Henry VII (1485-1509)
Henry VII was widely regarded as a "usurper" king, having a weak maternal claim. He had not been raised to rule, only becoming a claimant after
the Yorkist victory at Tewkesbury (1471) left the remaining Lancastrian heirs dead or executed. Exiled in Brittany for 14 years, fugitive life made him
shrewd, calculated, self-restrained, and pragmatic. Following thirty years of intermittent civil war and instability, his immediate priorities were to
consolidate the throne and establish his dynasty, curtail the power of the nobility, restore the Crown's finances, and secure foreign recognition.
SECTION DETAIL
TOPIC 1. HENRY TUDOR’S CONSOLIDATION OF POWER
• PREDATED HIS REIGN TO 21ST AUG 1485 – day before Bosworth, allowed him to brand Yorkists as traitors
• CORONATION 30TH OCT 1485 – prior to 1st Parliament to assert his legitimacy
• PARLIAMENT 7TH NOV 1485 – Acts of Attainder (Yorkists’ property forfeited), granted tonnage & poundage (customs revenues) for life
SECURING THE
THRONE • REWARDS & SECURITY – publicly rewarded supporters (e.g. 11 knighthoods conferred), appointed trusted loyals (e.g. Sir Reginald Bray as
Chancellor, Sir William Stanley as Chamberlain), imprisoned Edward, Earl of Warwick (stronger claim - beheaded alongside Warbeck in 1499)
• MARRIED ELIZABETH OF YORK JAN 1486 – after coronation to show he was King in his own right, united Houses of Lancaster & York
• ROYAL PROGRESS APR 1486 – toured the North (Yorkist stronghold) to assert authority and win loyalty (e.g. hear petitions, grant favours)
• BIRTH OF SON PRINCE ARTHUR SEP 1486 – incarnation of the Tudor Rose, cements dynastic ambitions
Henry’s claim to the throne was weak, viewed by many as illegitimate. Threats included:
Claimants – Richard III & Edward IV's nephews: John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln (Richard III's designated successor) & Edward, Earl of Warwick
Foreign supporters – Margaret of Burgundy (Richard III and Edward IV's sister, willing to finance Yorkist plots)
Yorkist supporters – E.g. Lovell and the Staffords
Pretenders – Lambert Simnel, Perkin Warbeck
• 1486: VISCOUNT LOVELL & THE STAFFORDS – Minor Yorkist rising in Yorkshire and the Midlands (Yorkist strongholds), led by Viscount
Lovell and the Stafford brothers. It attracted little support and was easily suppressed. Lovell fled to Burgundy; Humphrey Stafford was
executed, and Thomas Stafford was pardoned.
Significance: Showed that there was little support for a Yorkist rising at this point. Yorkists realised they needed a figurehead.
• 1487: LAMBERT SIMNEL & THE REBELLION OF THE EARL OF LINCOLN – Yorkist plot organised by the Earl of Lincoln, who used Simnel as a
pretender claiming to be the Earl of Warwick. Simnel was crowned as King Edward in Ireland (May 1487), while the real Warwick was
exhibited in London to disprove the claim. Lincoln fled to Margaret of Burgundy, who funded mercenaries to invade England. Henry
reinstated the Earl of Northumberland (to neutralise Yorkist support in the north). The rebels landed in Cumberland and attempted to
muster support in Yorkshire, but failed to attract followers. Henry's army defeated the mercenary army at the Battle of Stoke Field, June
1487. Lincoln was killed and Simnel was captured (but spared as a spitboy).
Significance: It effectively ended the Wars of the Roses and strengthened Henry's position. Henry displayed his shrewdness, aided by the
ESTABLISHING great military skill of his key supporters and the willingness of landowners in many parts of the country to support his cause. Henry's
THE TUDOR lenient treatment of the rebels won over some Yorkists. Henry also began to develop the policy of using bonds of good behaviour
DYNASTY
(providing lump sums of money to landowners they did not have to repay if they behaved well).
• 1491–1499: THE PERKIN WARBECK IMPOSTURE – Perkin Warbeck, a cloth trader from Flanders, claimed to be Richard, Duke of York (one
of the Princes in the Tower). He gained international backing from Charles VIII of France, Margaret of Burgundy, Maximilian of the HRE,
and James IV of Scotland. His first attempt to invade England in 1495 failed; a Scottish-backed invasion in 1496 also collapsed. In 1497, he
tried to exploit the Cornish Rebellion, but surrendered and was captured. Initially treated leniently, he was executed in 1499.
