Lucy Galstyan
AQA A-level History 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603
Final Exam Grade received: A*
Henry VII detailed essay plans
Section 1: Establishing the dynasty
‘Henry VII’s consolidation of power in the years 1485 to 1499 was the result of his own
personal strengths’
Introduction: As soon as Henry VII became King, it was crucial for him to consolidate his
power seeing as he had a weak claim to the throne and had usurped it from Richard III.
His consolidation of power was largely due to his own personal strengths, demonstrated in
successful tactics to limit opposition as well as his strategic planning of key events to
assert his authority and thus, consolidate his power. Alternatively, Henry VII’s
consolidation of power was also somewhat because of the weaknesses of his opponents.
Ultimately though, his personal strengths, including his early steps, laid the necessary
foundations for him to consolidate his power. Hence, Henry VII’s consolidation of power in
1485-1509 was mostly the result of his own personal strengths.
Personal strengths? Other factors?
-Henry VII’s clever tactics such as the COUNTER= the weaknesses of his
implementation of Acts of Attainder and opponents was also important in
publicly rewarding his supporters Henry’s consolidation of power. A clear
helped him to immediately assert his example of this would be the Lovell and
power as King. This is because, through Stafford rebellion in 1486. This was a minor
this, he increased his supporters, crushed rising in the traditional Yorkist heartlands of
the opposition and established financial Yorkshire and the Midlands. The
security - vital components that would help weaknesses of his opponents is highlighted
to secure his power as King. This was by the fact that this was easily suppressed
achieved by Henry pre-dating his reign one and attracted little support despite them
day before the Battle of Bosworth so that being in the Yorkist heartlands. This is
anyone who fought against him could be important when assessing how Henry
designated a traitor and thus, subject to achieved his consolidation of power
Acts of Attainder. This had a significant because, with enough support and power,
impact on his consolidation of power the rebels may have succeeded in
because it made the opposition unlikely to removing him. Yet, with the help of the
rebel against him as otherwise their army, Henry was able to quickly dismiss this
property would be forfeited to the crown. threat.
The use of Acts of Attainder also increased This can be further demonstrated in the
royal income, helping to expand the wealth outcome of the Simnel rebellion. In this,
of the crown. This portrayed Henry as a Henry’s army defeated Simnel’s
capable and powerful King since wealth ill-disciplined mercenary troops at the Battle
was an indicator of authority and power. of East Stoke in 1487 - again the threat was
This is a personal strength because it a weak one with little support and thus,
demonstrates how Henry’s shrewd and easily defeated by Henry and his military.
immediate decisions contributed to his This defeat was important in Henry’s
expansion of power. consolidation of power because it directly
-Importance of rewarding his supporters mirrored his own challenge to Richard III in
to ensure long-lasting loyalty. Henry the Battle of Bosworth.
made the clever decision to grant 11 COUNTER= Nevertheless, it was the early
knighthoods on the battlefield to display his actions of Henry VII, stemming from his
recognition and appraisal towards his personal strengths of shrewdness and
, supporters. This clever thinking was very astuteness, that left little opportunity for his
significant in his consolidation of power opponents to attack him.
because it increased the chances of his
supporters remaining loyal and encouraged Alternative factors include: controlling
others to follow their example so that they the nobility, financial reforms and
too could be rewarded. Hence, it is clear foreign policy. (controlling nobility and
that Henry VII’s personal strength of clever financial reforms covered in Section 3
and shrewd thinking enabled him to essay plan)
consolidate his power in a number of ways.
First, he restricted the power of his
opposition. Second, he increased the
loyalty of his supports and lastly, he
boosted the wealth of the crown which
meant that it was no longer a weak one as it
was in the Wars of the Roses.
-Strategic planning of key events. This
asserted his power and right over the
throne. With the understanding that his
claim to the throne was weak as he
descended through the female line as well
as his lineage coming from the illegitimate
3rd marriage of John of Gaunt, Henry
sought to strategically plan out the order of
key events - and he was successful in doing
so. Cleverly, he arranged his coronation to
take place on the 30th October 1485. This
event anointed him by God’s grace and
symbolically cemented his power and
ordained right to the throne. Moreover, he
made sure that this took place before
convening parliament on the 7th November,
thereby demonstrating that his right to the
throne was based on hereditary right, not
because parliament had summoned it. The
next key event concerned his marriage to
Elizabeth of York - this would ultimately
reunite the Yorkists and Lancastrians as
any descendant would come from both
houses. Crucially, by waiting until the other
steps towards his consolidation of power
had been completed, he was able to ensure
that his assumption of the Crown was not
linked to Elizabeth's heritage. Hence, the
consolidation of Henry’s power was brought
about by his strategic planning of key
events, a factor that can be pinned down to
his personal strengths.
