Challenging the succession 1485-99
How effective did Henry Tudor secure his hold on the
throne in the years 1485-87?
Henry owed his crown to the fact he defeated Richard III
This put him in a difficult position because his challenge to the throne could
encourage rival claimants to do the same to him
Henry’s claim came from the Beaufort family who were descendants of the
third son of Edward III, John of Gaunt, the founder of the House of Lancaster
The Beaufort family were illegitimate but were made legitimate at the end of
the 14th century
Henry’s mother, Margaret, married Edmund Tudor who had no claim as he
was the son of Catherine, the widow of Henry V that remarried
As a result his claim came through an illegitimate line via a women which did
not help
Strong claim: John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, leading Yorkist claimant. He was
the nephew of Edward IV and Richard III
During Richard’s reign he was believed to be the next monarch
He was the biggest threat to Henry in the first two years of his reign
Strong claim: Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick. Another nephew of
Edward IV and Richard II
Henry put him the tower where he spent the rest of his life
He was still the centre of plots
Edward IV’s children; Edward and Richard. They were put in the tower at the
start of Richard III’s reign in 1483 but this didn’t stop people using them to
rally support against Henry
Edward IV’s daughters. It was assumed they couldn’t rule in their own right
but could still pass on their claim to their children which made them
dangerous
Despite being a Lancastrian, Henry rallied up Yorkist support by promising to
marry Elizabeth of York
One advantage of Henry was that several of the leading supporters of Richard
III were killed or captured at Bosworth
The impact of the battle of Bosworth, 1485
The battle of Bosworth was fought on 22nd August 1485
It was fought by Henry Tudor and Richard III
Henry's force was significantly smaller than Richard's, it was an army of
around 5,000 men, Richard's was thought to be around twice this number
Richard's superior numbers were thought to be a decisive factor, but he lost
the battle due to a miscalculation on his behalf, and the actions of his leading
noblemen. Thomas, Lord Stanley. Stanley's Brother William and Henry Percy,
Earl of Northumberland. Richard had expected these men to support him in
battle and fight for him, but the Stanley's had split loyalties as Thomas was
married to Henry's mother.
Henry Percy brought troops to Bosworth but did not fight at all
Henry Tudor was also helped by Richard's impetuous actions as he tried to
end the battle early by killing Henry, he came close to doing this, but in his
charge, he became separate from most of his troops
How effective did Henry Tudor secure his hold on the
throne in the years 1485-87?
Henry owed his crown to the fact he defeated Richard III
This put him in a difficult position because his challenge to the throne could
encourage rival claimants to do the same to him
Henry’s claim came from the Beaufort family who were descendants of the
third son of Edward III, John of Gaunt, the founder of the House of Lancaster
The Beaufort family were illegitimate but were made legitimate at the end of
the 14th century
Henry’s mother, Margaret, married Edmund Tudor who had no claim as he
was the son of Catherine, the widow of Henry V that remarried
As a result his claim came through an illegitimate line via a women which did
not help
Strong claim: John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, leading Yorkist claimant. He was
the nephew of Edward IV and Richard III
During Richard’s reign he was believed to be the next monarch
He was the biggest threat to Henry in the first two years of his reign
Strong claim: Edward Plantagenet, Earl of Warwick. Another nephew of
Edward IV and Richard II
Henry put him the tower where he spent the rest of his life
He was still the centre of plots
Edward IV’s children; Edward and Richard. They were put in the tower at the
start of Richard III’s reign in 1483 but this didn’t stop people using them to
rally support against Henry
Edward IV’s daughters. It was assumed they couldn’t rule in their own right
but could still pass on their claim to their children which made them
dangerous
Despite being a Lancastrian, Henry rallied up Yorkist support by promising to
marry Elizabeth of York
One advantage of Henry was that several of the leading supporters of Richard
III were killed or captured at Bosworth
The impact of the battle of Bosworth, 1485
The battle of Bosworth was fought on 22nd August 1485
It was fought by Henry Tudor and Richard III
Henry's force was significantly smaller than Richard's, it was an army of
around 5,000 men, Richard's was thought to be around twice this number
Richard's superior numbers were thought to be a decisive factor, but he lost
the battle due to a miscalculation on his behalf, and the actions of his leading
noblemen. Thomas, Lord Stanley. Stanley's Brother William and Henry Percy,
Earl of Northumberland. Richard had expected these men to support him in
battle and fight for him, but the Stanley's had split loyalties as Thomas was
married to Henry's mother.
Henry Percy brought troops to Bosworth but did not fight at all
Henry Tudor was also helped by Richard's impetuous actions as he tried to
end the battle early by killing Henry, he came close to doing this, but in his
charge, he became separate from most of his troops
