HISTORY REVISION FOR MOCK- MONARCHS:
HENRY VII IN SUMMARY
CHARACTER
Attained the throne with his forces (support by France, Scotland and Wales)
defeated Richard III at Battle of Bosworth. Strengthened his claim by marrying
Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV. Henry VII was a monarch who restored
power and stability to the English monarchy after the civil war. He implemented
administrative, economic, and diplomatic initiatives that had long-lasting
benefits to the English economy. His claim to the throne was strengthened by his
descent from John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster. Henry paid close attention to
detail and raised new revenues to stabilize the government's finances. He
introduced several new taxes, but after his death, a commission found
widespread abuses in the tax collection process. Henry reigned for nearly 24
years and was peacefully succeeded by his son, Henry VIII.
RISE TO THRONE
Henry VII declared himself king through his right of conquest retroactively from
August 21, 1485, the day before the Battle of Bosworth Field. He spared Richard
III's nephew and designated heir, John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, and made the
Yorkist heiress Margaret Plantagenet Countess of Salisbury suo jure. Henry
issued an edict that any gentleman who swore fealty to him would be secure in
his property and person.
PRETENDERS AND FOREIGN POLICY
In 1490, Perkin Warbeck appeared and claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury, but
was soon captured and executed. In response to this threat, the King instituted
more rigid security for access to his person. Henry later concluded a treaty with
France at Etaples and ensured the French would not support pretenders to the
English throne, such as Perkin Warbeck. Henry VII of England signed an alliance
with Spain to prevent Brittany from falling into French hands. He sent 6,000
troops to France but was unsuccessful due to the disunited nature of Breton
politics. France agreed to the Peace of Étaples as they were more concerned
with the Italian Wars. Henry also commissioned Europe's first dry dock at
Portsmouth and supported shipbuilding to strengthen the navy and trading
opportunities. He recognized the importance of the newly united Spanish
, kingdom and concluded the Treaty of Medina del Campo, allowing his son
Arthur to marry Catherine of Aragon. He also betrothed his daughter Margaret
Tudor to King James IV of Scotland in an effort to break the Auld Alliance
between Scotland and France. Henry formed an alliance with Holy Roman
Emperor Maximilian I and persuaded Pope Innocent VIII to issue a papal bull of
excommunication against all pretenders to his throne.
HOW HE RULED
During the Tudor era, Henry VII appointed justices of the peace to enforce the
laws of the land in every shire. The justices' duties included overseeing Acts of
Parliament, replacing corrupt jurors, and checking weights and measures.
Despite their increased powers and numbers, Henry worked to constrain their
influence through bonds and recognisances. The justices were unpaid, which
kept law enforcement costs low and made the office desirable to local gentry
seeking prestige. Overall, the policy was successful in reducing corruption
among the nobility.
ECONOMIC
Henry VII was a financially responsible monarch who restored the wealth of an
almost bankrupt treasury. He achieved this by keeping the same financial
advisors throughout his reign and introducing efficient taxation mechanisms.
Archbishop John Morton supported him in this effort and implemented a
method called "Morton's Fork" to ensure nobles paid increased taxes. Henry
also acquired land through the act of resumption, which had been delayed as he
focused on defence of the Church, his person, and his realm.
SUCESSION
Henry VII was succeeded by his son, Henry VIII, and then by his grandchildren,
Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. At Henry VII's death, his first five successors
were his children and his wife's sister, Anne of York, who had no children.
Katherine of York, who was married to William Courtenay, Earl of Devon, with
two sons, followed after Anne.
HENRY VII IN SUMMARY
CHARACTER
Attained the throne with his forces (support by France, Scotland and Wales)
defeated Richard III at Battle of Bosworth. Strengthened his claim by marrying
Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV. Henry VII was a monarch who restored
power and stability to the English monarchy after the civil war. He implemented
administrative, economic, and diplomatic initiatives that had long-lasting
benefits to the English economy. His claim to the throne was strengthened by his
descent from John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster. Henry paid close attention to
detail and raised new revenues to stabilize the government's finances. He
introduced several new taxes, but after his death, a commission found
widespread abuses in the tax collection process. Henry reigned for nearly 24
years and was peacefully succeeded by his son, Henry VIII.
RISE TO THRONE
Henry VII declared himself king through his right of conquest retroactively from
August 21, 1485, the day before the Battle of Bosworth Field. He spared Richard
III's nephew and designated heir, John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln, and made the
Yorkist heiress Margaret Plantagenet Countess of Salisbury suo jure. Henry
issued an edict that any gentleman who swore fealty to him would be secure in
his property and person.
PRETENDERS AND FOREIGN POLICY
In 1490, Perkin Warbeck appeared and claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury, but
was soon captured and executed. In response to this threat, the King instituted
more rigid security for access to his person. Henry later concluded a treaty with
France at Etaples and ensured the French would not support pretenders to the
English throne, such as Perkin Warbeck. Henry VII of England signed an alliance
with Spain to prevent Brittany from falling into French hands. He sent 6,000
troops to France but was unsuccessful due to the disunited nature of Breton
politics. France agreed to the Peace of Étaples as they were more concerned
with the Italian Wars. Henry also commissioned Europe's first dry dock at
Portsmouth and supported shipbuilding to strengthen the navy and trading
opportunities. He recognized the importance of the newly united Spanish
, kingdom and concluded the Treaty of Medina del Campo, allowing his son
Arthur to marry Catherine of Aragon. He also betrothed his daughter Margaret
Tudor to King James IV of Scotland in an effort to break the Auld Alliance
between Scotland and France. Henry formed an alliance with Holy Roman
Emperor Maximilian I and persuaded Pope Innocent VIII to issue a papal bull of
excommunication against all pretenders to his throne.
HOW HE RULED
During the Tudor era, Henry VII appointed justices of the peace to enforce the
laws of the land in every shire. The justices' duties included overseeing Acts of
Parliament, replacing corrupt jurors, and checking weights and measures.
Despite their increased powers and numbers, Henry worked to constrain their
influence through bonds and recognisances. The justices were unpaid, which
kept law enforcement costs low and made the office desirable to local gentry
seeking prestige. Overall, the policy was successful in reducing corruption
among the nobility.
ECONOMIC
Henry VII was a financially responsible monarch who restored the wealth of an
almost bankrupt treasury. He achieved this by keeping the same financial
advisors throughout his reign and introducing efficient taxation mechanisms.
Archbishop John Morton supported him in this effort and implemented a
method called "Morton's Fork" to ensure nobles paid increased taxes. Henry
also acquired land through the act of resumption, which had been delayed as he
focused on defence of the Church, his person, and his realm.
SUCESSION
Henry VII was succeeded by his son, Henry VIII, and then by his grandchildren,
Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. At Henry VII's death, his first five successors
were his children and his wife's sister, Anne of York, who had no children.
Katherine of York, who was married to William Courtenay, Earl of Devon, with
two sons, followed after Anne.
