Henry VII
Character
● Shrewd, calculating, intelligent, cherished justice
● 1461 separated from mother (Margaret Beaufort - Lancasterian relations -
intelligent, strong-willed, deeply religious - direct access to the King’s ear -
marriage to Thomas, Lord Stanley). Taken into the Yorkist family
● 1471 Fled to Brittany (14-27 yrs) with uncle Jasper Tudor (role model, stability, loyalty,
a father figure - Henry made Duke of Bedford, highest title) - avoid assassination
● 1484 R3 bribed Duke of Brittany to give Henry over - fled to France
● Exile Benefits: amongst courtiers, observed court politics, learnt to hide
feelings/veil purposes, learnt what people thought behind flattery = due to
political/educational training did not train to be King, ruled off experience +
understanding
● 1485 French support (Charles VIII) gave Henry an army + financial support to invade
England to distract R3 from invading France
● 22nd Aug 1485 Battle of Bosworth - Lord Thomas Stanley + brother Sir William
turned against R3
Consolidation of Power (weak claim as descended from mother (Lady Margaret Beaufort)
killed usurper Richard III, could be claimed usurper, weakens claim further)
Legitimise Claims:
➔ Dated reign Aug 21 day before battle - could treat R3 supporters as traitors -
imprisoned Yorkists who had a better claim (Earl of Warwick (Ed IV nephew)
- neutralised conveniently following Warbeck conspiracy, accused of
involvement = beheaded 1499)
➔ Oct 1485 Coronation - with speed = safety measure
➔ Before Jan 1486 Marriage to Elizabeth of York - so it could not be claimed he
gained the throne through his wife - a symbol of reconciliation, royal
propaganda Tudor Rose
➔ 1 week before Summoned Parliament Nov 1485 - not claim Parliament helped
secure the throne = act of a King
1. Royal Progress Apr 1486 - demonstrated royal power/ presence to his subjects
2. Publicly rewarded key supporters = 11 knighthoods
3. Acts of Attainder against Yorkists opposition at BofB
, Establishing the Dynasty
1. Lovell and Stafford Rebellion 1486:
- Lovell (key supporter of R3, escaped King’s forces)
- Stafford (captured + executed)
- Attempt to raise support in R3 heartland (Yorkshire/Midlands).
- Significance shows little enthusiasm for Yorkist rising = possible
contentment with H7, easily suppressed but still showed there were Yorkist
sympathises
2. Simnel and Earl of Lincoln - pretender to the throne:
- Large-scale success due to use of figurehead = Simnel (Pretender, Earl of
Warwick, R3 nephew)
- Real Warwick had been imprisoned in Tower by H7, paraded through streets
by H7 for all to see the lies
- Instigator Earl of Lincoln (backing of Yorkist claimant) fled to the court of
Margaret of Burgundy (Ed IV sister) ( + financial support to generate
significant military threat) acknowledged as nephew, funded 2000
mercenaries to invade
- Irish Yorkists accepted the claim, crowned in Ireland 1487
- Plenty of notice of conspiracy = H7 reinstated the untrustworthy Duke of
Northumberland (led R3 army) to ensure neutralisation, being a descendant
of the Yorkist Howard family and support in the North, guarantee they didn’t
join the conspiracy
- Yorkist gentry of North Riding was reluctant to commit, wanting to see who
would win
- 1487 Battle of Stoke - H7 gathered advisors, relatives of Yorkists victims to R3
- 2 armies met - fear of being double-crossed like R3 army led by Earl of
Oxford, H7 victory
- Simnel was unable to add followers to mercenaries = marked the end of
WotR, death of Lincoln ended the threat
- Simnel given job in the royal kitchens to show H7 as merciful
3. Warbeck - pretender to the throne
- Claimed to be Richard, Duke of York, Prince in the Tower
- Charles VIII (France) received him as Prince but forced to flee - after the
Treaty of Etaples - to the court of Margaret of Burgundy who tutored him as
a potential prince
- 1495 unsuccessful attempt to land in England = fled James IV (Scotland)
- 1496 Scottish force crossed the border, retreated after hearing about the
arrival of King’s forces = Truce of Ayton
