Henry VII: Background
The War of the Roses:
● War of the Roses had caused severe instability
● Series of conflict lasting 50 years. Struggle for the throne between House of York and House of Lancaster.
- Rooted in bastard feudalism; nobles gained power and influence by offering services to the king in
exchange for positions, creating overmighty subjects.
- Impact: Nobles could gather armies to challenge the king's authority, leading to instability.
● Henry- Nephew of last Lancastrian king, tenuous claim to the throne- descended through the female line- weaker.
- Richard III's Usurpation: Richard III took the throne in 1483, but his rule lacked legitimacy, fueling
dissatisfaction.
- Richard’s Downfall: Allegedly murdered princes in the Tower; defeated by Henry Tudor at the Battle of
Bosworth (22 August 1485).
- Battle Details: Henry’s army (5,000) faced Richard’s (10,000) but won with the help of Stanley forces
switching sides (4,000 men).
- Richards forces had better position- top of hill. Bigger army 10,000 men
- Richard however was fairly unpopular and could not count on support of commanders
- Richard killed
- French Support: Henry received financial aid from King Charles VII of France, who was at war with the
Yorkists.
● Won Battle of Bosworth 22 August 1485.
● Reasons why Richard lost
- Unpopular
- Balance of power is in the nobility
Henry VII background:
● Spent 14 years in exile in brittany
● Spent time in french court and observed court politics from afar
● Weak claim to throne through mother, margaret beaufort
● Nobles ready to restore order and tired of war
● His victory ended plantagenet rule in England and saw the establishment of a new dynasty: the tudors
Personality:
● Disliked bloodshed and severity
● Distrustful due to time spent in French courts- liked to double check everything
● Efficient.
● Respected but developed a reputation for greed.
● Shrewd
Aims:
● Establish and secure his rule
● Strengthen royal government
● Strengthen the monarchy and kingdom, ensuring a strong financial foundation
Consolidating power:
● Coronation:
- 30th October 1485. Highly symbolic, anointed him God’s grace.
- Followed traditional events strictly, created a powerful and regal impression.
- Crowned before first parliament. Showed his power stemmed from religious right rather than
parliamentary. Essential in a time when religion governed people’s lives. Showed divine right, not just
winning through battle.
- England nobles had to swear an oath of loyalty to him.
- Paid different prices for separate orders of purple robe- was shopping around.
- HOWEVER- took two months for coronation, enough time for a rebellion?
- BUT- was ensuring he appeared regal. Worth it- is thought his festivities surpassed Richard’s.
- Gained him popularity among a religious population.
● Legitimising his reign:
- Weak claim as it was through his mother who was descended through a once illegitimate branch of
lancastrians
, - Changed start date from 22/08/1485 to 21/08/1485. Indicated all those who fought against him as traitors
and guilty of treason.
- Used belief at the time that God dictated events to discredit ricardian supporters.
- By designating Yorkists as having committed treason, associated opposition of Henry with opposition to
the crown.
● Parliament:
- First convened 7th November 1485.
- After coronation- shows he does not need parliament for legitimacy.
- Declare his title- statement Henry was king via God’s grace.
- Attainders-reverse Richard’s acts of attainers and make new ones for those who fought against him at the
battle of bosworth. (Act of attainder- passed against a person for a crime, usually treason. Used as a
means to punish someone)
- Financial matters- custom duties for life. Taxes on imported goods.
- Act of Resumption 1486 allowed him to reclaim all lands held by H6 before the outbreak of war.
● Elizabeth of York:
- Married January 18 1486. After coronation. Showed authority was not linked to marriage.
- Eliminated rival claimants (daughter of Edward IV), strengthened his claim, helped him gain Yorkist
support.
- Produced heir to throne together in 1486- cemented position further.
- United houses of York and Lancaster so any descendent would come from both houses BUT was
untraditional- caused controversy.
● Rivals:
- Earl of Warwick removed to tower of London
- John de la pole made to profess loyalty- invited to council.
