3. How secure was Henry’s throne by 1500?

About this Lecture

Lecture

In this module, we think about the extent to which Henry has secured his grip on power by the year 1500, focusing in particular on: (i) the various uprisings, plots and pretenders that had dogged his reign throughout the 1490s; (ii) the extent to which Spain represents a growing force in European geopolitics at this time, and Henry’s attempt to forge a marriage alliance with the Catholic monarchs as opposed to France, Brittany or Burgundy; (iii) the figure of Henry’s oldest son, Arthur Tudor, the Prince of Wales – his upbringing, his training for kingship, his life in the Welsh marches, etc.; and (iv) the figures of Perkin Warkbeck and Edward Plantagenet, both of whom are dealt with in 1499.

Course

In this course, Dr Sean Cunningham (The National Archives) explores the reign of Henry VII through eight key questions: (1) How did Henry Tudor become king of England?; (2) Did Henry rely too heavily on his friends for support?; (3) How secure was Henry’s throne by 1500?; (4) To what extent was the period 1502-3 a turning point in Henry’s reign?; (5) How useful were bonds and recognizances in keeping Henry VII on the throne?; (6) Did Henry VII fail as king of England?; (7) Was Henry VII a miser?; and (8) How innovative was Henry VII?

Lecturer

Dr Sean Cunningham is Head of Medieval Records at the National Archives, with a specialism in the interconnecting processes of government and how they functioned through representative agencies, officials and individuals in the period 1399–1558. He is one of the leading historians on the reign of Henry VII (1485–1509), and has published and lectured widely on many aspects of this reign and the key figures who helped to establish Tudor power in England and Wales before the Reformation.