Conclusion: Overall, Henry VII’s consolidation of power was largely due to his personal
strengths. As a shrewd and astute individual, Henry was able to make important early
decisions and carefully plan out key events that enabled his consolidation of power. Even
on the battlefield, he rewarded his supporters to ensure their loyalty. Moreover, his
intelligent strategic planning of key events meant that he legitimised his claim to the
AQA A-level History 1C The Tudors: England, 1485–1603
Final Exam Grade received: A*
Henry VII detailed essay plans
Section 1: Establishing the dynasty
‘Henry VII’s consolidation of power in the years 1485 to 1499 was the result of his own
personal strengths’
Introduction: As soon as Henry VII became King, it was crucial for him to consolidate his
power seeing as he had a weak claim to the throne and had usurped it from Richard III.
His consolidation of power was largely due to his own personal strengths, demonstrated in
successful tactics to limit opposition as well as his strategic planning of key events to
assert his authority and thus, consolidate his power. Alternatively, Henry VII’s
consolidation of power was also somewhat because of the weaknesses of his opponents.
Ultimately though, his personal strengths, including his early steps, laid the necessary
foundations for him to consolidate his power. Hence, Henry VII’s consolidation of power in
1485-1509 was mostly the result of his own personal strengths.
Personal strengths? Other factors?
-Henry VII’s clever tactics such as the COUNTER= the weaknesses of his
implementation of Acts of Attainder and opponents was also important in
publicly rewarding his supporters Henry’s consolidation of power. A clear
helped him to immediately assert his example of this would be the Lovell and
power as King. This is because, through Stafford rebellion in 1486. This was a minor
this, he increased his supporters, crushed rising in the traditional Yorkist heartlands of
the opposition and established financial Yorkshire and the Midlands. The
security - vital components that would help weaknesses of his opponents is highlighted
to secure his power as King. This was by the fact that this was easily suppressed
achieved by Henry pre-dating his reign one and attracted little support despite them
day before the Battle of Bosworth so that being in the Yorkist heartlands. This is
anyone who fought against him could be important when assessing how Henry
designated a traitor and thus, subject to achieved his consolidation of power
Acts of Attainder. This had a significant because, with enough support and power,
impact on his consolidation of power the rebels may have succeeded in
because it made the opposition unlikely to removing him. Yet, with the help of the
rebel against him as otherwise their army, Henry was able to quickly dismiss this
property would be forfeited to the crown. threat.
The use of Acts of Attainder also increased This can be further demonstrated in the
royal income, helping to expand the wealth outcome of the Simnel rebellion. In this,
of the crown. This portrayed Henry as a Henry’s army defeated Simnel’s
capable and powerful King since wealth ill-disciplined mercenary troops at the Battle
was an indicator of authority and power. of East Stoke in 1487 - again the threat was
This is a personal strength because it a weak one with little support and thus,
demonstrates how Henry’s shrewd and easily defeated by Henry and his military.
immediate decisions contributed to his This defeat was important in Henry’s
expansion of power. consolidation of power because it directly
-Importance of rewarding his supporters mirrored his own challenge to Richard III in
to ensure long-lasting loyalty. Henry the Battle of Bosworth.
made the clever decision to grant 11 COUNTER= Nevertheless, it was the early
knighthoods on the battlefield to display his actions of Henry VII, stemming from his
recognition and appraisal towards his personal strengths of shrewdness and
, supporters. This clever thinking was very astuteness, that left little opportunity for his
significant in his consolidation of power opponents to attack him.
because it increased the chances of his
supporters remaining loyal and encouraged Alternative factors include: controlling
others to follow their example so that they the nobility, financial reforms and
too could be rewarded. Hence, it is clear foreign policy. (controlling nobility and
that Henry VII’s personal strength of clever financial reforms covered in Section 3
and shrewd thinking enabled him to essay plan)
consolidate his power in a number of ways.
First, he restricted the power of his
opposition. Second, he increased the
loyalty of his supports and lastly, he
boosted the wealth of the crown which
meant that it was no longer a weak one as it
was in the Wars of the Roses.
-Strategic planning of key events. This
asserted his power and right over the
throne. With the understanding that his
claim to the throne was weak as he
descended through the female line as well
as his lineage coming from the illegitimate
3rd marriage of John of Gaunt, Henry
sought to strategically plan out the order of
key events - and he was successful in doing
so. Cleverly, he arranged his coronation to
take place on the 30th October 1485. This
event anointed him by God’s grace and
symbolically cemented his power and
ordained right to the throne. Moreover, he
made sure that this took place before
convening parliament on the 7th November,
thereby demonstrating that his right to the
throne was based on hereditary right, not
because parliament had summoned it. The
next key event concerned his marriage to
Elizabeth of York - this would ultimately
reunite the Yorkists and Lancastrians as
any descendant would come from both
houses. Crucially, by waiting until the other
steps towards his consolidation of power
had been completed, he was able to ensure
that his assumption of the Crown was not
linked to Elizabeth's heritage. Hence, the
consolidation of Henry’s power was brought
about by his strategic planning of key
events, a factor that can be pinned down to
his personal strengths.
Conclusion: Overall, Henry VII’s consolidation of power was largely due to his personal
strengths. As a shrewd and astute individual, Henry was able to make important early
decisions and carefully plan out key events that enabled his consolidation of power. Even
on the battlefield, he rewarded his supporters to ensure their loyalty. Moreover, his
intelligent strategic planning of key events meant that he legitimised his claim to the
