On the other side of the coin, instead of the cross, was a Tudor rose and the arms of England. Early life Hidden under the floor in St George's Chapel in Windsor, England where thousands of people walk every day, a forgotten tomb lies. Since he was the second son, and not expected to become king, we know little of his childhood until the death of his older brother Arthur, Prince of Wales. [40], Henry VII improved tax collection in the realm by introducing ruthlessly efficient mechanisms of taxation. Detailed Information. Though outnumbered, Henry's Lancastrian forces decisively defeated Richard's Yorkist army at the Battle of Bosworth Field on 22 August 1485. [7] He came from an old, established Anglesey family that claimed descent from Cadwaladr, in legend, the last ancient British king,[8] and on occasion Henry displayed the red dragon of Cadwaladr. For many he remained a usurper, a false king. Henry VII of England - Wikipedia His father was the son of Owen Tudor, a Welsh squire, and Catherine of France, the widow of King Henry V. His mother was the great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, whose children by Catherine Swynford were born before he married her. 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. Henry the older was lean and shriveled, rigid with prudence, empty of any hunger other than a desire to secure his throne through the acquisition of cash. Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England - Goodreads (ROYAL HISTORY) Directors Stuart Elliott Genres Documentary, International Subtitles English [CC] Audio languages English. Catherine's mother Isabella I of Castile had died and Catherine's sister Joanna had succeeded her; Catherine was, therefore, daughter of only one reigning monarch and so less desirable as a spouse for Henry VII's heir-apparent. It was no easy feat. His spies and informers were everywhere. Their powers and numbers steadily increased during the time of the Tudors, never more so than under Henry's reign. 3.5 Stars. The rebels were defeated (June 1487) in a hard-fought battle at Stoke (East Stoke, near Newark in Nottinghamshire), where the doubtful loyalty of some of the royal troops was reminiscent of Richard IIIs difficulties at Bosworth. [37], For most of Henry VII's reign Edward Story was Bishop of Chichester. Having seen it pop up in a lot of papers' Books of the Year lists, I think I was expecting something altogether more gripping and dramatic, but in the end I thought the story of Henry VII and the Tudor succession was just not an especially thrilling tale. But that's not really what I wanted from a book about Henry VII. Amateur historians Bertram Fields and Sir Clements Markham have claimed that he may have been involved in the murder of the Princes in the Tower, as the repeal of Titulus Regius gave the Princes a stronger claim to the throne than his own. Henry reigned for nearly 24 years and was peacefully succeeded by his son, Henry VIII. He was the founder of the Tudor dynasty, and his marriage to Elizabeth Woodville brought together the too sides that were facing off during the Wars of the Roses (the Lancasters and the Yorks) basically uniting the two houses into a single family. [58], Henry's principal problem was to restore royal authority in a realm recovering from the Wars of the Roses. The usurpation of Richard III (1483), however, split the Yorkist party and gave Henry his opportunity. Stanley placed Richards circlet on Henrys head, he was now King. Accordingly, he arranged a papal dispensation from Pope Julius II for Prince Henry to marry his brother's widow Catherine, a relationship that would have otherwise precluded marriage in the Church. Henry was building a myth, the idea that he and his family were the true royal blood of England. Reasonably interesting overview of the reign of Henry VII of England. [70] Henry VII falls among the minority of British monarchs that never had any known mistresses, and for the times, it is very unusual that he did not remarry: his son Henry was the only male heir left after the death of his wife, thus the death of Arthur created a precarious political position for the House of Tudor. Penn explained that the marriage had been one of genuine love and that Henry was shattered by his wifes death. [54], Henry VII was much enriched by trading alum, which was used in the wool and cloth trades as a chemical fixative for dyeing fabrics. These bonds were enforced by the Council Learned in the Law, a council of legal advisers who were only answerable to the King. He was a ruler to be feared, a ruler to be paid. I really enjoyed it. They were also in charge of various administrative duties, such as the checking of weights and measures. For me, history is alive and energizing - not something static and remote. Edward, Earl of Warwick, the ten-year-old son of Edward IV's brother George, Duke of Clarence, was the senior surviving male of the House of York. The house of York then appeared so firmly established that Henry seemed likely to remain in exile for the rest of his life. Read all Directors Giulia Clark Stuart Elliott Writers [citation needed], In 