Unrest in early years

• Although Henry VII won the Battle of Bosworth, it didn't mean he had the support of the country
• Henry's claim came largely through his mother, Margaret Beaufort, a descendant of Edward III through the marriage of his third son, John of Gaunt to Catherine Sywnford
• However, the children of the marriage had been born when Catherine was John's mistress and had been legitimised later by parliament during the reign of Richard II
• Henry also had some royal blood as his father's mother was a French princess who had been married to Henry V, before marrying Owen Tudor, Henry's grandfather
• Henry was the Lancastrian claimant to the throne yet his claim was weak and was likely to be challenged by Yorkist claimants