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Henry VII (1485 – 1509)
By 1485 the Wars of the Roses was in full between the Houses of York and Lancaster. Henry Tudor eventually defeated King Richard III at the Battle Of Bosworth Field and through the “right of conquest” claimed the throne of England. This claim was later solidified by his marriage to Elizabeth of York, eldest child of the late Edward IV.
During his reign Henry faced continuous struggles with other contenders for the throne of England. He strengthened the powers of the government and monarchy at the expense of the nobility to protect himself.
He revived a nearly bankrupt treasury and managed a steady accumulation of wealth during his reign, leaving over a million pounds to his son and heir Henry VIII. This was unprecedented. The English economy had never been strong and the War of the Roses had been expensive.
Listed amongst his other achievements were:-
- Establishing a royal dynasty after thirty years of struggle
- Strengthening the judicial system
- Four children survived infancy, Arthur, Henry, Margaret and Mary.
- Left a successful, secure and wealthy monarchy to Henry VII
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