the consolidation of power

• • England experienced political instability in 15th century
  • unsuccessful reign of H6- war of roses 1455 between York +Lancaster
  • 1455-1485 suffered 30 years of intermittent civil war+5 violent usurps
  • unpopularity Yorkist king Richard III allowed Henry Tudor to successfully seize throne at battle of Bosworth field 22nd August 1485
• claim to throne was weak because?

  • descended through a female line-lady beaufort
  • beaufort line from john of gaunt's 3rd wife+son born out of wedlock
  • H7 Lancastrian claimant as no other suitable candidates
  • caused insecurity+fears of potential yorkist challenges
• H7 character+aims:

  • H7 not brought up to rule
  • exiled in Brittany since age 14
  • due to Yorkist victory at the battle of Tewksbury, lancastrian relatives+ nobels died or were executed
• characteristics of H7:

  • shrewd,calculating+self-restrained
• H7 steps to secure throne:

  1485 Augest:

  • back date reign to 21st August, day before bosworth, thus all who fought him were labelled as traitors
  • publically rewarded many key supporters-11 knighthoods
  • he detained- Ealr of Warwick and Elizabeth of York
• 1485 October:

  • coronation arranged week before 1st parliament in Nov 1485, to show that his right to the throne was hereditary, and not just parliamentary sanctioned
  • key appointments to his council and household(sir reginald bray as chancellor of the duchy of lancaster + sir william Stanley as chamberlain of the household)
  • acts of attainder against yorkists who had fought at Bosworth; their property became the crowns
  • increased his income by demanding the customs revenue of tonnage and poundage for life at his first parliament
• 1486 January:

  • H7 married Elizabeth of York, merging two warring houses(york and lancaster)
• 1489 Sept:

  • prince Arthur born
• Threats to H7:

  • Yorkist supporters(e.g. lovell+the staffords)
  • Margaret of Burgundy:
  • sister of Richard duke of York+willing to fund anti-H7 campaigns
  • pretenders: Lambert sminel+ Perkin Warbeck
  • yorkist claimants: edward and john de la pole