Faizaan Butt 13T4
Q) To what extent had Henry VII secured his claim to the throne by 1487?
Following his ascension in 1485, Henry VII faced a multitude of significant challenges in attempting
to secure his claim to the throne, having inherited a country that had been divided for decades. With
a nobility inconsistent in their loyalty, key supporters of Richard III active within the country and little
experience in government, Henry acted rapidly and extensively in attempts to secure his claim.
Through the emphasis of the divine right through the utilisation of parliament, dealing with residual
Yorkist and noble opposition and overcoming direct challenge from Lambert Simnel, Henry tackled
key issues to varying degrees of success. Ultimately however, it may be argued that Henry was
indeed successful in securing his claim to the throne by 1487 to a great extent – the establishment
and continuance of his dynasty for over a century irrefutably merits this.
The entrenchment of Henry’s reign through the coronation and parliament was arguably the most
immediate – and therefore highly significant – measures taken by Henry upon his ascension to
secure his claim to the throne. Harnessing the relationship between the Battle of Bosworth – his only
truly substantial claim to the throne – and the beliefs of society at the time that it was God’s will
which dictated events, Henry was able to manipulate and develop the legitimacy of his kingship
around the concept of the divine right. Acutely aware of the 15 th century belief system, Henry used
his victory at Bosworth as evidence that God has decided he deserved to be king, and thus
simultaneously discredited Ricardian supporters and established his claim to the throne under the
guise of divine intervention. Even more significantly, this contributed to the undermining of the
Yorkist faction following Richard’s death and their subsequent loss of traction and focus. The
considerable value of this declaration was further bolstered in significance by the involvement of
both parliament and the display of the coronation. The coronation marked the moment at which the
monarch was truly considered to have been chosen and anointed by God – reasserting Henry’s claim
to the throne from the initial unofficial and informal assumption following Bosworth to once
formally secured and decreed. Furthermore, the summoning of parliament, having them declare
that he was king but being careful to avoid suggesting that parliament had given him the throne,
consolidated Henry’s position on the throne in all components of government and monarchy in the
country. The rapidity of this action further contributed to the success of these actions; with
Q) To what extent had Henry VII secured his claim to the throne by 1487?
Following his ascension in 1485, Henry VII faced a multitude of significant challenges in attempting
to secure his claim to the throne, having inherited a country that had been divided for decades. With
a nobility inconsistent in their loyalty, key supporters of Richard III active within the country and little
experience in government, Henry acted rapidly and extensively in attempts to secure his claim.
Through the emphasis of the divine right through the utilisation of parliament, dealing with residual
Yorkist and noble opposition and overcoming direct challenge from Lambert Simnel, Henry tackled
key issues to varying degrees of success. Ultimately however, it may be argued that Henry was
indeed successful in securing his claim to the throne by 1487 to a great extent – the establishment
and continuance of his dynasty for over a century irrefutably merits this.
The entrenchment of Henry’s reign through the coronation and parliament was arguably the most
immediate – and therefore highly significant – measures taken by Henry upon his ascension to
secure his claim to the throne. Harnessing the relationship between the Battle of Bosworth – his only
truly substantial claim to the throne – and the beliefs of society at the time that it was God’s will
which dictated events, Henry was able to manipulate and develop the legitimacy of his kingship
around the concept of the divine right. Acutely aware of the 15 th century belief system, Henry used
his victory at Bosworth as evidence that God has decided he deserved to be king, and thus
simultaneously discredited Ricardian supporters and established his claim to the throne under the
guise of divine intervention. Even more significantly, this contributed to the undermining of the
Yorkist faction following Richard’s death and their subsequent loss of traction and focus. The
considerable value of this declaration was further bolstered in significance by the involvement of
both parliament and the display of the coronation. The coronation marked the moment at which the
monarch was truly considered to have been chosen and anointed by God – reasserting Henry’s claim
to the throne from the initial unofficial and informal assumption following Bosworth to once
formally secured and decreed. Furthermore, the summoning of parliament, having them declare
that he was king but being careful to avoid suggesting that parliament had given him the throne,
consolidated Henry’s position on the throne in all components of government and monarchy in the
country. The rapidity of this action further contributed to the success of these actions; with