Significance: Ended major Yorkist pretenders. However, patronage from foreign rulers made Warbeck a potentially serious threat (which
persisted for 8 years) and demonstrated how fragile Henry's position was considered to be by other rulers. Moreover, Sir William Stanley's
implication (Henry's step-uncle and Lord Chamberlain) demonstrated Henry’s vulnerability, even within his own household.
• 1506-1525: THE DE LA POLE BROTHERS – The final Yorkist threats came from Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and Richard de la Pole
(brothers of the Earl of Lincoln). Edmund fled to Burgundy in 1498, gaining support from Margaret of Burgundy. Under the Treaty of
Windsor (1506), he was handed over to Henry and executed in 1513. Richard remained in exile until killed fighting at Pavia in 1525.
Significance: The imprisonment and execution of Edmund effectively ended the main Yorkist line, leaving only minor threats.
HENRY'S STRATEGIES FOR CONSOLIDATING THE DYNASTY – Henry used a combination of leniency and control (he was both feared and
respected). His mild treatment of rebels encouraged former opponents to accept him, while his policy of bonds and recognisances ensured
good behaviour from nobles through financial pressure ('carrot and stick' approach). He also strengthened diplomatic ties (e.g. with
Burgundy and Scotland) to isolate rebels abroad. Henry’s shrewdness, careful planning, and political skill were key to maintaining stability.
TOPIC 2. HENRY VII'S GOVERNMENT
Governed with a highly centralised style of government through the Council & household instead of relying upon traditional magnates:
THE COUNCIL – Henry's main advisory and administrative body. Had three core functions: advising the king, administering the realm, and
making legal judgments involving the Crown. Though over 200 men were formally listed as councillors, the working council was just six or
COUNCILS AND seven members, allowing quick, private decision-making. Councillors (reflecting Henry's preference for meritocracy and 'new men') were:
THE COURT nobles (e.g. Lord Daubeney), churchmen with legal training (e.g. Morton, Fox), and laymen (gentry/lawyers, e.g. Bray, Dudley).
THE COUNCIL LEARNED IN LAW – A specialist offshoot of the Council developed in 1495 under Bray. Its main functions were to exploit the
king’s prerogative rights (powers held by the monarch that bypass Parliament, e.g. control of finance, justice, patronage) and maintain
revenue through bonds and recognisances. It acted outside normal legal courts, being effective but feared and unpopular. After Bray's
, death (1503), Empson and Dudley took over. Their harsh financial exactions bred such resentment that both were executed in 1510.
COURT & HOUSEHOLD – The royal court was the centre of government. It was a focus for personal monarchy (a system in which a person's
power was determined by his relationship with the monarch). It comprised:
● THE HOUSEHOLD PROPER: led by the Lord Steward, cared for the king, courtiers, and guests.
● THE CHAMBER: led by the Lord Chamberlain, managed political, financial, and administrative affairs.
Remodelled into the Privy Chamber in 1495 following Sir Stanley's implication in the Warbeck conspiracy.
⤷ THE PRIVY CHAMBER – King’s most private quarters. By restricting access to only his most trusted servants, Henry increased his personal
security, but also limited the political influence of nobles and courtiers.
PARLIAMENT – Met infrequently and was not central to the government. Composed of the House of Lords & the House of Commons. Its
main functions were to pass laws and grant taxation to the crown (e.g. extraordinary revenue, one-off payment to fund war/emergencies).
Henry called 7 parliaments in total; 5 in his first ten years (reflecting early instability) and only 2 in his final fourteen.
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT (in the hands of the nobility) – Traditionally, kings relied on magnates to maintain regional order. However, the
Wars of the Roses left fewer loyal magnates available, and the North remained a Yorkist stronghold where royal authority was limited.
• THE NORTH – Following the murder of the Earl of Northumberland (1489), Henry released the Yorkist Earl of Surrey from prison to govern
the North - a high-risk but successful move, as Surrey remained loyal for ten years. Surrey ruled through the Council of the North, which
Henry revived to enforce royal law, collect taxes, and defend the Scottish border, keeping it directly accountable to London.
• ELSEWHERE – Henry relied on trusted nobles such as the Earl of Oxford and Lord Daubeney, though they lacked great territorial power.
