henry vii

• Battle of Bosworth was on the 22nd August 1485. Richard's crown fell off of his head and it was placed on Henry's head
• system of primogeniture- the eldest son takes precedence to the throne before younger sons and any daughters
• henry vii was very lucky in the battle as one of Richard's main advisors was killed early on. Richard was also unpopular. Thomas and William Stanley took the risk to support henry in battle because Richard took Thomas' child hostage
• a usurper is someone who takes the throne through violence
• henry vii's main objectives as King

  1. to establish and secure his right to the throne
  2. strengthen gov by increasing control over nobility
  3. strengthen monarchy and the kingdom by increasing finances
• henry vii's exile in France meant that he didn't have enemies. he also proved himself as a good soldier which was an admirable trait for a King. the death of nobles meant their land was returned to the crown and the Yorkists could be punished as traitors
• Francis Bacon wrote in 1622 that henry vii was of "high mind and loved his own way... not admitting any near or full approach, neither to his power nor to his secrets. for he was governed by none"

  This makes Henry seem confident and power hungry
• henry vii dated his reign from the 21st of August 1485, the day before Bosworth this meant he could punish those who fought against him as traitors. he punished many but showed leniency to win loyalty of key families
• henry vii ensured he was coronated before he met with Parliament so that it couldn't be argued that they helped make him king. he also ensured he was King before he was married for the same reasons
• henry's marriage to Elizabeth of York was important to unite the Yorkists and Lancastrians, win support, and solidify future children's claims
• problems when Henry vii ascended the throne include

  • the crown lacked finances because of wars
  • wealthy nobles made them potential threats
  • uneven control over the population, more in east and south
• attainders were used to seize titles and possessions of potentially disloyal nobles. they could also be found guilty without trial. it could be reversed, but at a price to try and secure loyalty.

  This aimed to stop nobles from becoming a threat to the throne
• henry vii rarely used patronage and this resulted in the number of nobles decreasing by a quarter and vacant lands were taken by henry. henry only used patronage on lower down men so they were dependent on henry for money and status
• henry stopped retaining by forcing nobles to pay £5 a month per illegal retainer, and then passed an act in 1504 meaning you need a license to retain. nobles therefore had less power
• henry vii also demanded a financial bond from nobles so that they are indebted to Henry to ensure loyalty. 2/3 of nobles were held under bonds
• the exchequer deals with royal finances
• tribunals were courts established to settle disputes and issues of justice
• the privy seal was responsible for the monarch's personal seal which was used to authenticate laws
• the court of the star chamber's main role was to maintain the crown's authority and supress any opposition or threats
• justices of the peace were to maintain law and order but they were unpaid and did it in hopes up moving to more important roles
• the council learned in law was established in 1495 and was henry vii's most trusted council and was to maintain the King's revenue and exploit his prerogative rights. they often falsified claims and as they weren't an official gov no one could appeal
• the council was made up of members of the gentry and nobles with roles in parliament. they were to advise the king, make judgements and do paperwork on behalf of the king
• the privy chamber was the most intimate of households and were chosen by the King so had the greatest influence
• henry vii restored the council of wales to maintain control. his uncle Jasper Tudor ran it and it was staffed with welsh nobles
• Wallace MacCaffrey believed that Henry VII "was obsessed with accumulating income, not for the traditional purposes of war or to reward his servants, but to ensure his freedom from dependence on their goodwill"

  this supports Henry as a miser king
• Wallace MacCaffrey - "it is not surprising they (nobles) greeted his (henry vii) death with relief"
• Edmund Dudley helped henry vii create a spy system to catch nobles acting out of line
• Richard Epsom was in charge of the council learned in law after Bray and created a system of spies on nobles
• household proper- the people who looked after henry and his guests with entertainment etc
• clerical taxes were special taxes which the king could levy on the church as they were exempt from paying normal taxes. it usually came in the form of a 'voluntary gift'
• bonds and recognisances were demanded from Yorkists whose support couldn't be guaranteed and were made to guarantee good behaviour
• parliamentary taxes- special tax grants by parliament to finance royal policies such as war
• feudal dues- traditional rights of the crown to demand money because of the principle that all land belongs to the king. types of payments included relief when a noble received inheritance, wardship and livery
• liveries are payments made by a ward upon reaching adulthood and becoming in control of his land
• henry vii introduced the surveyor of the King's wards to investigate money owed to him
• henry vii established the court of Audit to monitor government spending
• Lambert Simnel pretended to be the Earl of Warwick, Edward iv's son. they said that he has escape capture in the tower. The Earl of Kildare supported and paraded Simnel.

  Simnel was captured after the Battle of Stoke in 1487 but pardoned and given a job in the royal kitchen as it was clear he was just a puppet
• henry vii's mother was margaret beaufort
• Perkin Warbeck pretended to be the duke of York, the second son of Edward IV. He gained support from the French king Charles VIII until the treaty of Etaples, James IV until truce of Ayton and Margaret of Burgundy. henry treated him well at first but when he tried to escape he was recaptured and held in solitary confinement until he was hanged on the 23rd Nov 1499.
• treaty of Etaples 1492

  • Henry vii and Charles viii of france
  • henry brought a small number of troops into france and because they were already fighting with italy were happy to sign the treaty
  • france was to pay a war indemnity of 745,000 gold crowns
  • england had to accept french control of brittany