From war to Tudor England : Henry Tudor's journey towards the Crown of England

Abstract

The basis of this research stems from a personal interest and curiosity into England’s medieval history. The Wars of the Roses bring to an end the Middle Ages in British history, but it also plays witness to one of the most documented monarchs in British history; King Richard III. Today he is remembered through the everlasting myth which had been brewing ever since Henry Tudor won the Battle of Bosworth. The Tudor’s aim to disrepute the last York King, backfired tremendously, resulting in the first Tudor King being overshadowed and forgotten. With this in mind, the aim for this dissertation was to re-focus the story towards Henry Tudor.

The Tudor Patriarch led his men from Brittany to Bosworth Field with very little credentials to his name, however, his story is one which contributes to many facades, and thus, to be able to understand the journey led by Henry Tudor and his men, one also needs to know the journey undertook by his mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort. A formidable woman in her own right; her Lancastrian blood made her an asset for men in power, and like many women of her time she became the object of men’s greed for power. By the age of 13 years, she was already a mother and a widow. Her life from this point onwards was one central to her son and his needs.

Thus, when her son became the next in line to the throne of England against the Yorks, her decisive marriage to Thomas Stanley sealed her faith and that of her son. Lady Margaret’s role within her son’s journey towards the crown of England is pivotal, since it allows us to gain a better understanding of the woman herself, but also creates a more concise picture of all the elements affecting Henry Tudor in England, which would have otherwise have been difficult to resolve since Henry was absent from England for the fourteen years previous to the Battle of Bosworth.

While the events on Bosworth Field in 1485 brought an end to the Plantagenet rule and started the Tudor Dynasty; it was not the end for Henry’s journey. On the contrary, he would have to fight and struggle with uncertainty within his court until the last of the pretenders were executed near the end of the 15th century. The mystery of the disappearances of the Prince’s in the Tower were as much of a stain to Henry Tudor as they were to Richard III. The element of the unknown within this story resulted in Henry VII being forced to legitimise his reign against pretenders claiming to be the York heirs, most formidable was Perkin Warbeck who claimed to be the second son of King Edward IV. Warbeck assumed the role of King Richard IV and gained support from many who had pledged their sword to Tudor. His death brought an end to the Yorkist claim; however, the years of uncertainty played an important role for Henry Tudor.

King Henry VII’s tumultuous early life, reflected greatly on the method in which he reigned. In his private life, Henry encapsulated himself with the people he trusted the most; those being his mother, his wife and children. In his role as King, Henry VII bestowed power to those deserving of the roles, unlike his predecessors who relinquished power to the highest nobles in the realm. While this action made him unpopular among his people near the end of his life; his action made it possible for his heir, Henry VIII to transform England and led her into the changes brought by the Renaissance Age.