threats to Henry VII's rule

• threats to Henry VII's rule

  1. pretender threats
  2. foreign threats/support
  3. weak claim/Yorkist claims
• pretender threats

  -  Lambert Simnel, 1487 (claimed to be Earl of Warwick) = serious early challenge, supported by Marg of Burg, forced into Battle of Stoke agst 8000 men)

  -  Perkin Warbeck, 1491-99 (claimed to be Richard, Duke of York, could not be proven wrong)

  -  Warbeck’s execution = was a serious threat

  -  Warbeck = long-term problem
• pretender threats (counter)

  -  Simnel proven wrong with the real Earl of Warwick & eventually defeated at Stoke

  - Simnel’s punishment of working in royal kitchens = not a serious threat?

  -  Warbeck eventually captured & executed in 1497
• foreign support/threats

  -  Margaret of Burgundy provided 2000 men for Warbeck & offered support to Simnel

  -  Warbeck supported by French Charles VIII, HRE, Scottish James IV

  -  Warbeck crowned king in Ireland
• foreign support/threats (counter)

  -  Embargo with Burgundy over their support of Warbeck

  -  Treaty of Étaples 1492 removed French backing of pretenders, eg. Warbeck

  -  Burgundy handed over de la Pole in 1506
• yorkist claims/weak claim

  -  Stronger blood claims, eg. de la Poles, Earl of Warwick

  -  Weakened by 14 years in exile – did not know the country & vice versa

  -  Very distant claim from Lancastrian line

  -  Henry = usurper, gained throne through battle. Limited support in the battle itself, few believed reign would continue

  -  Weak claim = mother Margaret Beaufort (woman)

  - Yorkists had significant support, esp in North
• yorkist claims/weak claim (counter)

  -  Marriage to Elizabeth of York strengthened legitimacy & removed her claim (eldest daughter of Edward IV)

  -  Henry = only Lancastrian claimant (no family rivals)

  -  Richard III = also a usurper (Princes in Tower), unpopular – Henry = fresh start after WoRs

  -  Henry provided peace & stability after War of Roses

  -  Princes in the Tower = killed by Richard (no claim)

  -  Mother Margaret Beaufort descended from Lancastrian line so had legitimate claim

  - Battle of Bosworth ended WoRs  York vs Lancaster struggle was over