Securing his position

• Henry dated the start of his reign from the day before Bosworth - meant those who fought him were traitors and he could have their estates seized, adding to the king's wealth
• Henry arranged for his coronation for 30 October 1485 which was before parliament met, meaning it could not be claimed that he was king only because of parliament
• Henry asked for a papal dispensation to allow him to marry Elizabeth of York, distant cousin, to unite the houses of Lancaster and York
• He married Elizabeth after he was crowned, so it could not be claimed that he owed the crown to his wife
• When Henry won at Bosworth, he was largely unknown in England, having spent 14 years in exile in France after 1471
• Likely that many thought that, given his weak claim and lack of knowledge about the country, that his reign would be unlikely to last
• Advantages:

  • Country was weary of war and would support a king who could offer peace and stability
  • Henry was replacing an unpopular king
  • Henry wasn't dependent on a powerful noble to make him King so wasn't indebted to one