Henry VII (1485-1509)

Financial Problems:
Britain was financially weakened by the hundred years War and the wars of the Roses.
There were too many ‘over-mighty’ noblemen who used their own wealth to build-up private armies of their own which could be of use against henry himself.

Issues of legitimacy:
Henry VII’s claim to the throne was scrutinised for being illegitimate.
Three people had a stronger claims to the throne (Elizabeth of York; The Earl of Warwick; The Earl of Lincoln)
Henry VII was only the grandson of a woman whose first marriage was to Henry V.

Henry VII priorities:
To strengthen/distance the monarchy to make the king more than just a ‘first among equals’ where noblemen were concerned.
To make the monarchy richer.
To deal effectively with challengers to the throne especially ‘pretenders’.

Personality:
Intelligent, hardworking and personally committed to establishing the Tudor regime.
He adopts sensible policies even though some of them being sly.
Loyal to those who serve him well but untrusting to many others. Was suspicious of other people not close to him.
He was also very firm with rebels.

Key policies to establish royal control:
He brings together houses of York and Lancaster through his marriage to Elizabeth of York. This legitimised his rule by parliament; it also helped to calm any opposition of those in favour of the Yorkists as well of those who questioned whether henry even deserved a claim to the throne.
He used propaganda to establish the profile of the Tudor regime within England and abroad. For example the Chapel at Westminster Abbey.
Many monarchs in the 15th century lost power if they were to find themselves in financial trouble and became poor. This was a huge issue and source of paranoia or Henry VII. Henry VII adopted a cautious foreign policy in which he avoided the expenses of any war breaking out. He done this by making sure he was always on good terms with his foreign powers. He also increased the extent of valuable royal land; also gaining control over the nobility by ‘carrot (reward) and stick (punishment-taxes)’ method. This meant that the Tudor regime is financially stable by the time of his death.

Henry VIII (1509-47)

Henry VIII’s priorities:
To establish England as a great imperial power. This area had not been touched upon much by henry VII as he wanted to just keep peace. Henry VIII was ambitious and showy.
As part of this imperial power, from 1530’s one of his goals was to be head of his own Church of England.
To ensure the continuation of the Tudor dynasty.
To continue to make sure that the Tudor monarchs controlled the nobility.

Personality:
He was determined much like his father to continue the Tudor regime.
Unlike Henry VII however he adopts a more flamboyant and costly foreign policy as he wanted to be an imperial monarch and didn’t not care much about keeping things peaceful with his foreign powers.
He has a firm conviction of his own worth as a king; he was ruthless towards rebels, servants who fail him and most of his wives.

Key policies to establish royal control:
Patronage. Henry VIII gave posts to noblemen who proved their loyalty to him. Power is focused on the court and usually in residence in London. Court factions were extensive under Henry VIII’s power.
War. Henry engaged more energetically within foreign wars, he was keen to establish personal glory.
Break with Rome. The act of supremacy (1534) and other laws established that the monarch was now in charge of religious matters in England. This added prestige to the crown and lines it reserves with money.

Edward VI (1547-53)

Priorities:
To increase the pace and scale of the Reformation. (he has firm protestant beliefs)
To continue his father’s aim of making