Key figures Flashcards
(22 cards)
Lord Thomas Stanley (1435-1509)
Henry VII’s stepfather, who initially did not involve himself in the Battle of Bosworth; however his eventual intervention proved to be crucial, and he was rewarded with the title Earl of Derby. Proclaimed Henry as King of England on the Bosworth battlefield. Was vital to the exercise of royal power in NW England and N Wales during Henry VII’s reign.
Edward, Earl of Warwick (1475-99)
Son of Edward IV’s brother (Duke of Clarence) who was placed in the Tower of London upon Henry VII’s ascension to the throne in 1485. Remained in the Tower except for occasional public appearances. Beheaded for allegedly having plotted with Perkin Warbeck against Henry VII in 1499.
Sir William Stanley (c1435-95)
Brother of Lord Thomas Stanley, who took the post of Lord Chamberlain following the Battle of Bosworth. This position gave him considerable political influence and allowed him to develop his landed estate in Cheshire and N Wales. Executed for treason in 1495 after being convicted of supporting Perkin Warbeck.
Lambert Simnel
A boy in Oxford tutored in courtly manners by priest Richard Symonds, with the initial intention of impersonating Richard (Duke of York, younger of the two princes in the Tower), before switching to impersonating the Earl of Warwick. Captured at the Battle of Stoke and spared by Henry VII, being given a job in the royal kitchens.
John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln (c1460-87)
Edward IV and Richard III’s nephew, Richard III’s designated successor. Regarded as the Yorkist leader in the aftermath of the Battle of Bosworth. Killed in action at the Battle of Stoke.
John Morton (d1500)
Highly able churchman and lawyer, beginning his career as passionate Lancastrian but later making his peace with the Yorkists. Served as Bishop of Ely under Edward IV. Worked against Richard III and Henry VII promoted him to Archbishop of Canterbury for his services. Became a cardinal in 1493
Sir Reginald Bray (d1503)
Faithful servant of Henry VII for a long time, helping him raise funds prior to the Battle of Bosworth. Under Henry VII’s reign his influence was exercised through his role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, also led the Council Learned. Described as “king’s chief executive” and “more powerful than most nobles” by Thomas Penn
Margaret Beaufort (1443-1509)
Married Edmund Tudor in 1455, giving birth to Henry Tudor at just 14 years old. Third husband was Lord Thomas Stanley. Important unofficial adviser to Henry VII, and was granted a large estate at Collyweston (Northamptonshire). Retained her political influence throughout Henry VII’s reign, but her ability to intervene directly in political affairs was limited by the time she spent keeping her own lavish household
Sir Richard Empson (c1450-1510)
Member of King’s Council from 1494, eventually rising to chair the Council Learned. Closely identified with increasing ruthlessness of Henry VII’s regime; arrested shortly after the king’s death and charged with treason. Executed the following year
Edmund Dudley (c1462-1510)
Came to prominence following Bray’s death, with the role to exploit financial opportunities. Thus he had ample opportunity to make many enemies, and so became vulnerable to counter-attack as soon as he lost the king’s protection. Became accountable for Henry VII’s demands upon his death, executed alongside Empson
Maximilian I (1459-1519)
Holy Roman emperor from 1493 to 1519, though he had taken over rule of the empire in 1486. Married Mary of Burgundy in 1477, thus taking control of the Netherlands, England’s main trading partner
Charles VIII (1470-98)
King of France from 1483 until his death, ruling in his own right from 1491. Main concern was to assert his claim to the throne of the kingdom of Naples in the Italian peninsula, which reduced his potential threat to Henry VII
James IV (1473-1513)
Succeeded to the throne of Scotland in 1488, and was responsible for the 1496 invasion of England. Made peace with Henry VII the following year and married his daughter Margaret in 1503. Killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513
Gerald Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Kildare (c1456-1513)
The leading member of the Irish nobility, known as the “uncrowned king of Ireland”. Henry VII became dependent upon him for the maintenance of law and order in Ireland
John de Vere, Earl of Oxford (1442-1513)
Henry VII’s most trusted military commander and led his troops at the battles of Bosworth and Stoke Field
Giles, Baron Daubeney (c1451-1508)
Originally a Yorkist but he rebelled against Richard III in 1483 and fled to Brittany, transferring his loyalty to Henry VII, whom he fought for at Bosworth. Succeeded Sir William Stanley as Lord Chamberlain in 1495, and led the Crown’s forces against the Cornish rebels in 1497
Richard Fox (c1447-1528)
Began serving Henry VII whilst he was still in exile. In 1487 he became bishop of Exeter and Lord Keeper of the Great Seal; successively became bishop of Bath and Wells, Durham and Winchester. Managed the Crown’s transition to Henry VIII along with Sir Thomas Lovell
Polydore Vergil (c1470-1555)
Italian humanist who came to England in 1502 in employ of the Church. Welcomed at the court of Henry VII and began writing his History of England in about 1505; the first edition was published in 1513, but a third edition published in 1555 covered up the period up to 1537
John Cabot (c1451-98)
Native of Genoa who seems to have been involved in the Venetian spice trade before moving to Spain where he worked as a harbour designer. Might have met Christopher Colombus in 1493; his navigational intuition led him to believe that a more northerly course across the Atlantic would reach land more quickly
John Colet (1467-1519)
Travelled to Italy, where he was introduced to humanist influences. Followed a largely academic career, after which he became Dean of St Paul’s and in 1512 founded St Paul’s School. His one surviving sermon was highly critical of the standards of the clergy, many historians assume that Colet’s views foreshadowed those who favoured Protestantism
Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)
A Dutch scholar whose influential The Handbook of a Christian Soldier (published 1504) sought to regenerate Christianity through emphasis on education and rejection of some of the Church’s traditional ceremonies; his satirical works were highly critical of the abuses of the Church
Sir Thomas More (1478-1535)
Distinguished lawyer, humanist scholar, famous author of Utopia. Valued councillor to Henry VIII and was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1529 after Wolsey’s fall. He resigned in 1532 as a result of Henry VIII’s religious changes and was executed for treason, having denied the royal supremacy