1502, Henry VII's life took a difficult and personal turn in which many people he was close to died in quick succession. I have to admit to being a history geek. [35] In 1499, Henry had the Earl of Warwick executed. [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. How did a precariously enthroned ruler, lacking a police force or a standing army, manage to run roughshod over the law? Coinage of Henry VII of England | Mintage World Penn explained how Henry reworked recent events to suit him. Henry VII died on 21 April 1509, and the 17-year-old Henry succeeded him as king. Soon after his fathers burial on 10 May, Henry suddenly declared that he would indeed marry Catherine, leaving unresolved several issues concerning the papal dispensation and a missing part of the marriage portion. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Henry VII was king of England from 1485 to 1509. [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. [11] When Edward IV became King in 1461, Jasper Tudor went into exile abroad. Overblown prose trumpeting his reign seemed to be the order of the day. The Merchant Adventurers, the company which enjoyed the monopoly of the Flemish wool trade, relocated from Antwerp to Calais. 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. After his victory at Bosworth Field, Henry married Edward IVs daughter Elizabeth of York. Elizabeth did get pregnant, but then went into premature labour. 4. [33], In 1490, a young Fleming, Perkin Warbeck, appeared and claimed to be Richard of Shrewsbury, the younger of the "Princes in the Tower". The Field of Cloth of Gold: Royal Revelry. 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. 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. When he met Richard III at Bosworth Field, Henry found that his army of dissidents and mercenaries was completely outnumbered. [2] His father died three months before his birth. The nobility was forced into bonds, legal agreements that they would act as the King wanted or be fined. [53] Later on, Henry had exchanged letters with Pope Julius II in 1507, in which he encouraged him to establish peace among Christian realms, and to organise an expedition against the Turks of the Ottoman Empire. Together, they had seven children. [citation needed] Nonetheless, by 1483 Henry was the senior male Lancastrian claimant remaining after the deaths in battle, by murder or execution of Henry VI (son of Henry V and Catherine of Valois), his son Edward of Westminster, Prince of Wales, and the other Beaufort line of descent through Lady Margaret's uncle, Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset. According to John M. Currin, the treaty redefined Anglo-Breton relations. In 1837 Henry VIII's tomb was eventually marked in the chapel with a commemorative marble slab. Henry VIII, (born June 28, 1491, Greenwich, near London, Englanddied January 28, 1547, London), king of England (1509-47) who presided over the beginnings of the English Renaissance and the English Reformation. We know that Henry attended the wedding celebrations of Arthur and his bride . Henry Tudor is a familiar name to students of English history, especially the military side of it. Castles of . Next month find out more on someone known as The Winter Queen! The fact that a Cockney could provide a recognisable representation of him gives away part of his enduring appeal; in national memory, Henry was one of the lads, the only English king to have. He died shortly afterwards in Carmarthen Castle. Winter King: Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England 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. Henry then consolidated his reign with magnificent architecture, an opulent household and money. Gaunt's nephew Richard II legitimised Gaunt's children by Swynford by Letters Patent in 1397. Henry VIII - Loss of popularity | Britannica - Encyclopedia Britannica Henry VII: The Winter King. [67], Henry made half-hearted plans to remarry and beget more heirs, but these never came to anything. Henry was also worried by the treason of Edmund de la Pole, earl of Suffolk, the eldest surviving son of Edward IVs sister Elizabeth, who fled to the Netherlands (1499) and was supported by Maximilian. Royal Collection Trust At the summit, even dinnerware testified to its owner's status. [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. After his death, a commission found widespread abuses in the tax collection process. Shakespeare, drawn to the colour on either side of the reign, skipped it. 