Important Events in the Reign of Henry VII

Battle of Bosworth

Aug 22, 1485

Henry defeated Richard III's army and took his place as King of England.

Henry marries Elizabeth of York

Jan 18, 1486

This marriage joined Henry Tudor and Yorkists together, removing Yorkist threat to Henry's taking of the throne.

Stafford and Lovell Rebellion

Apr 1, 1486

First armed uprising against Henry VII. Hoped to restore the Yorkist monarchy. Easily defeated by Henry's forces and supporters.

Lambert Simnel Threatens Henry

May 24, 1487

Ten year old boy pretending to be the Earl of Warwick (real one was in the Tower). Was crowned King in Dublin. Simnel was a figurehead of the rebellion being planned by the Yorkists. Gained support from Margaret of Burgundy and sailed on England. Expected support from Nobles but this did not come through. Were defeated by Henry VII at the Battle of Stoke Field. Simnel was pardoned (as he was only a pawn in the hands of older men) and was given a position in the King's kitchens.

Signing of the Treaty of Medina del Campo with Spain

Mar 17, 1489

Treaty outlined three main goals:
- Establish a united front against France.
- Ruduce tariffs between the two countries (i.e. increase trade)
- The agreement to the marriage between Tudor Prince Arthur and Spanish Princess Catherine of Aragon.

Conspiracies involving Sir William Stanley

Mar 1, 1494

Stanley was beheaded for allegedly taking part in the Perkin Warbeck conspiracy.

Cornish Rebellion

Jun 17, 1497

Response to the raising of war taxes to fight Perkin Warbeck and from discontent of the Cornish which came from a widening cultural/language gap. 15,000 Marched on Devon and several smaller battles occured. Main battle was at Deptford Bridge - Henry VII had 25,000 men while the Cornish were underequipped, surrounded and easily defeated.

Perkin Warbeck Surrenders

Oct 5, 1497

Claimed to be Richard, the younger son of King Edward IV. Was a thorn in Henvry VII's side for six years as he threatened the Tudor claim to the throne. The figure whom Yorkists gathered around.
RScottish King James VI prepared to invade with Warbeck. First invasion failed - no English support. Second invasion capitalised on Cornish discontent. Defeated by King's forces, Warbeck deserted his army/was captured/imprisioned/died in the Tower.

Death of Prince Arthur

Apr 2, 1502

Only four months after his marriage to Spanish Princess Catherine of Aragon, Prince Arthur died. This complicated matters for Henry VII. He now had a widowed daughter-in-law and didn't know what to do with her, and the division of the physical joining of France and England increased tensions/complications for Henry's foreign poliocy.

Earl of Suffolk Imprisioned

Apr 24, 1506

In the wake of the Death of Arthur and Henry's infant son Edmund. Henry needed to reestablish his power. The Earl of Suffolk was Edmund de la Pole - the last of the Yorkist claimants to the throne. Henry's spy network informed him of serious plans progressing against Henry so he decided to deal with the Yorkist threat once and for all before a foreign invasion occured, thus the Earl was imprisioned in the Tower of London.