What Were The Causes Of Henry Vii's Rebellions

Words: 665
Pages: 3

Rebellions were a large threat during Henry VII’s rule. However they were not the only challenge he faced- during his rein he was faced with many issues, including relations with other countries.

It cannot be disputed that rebellions were a major factor in the challenges faced by Henry VII. Having usurped the Yorkist King Richard III in the Battle of Bosworth, Henry was faced with the threat of Yorkist supporters eager to replace him with a Yorkist monarch. An example of this is Lambert Simnel, a pretender who appeared in Ireland in 1486 claiming to be the Earl of Warwick (who was in the Tower of London at the time). Simnel gained support from the Yorkist Earl of Kildare, the Earl of Lincoln and Margaret of Burgundy, amassing an army of around 8,000 men before being defeated by Henry’s forces in the Battle of Stoke in 1487. This was a challenge to Henry as it occurred close to the beginning of his kingship
…show more content…
This was a threat to Henry as if the French were successful, Calais would become more vulnerable, the south coast of England would be in a militarily weaker position and trade could be damaged, causing possible economic losses. Furthermore, by supporting Brittany, Henry risked entering a full blown war with France, which he was in no position to do since the army had become depleted from the Wars of the Roses, and he did not have the required finances to support it.

In conclusion, I believe that rebellions were the greatest challenge facing Henry VII’s reign, as rebellions openly opposing the king could also cause the public to question Henry’s policies because without public support, his position as monarch could easily have been toppled, since his claim to the throne was frail. Furthermore, the international support gained also proves the power pretenders could amass and hints at the potential damage they could cause, it they had been