Challenging the succession

• Henry VII's mother was Margaret Beaufort:

  • Direct descendant of Edward III
  • Edward's third son John of Gaunt had married Katherine Swynford and had John Beaufort - Henry's great grandad.
  • However John Beaufort was born before his parents got married
• Henry VIII 's father was Edmund Tudor -

  • Henry's grandmother had been married to Henry V before she married Owen Tudor
  • Edmund was half brother to Henry VI
• John de la Pole was the heir presumptive
• Battle of Bosworth was fought on the 22nd August 1485
• At Bosworth Henry had a force of 5,000 men, Richard III had nearly double that
• The Stanley's watched the battle of Bosworth before Sir William committed his troops to Henry
• Richard III was killed in the battle of Bosworth
• Richard III only legitimate son and heir Edward Prince of Wales had died in 1484
• Estimated that only a quarter of the nobility fought for Richard at Bosworth
• Henry was quickly coronated after Bosworth - 30th October
• Parliament of 1485, declared Henry King confirming the events of the previous month
• Parliament declared Henry became King on the 21st August 1485, making Richard a usurper
• Henry reversed the Titulus Regius, passed by Richard which declared Edward's marriage to Elizabeth Woodville was invalid
• Henry married Elizabeth of York in January 1486
• Prince Arthur was born on the 19th September 1486
• Rewarded his supporters:

  • Jasper Tudor - Duke of Bedford 1485
  • Thomas Stanley (Step father) - made of Earl of Derby
  • Sir William Stanley - Lord chamberlain of the Royal Household, controlled access to Henry
• John De la Pole and Earl of Lincoln swore loyalty and allowed to join the royal council