Henry VIIs character and aims

• England had experienced political instability in the 15th century. The reign of Henry VI resulted in the Wars of the Roses between the houses of Lancaster and York. Between 1455 and 1485, England had experienced 30 years of civil war and 5 changes of monarch.
• The unpopularity of Richard III allowed Henry Tudor to successfully seize the throne at the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485
• Henry Tudor's claim to the throne was weak:

  • Descended through a female line, through his mother Lady Margaret Beaufort.
  • Beaufort line came from John of Gaunt's third wife, their son was considered illegitimate.
  • Henry was the Lancastrian claimant only because there was no other suitable candidate.

  As a result, the early years of Henry's reign were characterised by insecurity & by fears of a potential yorkist challenge.
• Henry Tudor was proclaimed king by Lord Stanley (later Earl of Derby)
• Henry VII was not brought up to rule. He lived in exile in Brittany from the age of 14, following the Yorkist victory at the Battle of Tewkesbury. Henry fled to france to escape execution and lived for most of his time as a fugitive in the Duchy of Brittany.
• From 1485, Henry's main aim was to consolidate his power in order to keep his throne. He accomplished this through political actions and military success.
• Henry had to work to retain his throne and establish his dynasty. Above all, he had to reduce the power of the nobles who had used the previous period of instability to enhance their own authority. He also had to improve the Crown's financial position and secure the recognition of foreign powers.
• Key chronology:

  • 1485 August:
  • He dated his reign from 21 August, the day before the Battle of Bosworth; thus anyone who fought on the Yorkist side could be called a traitor.
  • He publically rewarded key supporters (Made 11 knighthoods)
  • He detained Earl of Warwick (Edward IV's nephew), whose claim to the throne could be much greater than his own.
• Key chronology:

  • 1485 October:
  • Arranged for his coronation to be a week before the 1st parliament, this was to show his succession was hereditary rather than just based on parliamentary sanction.
  • He made key appointments to his council and household. (E.G. Sir Reginald Bray and Sir William Stanley)
  • He issued Parliamentary acts of attainder against Yorkists who fought at Bosworth; their property became forfeit to the Crown.
  • He further increased his income by demanding the customs and revenues of tonnage and poundage for life at his first parliament.
• Key Chronology:

  • January 1486
  • Having consolidated power in his own right, Henry married Elizabeth of York. This enabled royal propaganda to exploit the union of the houses of Lancaster and York.
  • September 1486
  • An heir, Prince Arthur, was born.