

Lambert Simnel

Answer 1

Lambert Simnel pretended to be Edward, Earl of Warwick. Simnel was welcomed in Ireland by the Earl of Kildare and was crowned king of England there. Although the real Earl of Warwick was alive, a rebellion still erupted. The rebels, led by the Earl of Lincoln fought Henry VII’s forces at the Battle of Stoke in 1487. Several leading Yorkists were killed and Simnel was arrested. Henry VII capitalised on the death of leading Yorkists and gained oaths of loyalties from other Yorkists.

Question 2

Perkin Warbeck

Answer 2

Perkin Warbeck pretended to be Richard, Duke of York, the younger son of Edward IV who had disappeared in 1483. Warbeck was welcomed in France until the Treaty of Étaples and later Burgundy. In 1497, Warbeck allied himself to King James IV of Scotland. Warbeck landed in England and tried to gather support. He was executed in 1499, along with Edward, Earl of Warwick. Henry VII was able to make useful foreign alliances as he dealt with Warbeck.

Question 3

Edmund de la Pole

Answer 3

Unlike Simnel and Warbeck, Edmund de la Pole had a genuine claim to the throne. He had grievances against Henry VII, including losing some land to the Crown, having to pay a relief of £5,000 and being demoted from Duke to Earl. Edmund de la Pole fled England for the Holy Roman Empire in 1501. Henry VII arrested members of his family and friends. In 1506, Henry VII negotiated the handing over of Edmund from the Holy Roman Empire. He agreed not to execute him. De la Pole stayed in the Tower of London until he was executed in 1513.