Threats to H7 rule Flashcards
Why was there royal instability in the 1400s?
War of the Roses between the house of York & Lancaster led to multiple battles & instability
what difficulties were there for henry in winning the battle of bosworth?
few people knew who he was (been in exile)
he’d only been in England for a couple of weeks
he only had an army of 5000 vs Richard’s 10,000-15,000
he had never been in battle before
name 3 reasons people were likely to oppose Henry’s rule
1) weak claim to the throne through his mother’s side
2) Spent years in exile - few people knew who he was
3) Had become king in battle - fear others would try & usurp him
what was Henry’s claim to the throne?
his mother was the granddaughter of the Edward III’s eldest (illegitimate) son
name 6 potential challenges / causes of unrest to Henry’s initial rule?
1) limited finances
2) threats from other countries in vulnerable staet
3) factions
4) yorkist threat
5) overly powerful nobles
6) law & order gone
What did Henry do initially to try and secure his position
1) dates reign from day pre Bosworth; can denounce those who fought for Richard as traitors
2) has coronation before wedding / meeting of parliament; prevent claims he’s only king bc of marriage/parliament
3) marries Elizabeth of York; unites the houses
4) imprisons Warwick & John de la Pole; removes key Yorkist threats
what factors help prevent unrest after Henry initially comes to power
country fed up of war - unlikely to support rebellion
lots of yorkist opposition killed in war of roses
Name the 6 rebellions chronologically
Lovell Simnel Yorkshire Warbeck Cornwall De la Pole
Lovell rebellion;
1) cause
2) what happened
1) dynastic
2) Henry’s intelligence network foils rebellion - rebels flee; Lovell goes to Flanders but the Staffords captured; Humphrey executed & Thomas pardoned
Lovell rebellion
threat level
+ why a threat
- why not a threat
low
+ early in reign - H7 not stable, shows theres still dynastic unrest
- no influential leaders, efficient intelligence operation stops it
Simnel rebellion;
1) cause
2) what happened
1) dynastic
2) Simnel is passed off as the Earl of Warwick, he is supported by the Earl of Lincoln & goes to Dublin where the Duchess of Burgundy sends mercenaries. H7 parades the real Warwick (prisoner in the tower) through London but mercenaries attackk England any way & march south where they are defeated at the battle of stoke
Simnel rebellion
threat level
+ why a threat
- why not a threat
high
+ foreign support, royal army needed, culminates in battle of stoke - tightly fought
- little English support (only 1500 join), H7 can easily disprove claim
Yorkshire rebellion
1) cause
2) what happened
1) social - economic
2) Tax man killed after widespread resent in Yorkshire about new taxes in support of Bretagne (other northen counties excused due to Scottish defence responsibilities & bad harvests) the rising is put down easily
Yorkshire rebellion
threat level
+ why a threat
- why not a threat
low
+ royal army needed, money never collected, H7 forced to put in northern representative bc of weak authority
- little support outside Yorkshire, eaily put down, no march south
Warbeck rebellion
1) cause
2) what happened
Dynastic.
Warbeck poses as Duke of York (prince in tower). Leaves Ireland.
Goes to France - forced to leave France after treaty of Etaples.
Goes to Burgundy - tutored in ways of court - leaves after H7 suspends trade with Burgundy.
Goes to HRE - then leaves & fails to invade Deal (Kent).
Goes to Scotland - joint invasion fails -leaves after King James VI marries Margaret Tudor.
Goes to Ireland - attempts to invade Cornwall.
Gives up.
Warbeck rebellion
threat level
+ why a threat
- why not a threat
+ Gains support from key countries, continues for 8 years, supported by English nobility (Sir Stanley), H7 can’t disprove claim
- Never strong English support, H7 manages to counteract foreign support
Cornwall rebellion
1) cause
2) what happened
Social - economic
Cornwall resent having to pay tax for Scottish defence & rebels assemble & march through Devon & Somerset to London. They are defeated by the royal army
Cornwall rebellion
threat level
+ why a threat
- why not a threat
+ Rebels number 15,000 at one point, royal army needed
- Protest against ‘evil councilors’ not king, desertion weakens army
Cornwall rebellion
1) cause
2) what happened
Dynastic - De la Pole has legit throne claim
Suffolk flees to France, then HRE. Maximillian is paid £250,000 to hand suffolk over but doesn’t - in response H7 stops trade.
By chance Philip of Burgundy (MI’s son) is shipwrecked in England & suffolk surrendered (on condition that he lives)
Cornwall rebellion
threat level
+ why a threat
- why not a threat
+ Suffolk has support from HRE, H7 worried enough to pay lots of money
-Suffolk never actually attempts to invade England
why were the nobles a threat?
They had gained too much land/power under Richard III and were too powerful.
Many held claims to the throne (H7’s was weak)
But H7 was also reliant on them - needed help to govern - danger of being exploited
Why do some people argue the nobles weren’t a threat
Many key nobles were killed in the wars of the roses
How do people typify the methods used by H7 to control the nobles
carrot and stick (incentives and punishments)
What incentives did H7 use (names)
Peerage
Knights of the Garter
Kings council