- Eliminated rivals who remained a threat and put rivals who swore loyalty under his command where he
could watch and control them. Eg Earl of Northumberland given control of the north.
● Supporters:
- Small group he trusted, Only put most trusted into position of power.
- Structured majority of support system around family.
- Eg Jasper Tudor (uncle) made Duke of Bedford, Chief Justice of Wales and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
- Thomas Stanley (stepfather) made Earl of Derby
- Careful in rewarding supporters to ensure no nobility accumulated too much power.
- Created network of support around country- loyal and dependent.
- HOWEVER- too harsh and distrustful of nobility? Unsustainable as it isolated crown.
- John Morton, Richard Fox, Margaret Beaufort (mother) and Jasper tudor were his closest confidants
Henry VII: Government
Structure:
● Reformed the structure of the government, structured majority of the system around his family
● Eg Jasper Tudor (uncle) made Duke of Bedford, Chief Justice of Wales and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
● Also extremely careful in rewarding supporters, ensured no nobility accumulated too much power.
● Created network of support around country, loyal & dependant support system
● Meant gov could focus solely on policy and administration rather than flaws within- betrayal or attempts to take
the throne.
● Cunningham ‘network of highly skilled administrators’
● Chrimes- ‘these were the pivots upon whom his government was built’
Royal council:
● Chief Officer of state- Bishop Richard Fox. Close friend of Henry’s and keeper of the privy seal. (an official seal to
authenticate royal orders).
● Reformed the council- competent rather than spectacular.
● Made good appointments. Appointed officials who had experience, even if they had previously served under
Yorkists. Eg Archbishop John Morton, skilled diplomat who had served under Edward IV. Eventually became Lord
Chancellor.
● Only 19% made up of men from the peerage, avoided being overly reliant on nobles who might have competing
ambitions. Selected capable and loyal individuals. Limited power of nobles and increased his control.
Council Learned in the Law:
● Established in 1495 by Sir Reginald Bray to enforce Henry’s financial rights + law enforcement.
The War of the Roses:
● War of the Roses had caused severe instability
● Series of conflict lasting 50 years. Struggle for the throne between House of York and House of Lancaster.
- Rooted in bastard feudalism; nobles gained power and influence by offering services to the king in
exchange for positions, creating overmighty subjects.
- Impact: Nobles could gather armies to challenge the king's authority, leading to instability.
● Henry- Nephew of last Lancastrian king, tenuous claim to the throne- descended through the female line- weaker.
- Richard III's Usurpation: Richard III took the throne in 1483, but his rule lacked legitimacy, fueling
dissatisfaction.
- Richard’s Downfall: Allegedly murdered princes in the Tower; defeated by Henry Tudor at the Battle of
Bosworth (22 August 1485).
- Battle Details: Henry’s army (5,000) faced Richard’s (10,000) but won with the help of Stanley forces
switching sides (4,000 men).
- Richards forces had better position- top of hill. Bigger army 10,000 men
- Richard however was fairly unpopular and could not count on support of commanders
- Richard killed
- French Support: Henry received financial aid from King Charles VII of France, who was at war with the
Yorkists.
● Won Battle of Bosworth 22 August 1485.
● Reasons why Richard lost
- Unpopular
- Balance of power is in the nobility
Henry VII background:
● Spent 14 years in exile in brittany
● Spent time in french court and observed court politics from afar
● Weak claim to throne through mother, margaret beaufort
● Nobles ready to restore order and tired of war
● His victory ended plantagenet rule in England and saw the establishment of a new dynasty: the tudors
Personality:
● Disliked bloodshed and severity
● Distrustful due to time spent in French courts- liked to double check everything
● Efficient.
● Respected but developed a reputation for greed.
● Shrewd
Aims:
● Establish and secure his rule
● Strengthen royal government
● Strengthen the monarchy and kingdom, ensuring a strong financial foundation
Consolidating power:
● Coronation:
- 30th October 1485. Highly symbolic, anointed him God’s grace.