DOMESTIC Ensuring nobility’s loyalty (carrot-and-stick approach) – Where personal trust was absent, he employed spies and informants to monitor
POLICY: nobles, while Bonds & Recognisances (financial agreements threatening ruin if conditions were broken) acted as a sword of Damocles.
JUSTICE & Henry abandoned the traditional policy of distributing land to loyal followers, unwilling to create over-mighty subjects (e.g. peerage
ORDER
declined by ¼, he created only three earls). Instead, he relied on men of lower status who were dependent on royal favour for their
position, breaking aristocratic dominance. This aimed to establish a more dominant royal position, prioritise service, and ensure loyalty.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (JPs) – At a local level, Henry increasingly relied on unpaid gentry JPs rather than the nobility, who gradually
superseded sheriffs as the main agents of royal authority. Meeting four times yearly at Quarter Sessions, they handled routine
administration, tax assessments, and law enforcement. Parliament extended their powers to grant bail (1491) and replace suspect juries
(1495). More serious cases were heard at the courts of assize, with the Court of King's Bench handling appeals.
MAIN SOURCES OF INCOME ordinary revenue (regular income) / extraordinary revenue (irregular income)
CROWN LANDS – Rental income forming a large proportion of ordinary revenue. Initially administered through the inefficient Court of
Exchequer, the change to Chamber administration in 1492 (tighter control) increased yearly income from £12,000 to £42,000 by 1509.
FEUDAL DUES & PREROGATIVE RIGHTS – Income derived from Henry's status as feudal overlord of all land. He was granted Feudal Aid in
DOMESTIC 1504 (Crown's right to impose taxes for certain services, e.g. wardship, marriage, livery). The Statute of Uses (1489) also closed loopholes.
POLICY:
OTHER SOURCES (more minor)
FINANCE
• Customs revenue (tonnage & poundage) – Granted for life by Henry's first Parliament. Income grew from £34,000 to £38,000 per year.
• Profits of justice – fines, fees, income from bonds (e.g. Lord Burgavenny fined £70,550 for illegal retaining in 1506)
• Bonds & recognaisances – £35,000/year by 1509, though used to threaten nobles rather than raise revenue
• Extraordinary: clerical taxes & grants, loans & benevolences, parliamentary grants, pensions from powers (e.g. Étaples, £5000/y)
Over £400,000 was raised from extraordinary revenue, which was politically risky (as it risked alienating nobility and provoking rebellion).
The last Parliament in 1504 restricted Henry’s abilities to demand extraordinary revenue.
ADMINISTRATION – Henry personally supervised accounts. The Chamber system was secretive and efficient. Empson & Dudley enforced
debts to maximise revenue. By 1509, his treasury held over £300,000 - making him twenty times richer than his wealthiest noble.
WAS HENRY A MISER? Though criticised for avarice by contemporaries such as Polydore Vergil, Henry's financial policy was ruthlessly
efficient and frugal rather than unnecessarily greedy, driven by the need to secure the dynasty and restore royal solvency. He was not a
simple miser - he spent over £3,000 on his wife's funeral and funded projects such as the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey. By 1509,
stabilised finances, improved administration, and restored royal prestige all attest to the effectiveness of his policy despite its unpopularity.
TOPIC 3. HENRY VII’S FOREIGN POLICY
Henry sought good relations and defence, to ensure: Key: France/Brittany, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Burgundy/HRE/Netherlands
1) National security
2) Recognition of the Tudor dynasty
3) Defence of English trading interests
Year Event Details Significance Aim
Continued peace and good relations with Henry would not suffer invasion from a foreign rival or
HENRY'S
1485 Truce with France their traditional enemy. face their support for Yorkist claimants while securing the 1,2
RELATIONS throne at home. Also being recognised as king of England.
WITH FOREIGN
POWERS Reduced immediate threat from the northern Henry would not suffer invasion from a foreign rival or
Three-year truce border. Temporary but prudent - James III's face their support for Yorkist claimants while securing the
1486 1,2
with Scotland death led to James IV's minority rule (so little throne at home. Also being recognised as king of England.
threat from Scotland onwards).
Aimed to secure trade while protecting Kept Brittany independent from France, limiting French
Commercial treaty
1486 Brittany's independence from France. power across the Channel. Protected English cloth 1,3
with Brittany
exports and secured trade with Brittany.
