It was a fantastic programme and I highly recommend Thomas Penns book on Henry VII Winter King. Through luck, guile, and ruthlessness, Henry VII, the first of the Tudor kings, emerged as rulerbut as a fugitive with a flimsy claim to England's throne, he remained a usurper and false king to many, and his hold on power was precarious. But, his enemies didnt agree. [13] When Warwick restored Henry VI in 1470, Jasper Tudor returned from exile and brought Henry to court. Based on the terms of the accord, Henry sent 6000 troops to fight (at the expense of Brittany) under the command of Lord Daubeney. [76] He was succeeded by his second son, Henry VIII (reigned 150947), who would initiate the Protestant Reformation in England. Henry VII declared himself king by just title of inheritance and by the judgment of God in battle, after slaying Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. [citation needed] John Cabot, originally from Genoa and Venice, had heard that ships from Bristol had discovered uncharted new found territory far west of Ireland. Philip had been shipwrecked on the English coast, and while Henry's guest, was bullied into an agreement so favourable to England at the expense of the Netherlands that it was dubbed the Malus Intercursus ("evil agreement"). Henry VII, also called (145785) Henry Tudor, earl of Richmond, (born January 28, 1457, Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire, Walesdied April 21, 1509, Richmond, Surrey, England), king of England (14851509), who succeeded in ending the Wars of the Roses between the houses of Lancaster and York and founded the Tudor dynasty . Many of the entries show a man who loosened his purse strings generously for his wife and children, and not just on necessities: in spring 1491 he spent a great amount of gold on a lute for his daughter Mary; the following year he spent money on a lion for Elizabeth's menagerie. Iain Hollingshead reviews Henry VII: Winter King, a BBC Two documentary which examines how the first Tudor monarch came to power and went on to have a 23-year reign. Henry, son of Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond, and Margaret Beaufort, was born nearly three months after his fathers death. When Richard III became King, Henrys strategy, planned by Margaret Beaufort, the mother whom he had not seen for years, was to declare in public, in Brittanys Rennes Cathedral, that he would marry Edward IVs daughter Elizabeth, then in sanctuary with her mother, and thus bury the enmity between Lancaster and York by making her his queen. [20] He amassed an army of about 5,0006,000 soldiers. His second son, also called Henry, inherited the throne and became . Even if the king outfaced his enemies in his lifetime, would they not forestall a Tudor succession? He likens the beginning of Henry VIIIs reign to a metaphorical spring, a second coming of sorts because Henry VIII seemed to be the opposite of his father. By this marriage, Henry VII hoped to break the Auld Alliance between Scotland and France. Though this was not achieved during his reign, the marriage eventually led to the union of the English and Scottish crowns under Margaret's great-grandson, James VI and I, following the death of Henry's granddaughter Elizabeth I. [28], Henry had Parliament repeal Titulus Regius, the statute that declared Edward IV's marriage invalid and his children illegitimate, thus legitimising his wife. [62], Henry VII used justices of the peace on a large, nationwide scale. By 1500, Henry felt safer and things were looking good. 1) The number of books on Henry VII can basically be counted on one hand 2) This is Penns first book. As his mother was only 14 when he was born and soon married again, Henry was brought up by his uncle Jasper Tudor, earl of Pembroke. Fittingly he dressed in expensive black. Files Welcome Pack of 5 goodies, 28 January 1457 Birth of Henry VII at Pembroke Castle, 30 October 1485 Coronation of Henry VII, Henry VIIIs Enforcer: The Rise and Fall of Thomas Cromwell A Review and Rundown, Henry VII: Winter King A Review and Rundown, 31 May 1533 The Coronation Procession of Queen Anne Boleyn, Why I think Henry VIII was ultimately responsible for Anne Boleyns downfall, 4 March 1522 Anne Boleyn plays Perseverance, The Boleyns of Hever Castle now 99p on Kindle on Amazon UK, YouTube Live 4 March 2023 The Fascinating Background of Henry VIII. From his victory over Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, to his secret death and the succession of his son Henry VIII, the film reveals the ruthless tactics . Loyalty was ensured, and the nobility was effectively neuteredand Henry became the richest monarch in Europe. [36] However, he spared Warwick's elder sister Margaret, who survived until 1541 when she was executed by Henry VIII. For example, they could replace suspect jurors in accordance with the 1495 act preventing the corruption of juries. To unite the opponents of Richard III, Henry had promised to marry Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of Edward IV; and the coalition of Yorkists and Lancastrians continued, helped by French support, since Richard III talked of invading France. You can find out more on the conflicts between England and France, the Wars of the Roses and also the Tudors in our history courses. He was the last king of England to win his throne on the field of battle. Celebrating the release of The Colour of Bone A London Charnel House. Penn is not one to understate a case. The last few years of his reign were ones of repression. Henry decided to keep Brittany out of French hands, signed an alliance with Spain to that end, and sent 6,000 troops to France. Overspending by Henry VIII to pay for his lavish lifestyle and to fund foreign wars with France and Scotland are cited as . He had enough of that getting himself to the throne. It took Henry, who in any case needed to marry her if the expected issue was to solve the succession problem, some six years to achieve their joint purpose. Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until her death on February 11th, 1503. He explained how Henry VII had achieved what he set out to do, he had passed on the crown successfully. [75], Henry VII died of tuberculosis at Richmond Palace on 21 April 1509 and was buried in the chapel he commissioned in Westminster Abbey next to his wife, Elizabeth. An easy read? For him, it was never about glory and battle. More wrote that this King is loved and compared Henrys accession to the coming of a new season, a new spring following a winter of repression. Claiming the throne by just title of inheritance and by the judgment of God in battle, he was crowned on October 30 and secured parliamentary recognition of his title early in November. He led attempted invasions of Ireland in 1491 and England in 1495, and persuaded James IV of Scotland to invade England in 1496. [58], Henry's principal problem was to restore royal authority in a realm recovering from the Wars of the Roses. [59][60][61], He was content to allow the nobles their regional influence if they were loyal to him. The nobility was forced into bonds, legal agreements that they would act as the King wanted or be fined. In 1502 the death of his heir Arthur left the dynasty's prospects with Arthur's 10-year-old brother, Henry. Henry then consolidated his reign with magnificent architecture, an opulent household and money. This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers. His first chance came in 1483 when his aid was sought to rally Lancastrians in support of the rebellion of Henry Stafford, duke of Buckingham, but that revolt was defeated before Henry could land in England. [14] In November 1476, Francis fell ill and his principal advisers were more amenable to negotiating with King Edward. If you missed the programme then here is the YouTube video for you enjoy! Doubtless the plotters were encouraged by the deaths of Henrys sons in 1500 and 1502 and of his wife in 1503. This meant that Henry had been the rightful King in the battle and that Richard had been the usurper, and those who supported him had been traitors. The King, normally a reserved man who rarely showed much emotion in public unless angry, surprised his courtiers by his intense grief and sobbing at his son's death, while his concern for the Queen is evidence that the marriage was a happy one, as is his reaction to Queen Elizabeth's death the following year, when he shut himself away for several days, refusing to speak to anyone. This book is a nonfiction look at King Henry the VII. Please check your email to confirm your subscription. Sometimes, Penn explained, charges against people were fabricated so that they would have to pay a fine, for example, a man who was charged with murdering a child and who was found guilty because the jury was rigged. One of their sons was Edmund, Henry's father. [citation needed], During his lifetime the nobility often criticised Henry VII for re-centralizing power in London, and later the 16th-century historian Francis Bacon was ruthlessly critical of the methods by which he enforced tax law, but it is equally true that Henry VII was diligent about keeping detailed records of his personal finances, down to the last halfpenny;[71] these and one account book detailing the expenses of his queen survive in the British National Archives, as do accounts of courtiers and many of the king's own letters. Their main aim was money. Penn explained that the marriage had been one of genuine love and that Henry was shattered by his wifes death. Here is a rundown of the programme for those who missed it. His bouts of grave illness brought the question repeatedly to the fore. She was Edward's heir since the presumed death of her brothers, the Princes in the Tower, King Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. While there, he feigned stomach cramps and delayed his departure long enough to miss the tides. Henry VII, also called (145785) Henry Tudor, earl of Richmond, (born January 28, 1457, Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire, Walesdied April 21, 1509, Richmond, Surrey, England), king of England (14851509), who succeeded in ending the Wars of the Roses between the houses of Lancaster and York and founded the Tudor dynasty. Local gentry saw the office as one of local influence and prestige and were therefore willing to serve. He invited artists, musicians and scholars to live at his court. [63] Despite this, Henry was keen to constrain their power and influence, applying the same principles to the justices of the peace as he did to the nobility: a similar system of bonds and recognisances to that which applied to both the gentry and the nobles who tried to exert their elevated influence over these local officials. They were appointed for every shire and served for a year at a time. Old rivalries simmered, however. Penn pointed out that for over half a century no king had passed on the crown without turmoil and Henry knew that what had happened to Richard could happen to him. [citation needed], By 1509, justices of the peace were key enforcers of law and order for Henry VII. [18] He was welcomed by the French, who readily supplied him with troops and equipment for a second invasion. It seems that Henry was skilful at extracting money from his subjects on many pretexts, including that of war with France or war with Scotland. The portly Henry VIII, and the ill-fated destinies of most of his six wives, is one of the first historical