Henry VII - Consolidation of Power

• What was Henry VII's claim to the throne?

  - He had a weak claim through the Beaufort line on his Mother's side

  - This line was at first illegitimate

  - However, after the death of Henry VI in 1471, Henry Tudor was the head of the Lancastrians
• What was the Wars of the Roses?

  - Wars between the House of Lancaster and the House of York

  - Began in 1455

  - Subjected England to a violent civil war, with many changes of monarch
• Why was Richard III disliked in England?

  - He was seen as the cause for the disappearance of the princes

  - Was not the rightful heir to the throne
• Who was King in England at this time? Why was he King?

  - Richard III

  - He was king after he promised to look after the throne for Edward IV's two young sons

  - The sons mysteriously disappeared
• When was the Battle of Bosworth?

  - 22nd August 1485
• What did Henry do on the day before the Battle of Bosworth?


  - He declared himself as King of England
• Why was Henry declaring himself King significant?

  - It meant that when he was successful in battle, he could declare all of Richard III's supporters as traitors.

  - This gave him the power to remove power from the powerful nobles who may be a threat to his reign.

  - This also allowed him to reward his own supporters, potentially giving them titles to allow him to have supporters in power quickly.
• What were Henry's reasons for winning the Battle of Bosworth?


  - 1,800 experienced French mercenaries

  - Gained support from Earl of Oxford and Welsh Nobles

  - Promised to marry Elizabeth of York - uniting Houses

  - Tactics centred around his protection

  - Charles VII gave 60,000 francs
• What were Richard's reasons for losing the Battle of Bosworth?

  - Lacked loyalty - couldn't trust his captains

  - Lord Stanley defected to Tudor's side during the battle

  - Earl of Norfolk was killed

  - Poor tactics
• When did Henry declare the Battle of Bosworth had happened? Why did he do this?

  - He declared the battle had happened on the 21st, not the 22nd of August

  - This is so he could declare Richard and the Yorkists traitors to his Kingship
• Who proclaimed that Henry was King?

  - Henry was proclaimed King by Lord Stanley.

  - There were processions and celebrations after this happened.
• How did Henry reward his loyal servants?

  - Henry knighted 11 men on Bosworth Field.

  - Others were given rewards later in the year
• When was Henry VII's coronation?

  - October 30th
• What did Henry do in terms of his coronation and parliament?

  - He had his coronation before his first Parliament, so that he could claim that his claim to the throne was based on hereditary right rather than because Parliament had sanctioned it
• Who did Henry marry? Why was this significant?

  - Henry married Elizabeth of York in 1486

  - In January, Henry had promised to marry Elizabeth as a way of gaining support for his campaign to the English throne.

  - This united the two houses together, essentially ending the War of the Roses.
• Who was Elizabeth of York?

  - Daughter of Edward IV.

  - This made Henry's claim to the throne more legitimate
• Who was born in 1486? Why were they significant?

  - Henry's first son Arthur was born in 1486.

  - This confirmed that Henry had a succession to the throne and therefore made him more secure as a leader.
• What 4 types of propaganda did Henry VII introduce?

  - Tudor Rose - a unification of two family's rivalry,

  - Coinage - coins presented to foreign visitors with Henry on

  - Buildings - cathedrals & architecture built with his family image

  - Beaufort Portcullis - further propaganda of his mother
• What was the Act of Resumption?

  - Passed in 1486

  - Restoration of all land from Wars of Roses since 1455, into Henry's possession?
• How did Henry effectively use parliament in 1485?

  - Declaration of the king's title - created a proof that his claim was illegitimate and was king also through the grace of God

  - Acts of Attainder - he reversed some placed against his men and placed many against Yorkists who had fought him

  - Created new Tunnage and Poundage - this increased his profits from imports and exports.

  - He had the house of Lords and the noblemen swear an Oath of Loyalty.
• What evidence is there to suggest that Henry VII's consolidation wasn't completely successful.

  - He faced rebellions early into his reigns such as the Lovell-Stafford rebellion and the Lambert Simnel rebellion. Both of these were with the intention to replace Henry as King.

  - Henry had imprisoned Edward Earl of Warwick, however, he had a much stronger claim than Henry.

  - Richard III had named Richard de la Pole as successor; this undermined Henry's claim to the throne.