Henry VII was widely regarded as a "usurper" king, having a weak maternal claim. He had not been raised to rule, only becoming a claimant after
the Yorkist victory at Tewkesbury (1471) left the remaining Lancastrian heirs dead or executed. Exiled in Brittany for 14 years, fugitive life made him
shrewd, calculated, self-restrained, and pragmatic. Following thirty years of intermittent civil war and instability, his immediate priorities were to
consolidate the throne and establish his dynasty, curtail the power of the nobility, restore the Crown's finances, and secure foreign recognition.
SECTION DETAIL
TOPIC 1. HENRY TUDOR’S CONSOLIDATION OF POWER
• PREDATED HIS REIGN TO 21ST AUG 1485 – day before Bosworth, allowed him to brand Yorkists as traitors
• CORONATION 30TH OCT 1485 – prior to 1st Parliament to assert his legitimacy
• PARLIAMENT 7TH NOV 1485 – Acts of Attainder (Yorkists’ property forfeited), granted tonnage & poundage (customs revenues) for life
SECURING THE
THRONE • REWARDS & SECURITY – publicly rewarded supporters (e.g. 11 knighthoods conferred), appointed trusted loyals (e.g. Sir Reginald Bray as
Chancellor, Sir William Stanley as Chamberlain), imprisoned Edward, Earl of Warwick (stronger claim - beheaded alongside Warbeck in 1499)
• MARRIED ELIZABETH OF YORK JAN 1486 – after coronation to show he was King in his own right, united Houses of Lancaster & York
• ROYAL PROGRESS APR 1486 – toured the North (Yorkist stronghold) to assert authority and win loyalty (e.g. hear petitions, grant favours)
• BIRTH OF SON PRINCE ARTHUR SEP 1486 – incarnation of the Tudor Rose, cements dynastic ambitions
Henry’s claim to the throne was weak, viewed by many as illegitimate. Threats included:
Claimants – Richard III & Edward IV's nephews: John de la Pole, Earl of Lincoln (Richard III's designated successor) & Edward, Earl of Warwick
Foreign supporters – Margaret of Burgundy (Richard III and Edward IV's sister, willing to finance Yorkist plots)
Yorkist supporters – E.g. Lovell and the Staffords
Pretenders – Lambert Simnel, Perkin Warbeck
• 1486: VISCOUNT LOVELL & THE STAFFORDS – Minor Yorkist rising in Yorkshire and the Midlands (Yorkist strongholds), led by Viscount
Lovell and the Stafford brothers. It attracted little support and was easily suppressed. Lovell fled to Burgundy; Humphrey Stafford was
executed, and Thomas Stafford was pardoned.
Significance: Showed that there was little support for a Yorkist rising at this point. Yorkists realised they needed a figurehead.
• 1487: LAMBERT SIMNEL & THE REBELLION OF THE EARL OF LINCOLN – Yorkist plot organised by the Earl of Lincoln, who used Simnel as a
pretender claiming to be the Earl of Warwick. Simnel was crowned as King Edward in Ireland (May 1487), while the real Warwick was
exhibited in London to disprove the claim. Lincoln fled to Margaret of Burgundy, who funded mercenaries to invade England. Henry
reinstated the Earl of Northumberland (to neutralise Yorkist support in the north). The rebels landed in Cumberland and attempted to
muster support in Yorkshire, but failed to attract followers. Henry's army defeated the mercenary army at the Battle of Stoke Field, June
1487. Lincoln was killed and Simnel was captured (but spared as a spitboy).
Significance: It effectively ended the Wars of the Roses and strengthened Henry's position. Henry displayed his shrewdness, aided by the
ESTABLISHING great military skill of his key supporters and the willingness of landowners in many parts of the country to support his cause. Henry's
THE TUDOR lenient treatment of the rebels won over some Yorkists. Henry also began to develop the policy of using bonds of good behaviour
DYNASTY
(providing lump sums of money to landowners they did not have to repay if they behaved well).
• 1491–1499: THE PERKIN WARBECK IMPOSTURE – Perkin Warbeck, a cloth trader from Flanders, claimed to be Richard, Duke of York (one
of the Princes in the Tower). He gained international backing from Charles VIII of France, Margaret of Burgundy, Maximilian of the HRE,
and James IV of Scotland. His first attempt to invade England in 1495 failed; a Scottish-backed invasion in 1496 also collapsed. In 1497, he
tried to exploit the Cornish Rebellion, but surrendered and was captured. Initially treated leniently, he was executed in 1499.