figures primary-aged pupils are aware of.. [41] Henry also increased wealth by acquiring land through the act of resumption of 1486 which had been delayed as he focused on defence of the Church, his person and his realm. For many he remained a usurper, a false king. In 1494, Henry embargoed trade (mainly in wool) with the Burgundian Netherlands in retaliation for Margaret of Burgundy's support for Perkin Warbeck. As we know, Henry VII was true to his word, married Elizabeth and they founded the Tudor dynasty between them. He entertained thoughts of remarriage to renew the alliance with Spain Joanna, Dowager Queen of Naples (a niece of Queen Isabella of Castile), Queen Joanna of Castile, and Margaret, Dowager Duchess of Savoy (sister-in-law of Joanna of Castile), were all considered. His claim to the throne was precarious and he wanted to portray Richard III as a usurper. However, this treaty came at a price, as Henry mounted a minor invasion of Brittany in November 1492. In that, he was quite successful, but he was neither loved nor admired. Raised in France, admiring of Italian-trained lawyers (and reaping the reward of the return of a whole generation of educated English commoners who sat out the War of the Roses abroad), with good taste in Renaissance art and advised by his gracious wife and steely mother, Henry VII is a major figure, not a prequel. [19] He marched toward England accompanied by his uncle Jasper and John de Vere, 13th Earl of Oxford. Through luck, guile and ruthlessness, Henry VII, the first of the Tudor kings, had clambered to the top of the heap--a fugitive with a flimsy claim to England's throne. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. [26] Henry married Elizabeth of York with the hope of uniting the Yorkist and Lancastrian sides of the Plantagenet dynastic disputes, and he was largely successful. [5], The descent of Henry's mother, Margaret, through the legitimised House of Beaufort bolstered Henry's claim to the English throne. [4] Owen is said to have secretly married the widow of Henry V, Catherine of Valois. He was crowned on October 30 and secured parliamentary recognition of his title early in November. I found this really interesting, but Im a history nut. [45], Henry VII established the pound avoirdupois as a standard of weight; it later became part of the Imperial[46] and customary systems of units. The Merchant Adventurers, the company which enjoyed the monopoly of the Flemish wool trade, relocated from Antwerp to Calais. Henry VII was born in Pembroke Castle , Wales, on January 28 th, 1457. We know that Henry attended the wedding celebrations of Arthur and his bride . Shakespeare later turned to Henry's son and successor Henry VIII, whose rule brought marital sensation, renaissance spectacle and the reformation. He paid very close attention to detail, and instead of spending lavishly he concentrated on raising new revenues. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. [44] Following Henry VII's death, Henry VIII executed Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley, his two most hated tax collectors, on trumped-up charges of treason. (HIST003) Persecutions, Populations and Politics: Early Modern Britain 1550-1750, (HIST004) Country, Colonies and Culture: Early Modern Britain 1550-1750, (HIST006) The Stuart Court: History Politics and Culture, (HIST010) The Tudors: History, Culture and Religion, (HIST011) The English Country House: History, Architecture and Landscape, (HIST018) The Changing English Countryside, 20th Century Musicals: A Celebration of Song and Dance on the Silver Screen and the Stage. His legacy was his son, Henry VIII, lucky old England Penn commented. [51], Henry VII was one of the first European monarchs to recognise the importance of the newly united Spanish kingdom; he concluded the Treaty of Medina del Campo, by which his son Arthur, Prince of Wales, was married to Catherine of Aragon. "King Henry VII" redirects here. By 1900 the "New Monarchy" interpretation stressed the common factors that in each country led to the revival of monarchical power. Henry reigned for nearly 24 years and was peacefully succeeded by his son, Henry VIII. Indeed he was born in winter, on January 28th 1457, in Pembroke Castle, in Wales and that is one of the reasons why the Welsh dragon always formed part of his insignia. When Henry VII called his first parliament he used it as an opportunity to legitimise his reign. Henry VII was king of England from 1485 to 1509. Letters to relatives have an affectionate tone not captured by official state business, as evidenced by many written to his mother Margaret. [33], In 1490, a young Fleming, Perkin Warbeck, appeared and claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury, the younger of the "Princes in the Tower". His history plays depicted the dramatic conflicts of the wars of the roses, which Henry's accession after his victory at Bosworth in 1485 brought to an end. The significant role played by bitcoin for businesses! He was a ruler to be feared, a ruler to be paid. The rebellion was defeated and Lincoln killed at the Battle of Stoke. If he trusted anyone, it would be his queen and why not, since both had so much in common both being familiar with being in sanctuary, and pawns in the game of power? I thought the book was well written, even though a bit dry is spots. Hidden under the floor in St George's Chapel in Windsor, England where thousands of people walk every day, a forgotten tomb lies. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [56] This trade made an expensive commodity cheaper, which raised opposition from Pope Julius II, since the Tolfa mine was a part of papal territory and had given the Pope monopoly control over alum.