- Followed traditional events strictly, created a powerful and regal impression.
- Crowned before first parliament. Showed his power stemmed from religious right rather than
parliamentary. Essential in a time when religion governed people’s lives. Showed divine right, not just
winning through battle.
- England nobles had to swear an oath of loyalty to him.
- Paid different prices for separate orders of purple robe- was shopping around.
- HOWEVER- took two months for coronation, enough time for a rebellion?
- BUT- was ensuring he appeared regal. Worth it- is thought his festivities surpassed Richard’s.
- Gained him popularity among a religious population.
● Legitimising his reign:
- Weak claim as it was through his mother who was descended through a once illegitimate branch of
lancastrians
, - Changed start date from 22/08/1485 to 21/08/1485. Indicated all those who fought against him as traitors
and guilty of treason.
- Used belief at the time that God dictated events to discredit ricardian supporters.
- By designating Yorkists as having committed treason, associated opposition of Henry with opposition to
the crown.
● Parliament:
- First convened 7th November 1485.
- After coronation- shows he does not need parliament for legitimacy.
- Declare his title- statement Henry was king via God’s grace.
- Attainders-reverse Richard’s acts of attainers and make new ones for those who fought against him at the
battle of bosworth. (Act of attainder- passed against a person for a crime, usually treason. Used as a
means to punish someone)
- Financial matters- custom duties for life. Taxes on imported goods.
- Act of Resumption 1486 allowed him to reclaim all lands held by H6 before the outbreak of war.
● Elizabeth of York:
- Married January 18 1486. After coronation. Showed authority was not linked to marriage.
- Eliminated rival claimants (daughter of Edward IV), strengthened his claim, helped him gain Yorkist
support.
- Produced heir to throne together in 1486- cemented position further.
- United houses of York and Lancaster so any descendent would come from both houses BUT was
untraditional- caused controversy.
● Rivals:
- Earl of Warwick removed to tower of London
- John de la pole made to profess loyalty- invited to council.
- Eliminated rivals who remained a threat and put rivals who swore loyalty under his command where he
could watch and control them. Eg Earl of Northumberland given control of the north.
● Supporters:
- Small group he trusted, Only put most trusted into position of power.
- Structured majority of support system around family.
- Eg Jasper Tudor (uncle) made Duke of Bedford, Chief Justice of Wales and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
- Thomas Stanley (stepfather) made Earl of Derby
- Careful in rewarding supporters to ensure no nobility accumulated too much power.
- Created network of support around country- loyal and dependent.
- HOWEVER- too harsh and distrustful of nobility? Unsustainable as it isolated crown.
- John Morton, Richard Fox, Margaret Beaufort (mother) and Jasper tudor were his closest confidants
Henry VII: Government
Structure:
● Reformed the structure of the government, structured majority of the system around his family
● Eg Jasper Tudor (uncle) made Duke of Bedford, Chief Justice of Wales and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.
● Also extremely careful in rewarding supporters, ensured no nobility accumulated too much power.
● Created network of support around country, loyal & dependant support system
● Meant gov could focus solely on policy and administration rather than flaws within- betrayal or attempts to take
the throne.
● Cunningham ‘network of highly skilled administrators’
● Chrimes- ‘these were the pivots upon whom his government was built’
Royal council:
● Chief Officer of state- Bishop Richard Fox. Close friend of Henry’s and keeper of the privy seal. (an official seal to
authenticate royal orders).
● Reformed the council- competent rather than spectacular.
● Made good appointments. Appointed officials who had experience, even if they had previously served under
Yorkists. Eg Archbishop John Morton, skilled diplomat who had served under Edward IV. Eventually became Lord
Chancellor.
● Only 19% made up of men from the peerage, avoided being overly reliant on nobles who might have competing
ambitions. Selected capable and loyal individuals. Limited power of nobles and increased his control.
Council Learned in the Law:
● Established in 1495 by Sir Reginald Bray to enforce Henry’s financial rights + law enforcement.