Significance: Ended major Yorkist pretenders. However, patronage from foreign rulers made Warbeck a potentially serious threat (which
persisted for 8 years) and demonstrated how fragile Henry's position was considered to be by other rulers. Moreover, Sir William Stanley's
implication (Henry's step-uncle and Lord Chamberlain) demonstrated Henry’s vulnerability, even within his own household.
• 1506-1525: THE DE LA POLE BROTHERS – The final Yorkist threats came from Edmund de la Pole, Earl of Suffolk, and Richard de la Pole
(brothers of the Earl of Lincoln). Edmund fled to Burgundy in 1498, gaining support from Margaret of Burgundy. Under the Treaty of
Windsor (1506), he was handed over to Henry and executed in 1513. Richard remained in exile until killed fighting at Pavia in 1525.
Significance: The imprisonment and execution of Edmund effectively ended the main Yorkist line, leaving only minor threats.
HENRY'S STRATEGIES FOR CONSOLIDATING THE DYNASTY – Henry used a combination of leniency and control (he was both feared and
respected). His mild treatment of rebels encouraged former opponents to accept him, while his policy of bonds and recognisances ensured
good behaviour from nobles through financial pressure ('carrot and stick' approach). He also strengthened diplomatic ties (e.g. with
Burgundy and Scotland) to isolate rebels abroad. Henry’s shrewdness, careful planning, and political skill were key to maintaining stability.
TOPIC 2. HENRY VII'S GOVERNMENT
Governed with a highly centralised style of government through the Council & household instead of relying upon traditional magnates:
THE COUNCIL – Henry's main advisory and administrative body. Had three core functions: advising the king, administering the realm, and
making legal judgments involving the Crown. Though over 200 men were formally listed as councillors, the working council was just six or
COUNCILS AND seven members, allowing quick, private decision-making. Councillors (reflecting Henry's preference for meritocracy and 'new men') were:
THE COURT nobles (e.g. Lord Daubeney), churchmen with legal training (e.g. Morton, Fox), and laymen (gentry/lawyers, e.g. Bray, Dudley).
THE COUNCIL LEARNED IN LAW – A specialist offshoot of the Council developed in 1495 under Bray. Its main functions were to exploit the
king’s prerogative rights (powers held by the monarch that bypass Parliament, e.g. control of finance, justice, patronage) and maintain
revenue through bonds and recognisances. It acted outside normal legal courts, being effective but feared and unpopular. After Bray's
, death (1503), Empson and Dudley took over. Their harsh financial exactions bred such resentment that both were executed in 1510.
COURT & HOUSEHOLD – The royal court was the centre of government. It was a focus for personal monarchy (a system in which a person's
power was determined by his relationship with the monarch). It comprised:
● THE HOUSEHOLD PROPER: led by the Lord Steward, cared for the king, courtiers, and guests.
● THE CHAMBER: led by the Lord Chamberlain, managed political, financial, and administrative affairs.
Remodelled into the Privy Chamber in 1495 following Sir Stanley's implication in the Warbeck conspiracy.
⤷ THE PRIVY CHAMBER – King’s most private quarters. By restricting access to only his most trusted servants, Henry increased his personal
security, but also limited the political influence of nobles and courtiers.
PARLIAMENT – Met infrequently and was not central to the government. Composed of the House of Lords & the House of Commons. Its
main functions were to pass laws and grant taxation to the crown (e.g. extraordinary revenue, one-off payment to fund war/emergencies).
Henry called 7 parliaments in total; 5 in his first ten years (reflecting early instability) and only 2 in his final fourteen.
REGIONAL GOVERNMENT (in the hands of the nobility) – Traditionally, kings relied on magnates to maintain regional order. However, the
Wars of the Roses left fewer loyal magnates available, and the North remained a Yorkist stronghold where royal authority was limited.
• THE NORTH – Following the murder of the Earl of Northumberland (1489), Henry released the Yorkist Earl of Surrey from prison to govern
the North - a high-risk but successful move, as Surrey remained loyal for ten years. Surrey ruled through the Council of the North, which
Henry revived to enforce royal law, collect taxes, and defend the Scottish border, keeping it directly accountable to London.
• ELSEWHERE – Henry relied on trusted nobles such as the Earl of Oxford and Lord Daubeney, though they lacked great territorial power.
