Henry VII Source Revision Notes
Battle of Bosworth - 22nd Aug 1485
- Richard received inaccurate spy reports regarding Tudor’s whereabouts - unprepared
- Reasons for Tudors success;
- Tudor’s vanguard ably commanded by Earl of Oxford
- Henry Percy offers great military support to Richard but fails to engage
troops, possible believed Tudor would give him more control in North than
Richard had
- Thomas Lord Stanley was Tudor’s stepfather but had shown considerable
support to Richard’s reign
- Upon declaration of battle, Stanley refused Richard’s summons for him to
fight alongside the king by claiming he was ill, Stanley’s son taken as hostage
to ensure Stanley behaved correctly
- Stanley arrives at Bosworth, made sure not to fight on either side but his
brother Sir William supports Tudor
- Upon Tudor victory, Thomas Stanley awarded Constable of the Realm
amongst land and other titles
How Did Henry Secure His Throne?
- Dated reign to 21st August so those who fought against him = traitors
- Jan 1486 Marriage to Elizabeth of York - united 2 sides of family and allows Henry to
claim throne from both sides
- Issue: Act of Bastardisation meant children of Edward IV illegitimate so Henry
reversed it and burned all copies
- Issue: were both great great grandchildren of John of Gaunt so papal
dispensation required to marry
- Benefits: had 2 sons (Henry and Arthur)
- Spies used:
- Used Calais as base for espionage to get good info from other royal courts
like France and Scotland
- Henry infiltrated court of Margaret of Burgundy in 1490s
- Was forewarned about Warbeck’s plans
- 1505 - ciphers routinely used
- Bonds - control nobility - pledge signed promising guaranteeing good behaviour of
themselves or relations or else pay a fine
- More than ½ peerage obliged to pay money for crown
- Any nobles accused of treason executed even for minor involvement in
conspiracy and lost all possessions so heirs disinherited
Rebellions
- Lovell’s Rebellion 1486
- Lacked support; major northern landholders failed to aid their cause
- Lovell fled to Burgundy in April 1486
- Lambert Simnel and Earl of Lincoln’s Rebellion 1487
- Simnel claimed to be Edward, earl of Warwick and Lincoln was nephew of
Edward IV and Richard III and declared Simnel was the real Warwick
- Margaret of Burgundy also supported Simnel with financial support
Battle of Bosworth - 22nd Aug 1485
- Richard received inaccurate spy reports regarding Tudor’s whereabouts - unprepared
- Reasons for Tudors success;
- Tudor’s vanguard ably commanded by Earl of Oxford
- Henry Percy offers great military support to Richard but fails to engage
troops, possible believed Tudor would give him more control in North than
Richard had
- Thomas Lord Stanley was Tudor’s stepfather but had shown considerable
support to Richard’s reign
- Upon declaration of battle, Stanley refused Richard’s summons for him to
fight alongside the king by claiming he was ill, Stanley’s son taken as hostage
to ensure Stanley behaved correctly
- Stanley arrives at Bosworth, made sure not to fight on either side but his
brother Sir William supports Tudor
- Upon Tudor victory, Thomas Stanley awarded Constable of the Realm
amongst land and other titles
How Did Henry Secure His Throne?
- Dated reign to 21st August so those who fought against him = traitors
- Jan 1486 Marriage to Elizabeth of York - united 2 sides of family and allows Henry to
claim throne from both sides
- Issue: Act of Bastardisation meant children of Edward IV illegitimate so Henry
reversed it and burned all copies
- Issue: were both great great grandchildren of John of Gaunt so papal
dispensation required to marry
- Benefits: had 2 sons (Henry and Arthur)
- Spies used:
- Used Calais as base for espionage to get good info from other royal courts
like France and Scotland
- Henry infiltrated court of Margaret of Burgundy in 1490s
- Was forewarned about Warbeck’s plans
- 1505 - ciphers routinely used
- Bonds - control nobility - pledge signed promising guaranteeing good behaviour of
themselves or relations or else pay a fine
- More than ½ peerage obliged to pay money for crown
- Any nobles accused of treason executed even for minor involvement in
conspiracy and lost all possessions so heirs disinherited
Rebellions
- Lovell’s Rebellion 1486
- Lacked support; major northern landholders failed to aid their cause
- Lovell fled to Burgundy in April 1486
- Lambert Simnel and Earl of Lincoln’s Rebellion 1487
- Simnel claimed to be Edward, earl of Warwick and Lincoln was nephew of
Edward IV and Richard III and declared Simnel was the real Warwick
- Margaret of Burgundy also supported Simnel with financial support