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. This book is a nonfiction look at King Henry the VII. Well written and really interesting about an often ignored king. The usual courts and justice system were totally circumvented, and there was no chance of appeal other than purchasing extremely high priced royal pardons. In 1485 Henry landed at Milford Haven in Wales and advanced toward London. [citation needed], Henry honoured his pledge of December 1483 to marry Elizabeth of York and the wedding took place in 1486 at Westminster Abbey. He was crowned on October 30 and secured parliamentary recognition of his title early in November. Since we are in the middle of winter, Ive been thinking of a volume on my shelves on Henry VII, who could be called the Winter King. Until the death of his wife, the evidence is clear from these accounting books that Henry was a more doting father and husband than was widely known and there is evidence that his outwardly austere personality belied a devotion to his family. I was disappointed by this it was decent but I think it was somewhat overhyped. [22] Thus, anyone who had fought for Richard against him would be guilty of treason and Henry could legally confiscate the lands and property of Richard III, while restoring his own. Henry restored power and stability to the English monarchy following the civil war. The Winter King is also the title of a book by Thomas Penn, and a useful read. The new prince was the embodiment of the red and white rose, he was the Tudor rose incarnate. 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 . Dydd Gyl Dewi Hapus! He spent his entire reign fixated on eliminating or disarming his enemies, and stabilizing England after the bloody, seemingly endless War of the Roses. Reading this, I got a much better understanding of where Henry VIII came from, and why he was destined to be the colorful ruler he became, as an antidote to his own father. During his 23-year reign, Henry had only two Lord High Treasurers, and this continuity helped provide stability. Henry VII: Winter King, BBC Two, review - The Telegraph At Rennes Cathedral on Christmas Day 1483, Henry pledged to marry Elizabeth of York, the eldest daughter of Edward IV. Henry showed remarkable clemency to the surviving rebels: he pardoned Kildare and the other Irish nobles, and he made the boy, Simnel, a servant in the royal kitchen where he was in charge of roasting meats on a spit. The rest, as we say, is history; Richard III was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth and Henry Tudor had arrived out of nowhere and avenged the death of the little princes in the tower, although there is some debate as to who was actually responsible for their murder. Henry Tudor, named after his father, Henry VII, was born by Elizabeth of York June 28, 1491 in Greenwich Palace. Years of instability, factionalism and his predecessors' penchant for war had seen royal finances severely battered. Its inhabitant was once one of England's most exuberant kings, yet his resting place was only re-discovered in 1813. An easy read? Henry VII's reign has yielded an evocative study, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, ILLUSTRATION: CLIFFORD HARPER/AGRAPHIA.CO.UK. Wales was historically a Lancastrian stronghold, and Henry owed the support he gathered to his Welsh birth and ancestry, being agnatically descended from Rhys ap Gruffydd. Two themes of his book preside: the permanent vulnerability of Henry's regime, and his ruthless methods of rule. His host was Francis, the Duke of Brittany, who saw Henry Tudor as a pawn in the game between Edward VI and the King of France. However, as France was becoming more concerned with the Italian Wars, the French were happy to agree to the Treaty of Etaples. Why was Henry VII called the Winter King? [34], When the King's agents searched the property of William Stanley (Chamberlain of the Household, with direct access to Henry VII) they found a bag of coins amounting to around 10,000 and a collar of livery with Yorkist garnishings. 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.. I am glad to say that I think it does, for it concentrates on the reign, and court, of Henry VII, giving a different slant to the well known story. I'm beginning to wonder if all of the kings beginning with the conquest weren't a little off their rocker in some way. Hed achieved the impossible, hed risen from refugee to King of England. Bacon wanted the future Charles I to learn from Henry's reign, but the financial methods that would provoke fatal opposition to Charles look pale beside the exactions levied by Henry from often innocent subjects, who were denied legal process or threatened with trumped-up prosecutions and had to buy their freedom (though at moments of apparently impending death the king would repent of his methods and have the jails cleared and pardons issued). It is a sobering reflection for professional historians that the apparently unpromising territory of Henry's reign has recently produced two memorable books, both of them written outside their ranks: this one, and Ann Wroe's biography of the pretender, Perkin (2003), a longer work on a shorter subject. Henry VII ruled - as Machiavelli, just after his reign, was to advise usurpers to do - through fear rather than love. [citation needed] Following the example of Edward IV, Henry VII created a Council of Wales and the Marches for his son Arthur, which was intended to govern Wales and the Marches, Cheshire and Cornwall. [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. Overall, this was a successful area of policy for Henry, both in terms of efficiency and as a method of reducing the corruption endemic within the nobility of the Middle Ages.