DOMESTIC Ensuring nobility’s loyalty (carrot-and-stick approach) – Where personal trust was absent, he employed spies and informants to monitor
POLICY: nobles, while Bonds & Recognisances (financial agreements threatening ruin if conditions were broken) acted as a sword of Damocles.
JUSTICE & Henry abandoned the traditional policy of distributing land to loyal followers, unwilling to create over-mighty subjects (e.g. peerage
ORDER
declined by ¼, he created only three earls). Instead, he relied on men of lower status who were dependent on royal favour for their
position, breaking aristocratic dominance. This aimed to establish a more dominant royal position, prioritise service, and ensure loyalty.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (JPs) – At a local level, Henry increasingly relied on unpaid gentry JPs rather than the nobility, who gradually
superseded sheriffs as the main agents of royal authority. Meeting four times yearly at Quarter Sessions, they handled routine
administration, tax assessments, and law enforcement. Parliament extended their powers to grant bail (1491) and replace suspect juries
(1495). More serious cases were heard at the courts of assize, with the Court of King's Bench handling appeals.
MAIN SOURCES OF INCOME ordinary revenue (regular income) / extraordinary revenue (irregular income)
CROWN LANDS – Rental income forming a large proportion of ordinary revenue. Initially administered through the inefficient Court of
Exchequer, the change to Chamber administration in 1492 (tighter control) increased yearly income from £12,000 to £42,000 by 1509.
FEUDAL DUES & PREROGATIVE RIGHTS – Income derived from Henry's status as feudal overlord of all land. He was granted Feudal Aid in
DOMESTIC 1504 (Crown's right to impose taxes for certain services, e.g. wardship, marriage, livery). The Statute of Uses (1489) also closed loopholes.
POLICY:
OTHER SOURCES (more minor)
FINANCE
• Customs revenue (tonnage & poundage) – Granted for life by Henry's first Parliament. Income grew from £34,000 to £38,000 per year.
• Profits of justice – fines, fees, income from bonds (e.g. Lord Burgavenny fined £70,550 for illegal retaining in 1506)
• Bonds & recognaisances – £35,000/year by 1509, though used to threaten nobles rather than raise revenue
• Extraordinary: clerical taxes & grants, loans & benevolences, parliamentary grants, pensions from powers (e.g. Étaples, £5000/y)
Over £400,000 was raised from extraordinary revenue, which was politically risky (as it risked alienating nobility and provoking rebellion).
The last Parliament in 1504 restricted Henry’s abilities to demand extraordinary revenue.
ADMINISTRATION – Henry personally supervised accounts. The Chamber system was secretive and efficient. Empson & Dudley enforced
debts to maximise revenue. By 1509, his treasury held over £300,000 - making him twenty times richer than his wealthiest noble.
WAS HENRY A MISER? Though criticised for avarice by contemporaries such as Polydore Vergil, Henry's financial policy was ruthlessly
efficient and frugal rather than unnecessarily greedy, driven by the need to secure the dynasty and restore royal solvency. He was not a
simple miser - he spent over £3,000 on his wife's funeral and funded projects such as the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey. By 1509,
stabilised finances, improved administration, and restored royal prestige all attest to the effectiveness of his policy despite its unpopularity.
TOPIC 3. HENRY VII’S FOREIGN POLICY
Henry sought good relations and defence, to ensure: Key: France/Brittany, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Burgundy/HRE/Netherlands
1) National security
2) Recognition of the Tudor dynasty
3) Defence of English trading interests
Year Event Details Significance Aim
Continued peace and good relations with Henry would not suffer invasion from a foreign rival or
HENRY'S
1485 Truce with France their traditional enemy. face their support for Yorkist claimants while securing the 1,2
RELATIONS throne at home. Also being recognised as king of England.
WITH FOREIGN
POWERS Reduced immediate threat from the northern Henry would not suffer invasion from a foreign rival or
Three-year truce border. Temporary but prudent - James III's face their support for Yorkist claimants while securing the
1486 1,2
with Scotland death led to James IV's minority rule (so little throne at home. Also being recognised as king of England.
threat from Scotland onwards).
Aimed to secure trade while protecting Kept Brittany independent from France, limiting French
Commercial treaty
1486 Brittany's independence from France. power across the Channel. Protected English cloth 1,3
with Brittany
exports and secured trade with Brittany.
