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| The account
at right was recorded in the Anglica Historia. Henry VII was the first Tudor king of England. He was born on 28 January 1457 to Margaret Beaufort and Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond and half-brother of the ill-fated King Henry VI. Henry was born when his mother was just 13 years old; he was her only child. His father died a few months prior to his birth. Henry had a tumultuous life, much of it spent in exile until he fought King Richard III at Bosworth Field in the summer of 1485. Richard's own forces betrayed him, most notably Henry's step-uncle and stepfather; he died in battle. Henry was crowned king of England and soon married the royal princess Elizabeth of York. Henry's improbable rise encouraged those qualities which made him a very effective but personally unpopular king. He was secretive, acquisitive, and rarely trusted others. He gained a reputation as both greedy and miserly. He may have been both but keep in mind that he inherited a bankrupt government; he died solvent, no small achievement for a king. After the upheaval of the 'Wars of the Roses', the English people desired peace. They were prepared to accept Henry's very dubious claim to the throne (via his mother, through a rumored marriage between her great-grandfather, a royal duke, and his mistress) if he provided a stable government. He did so, and his position was greatly strengthened by his marriage to the popular Elizabeth of York. Even more importantly, he provided two male heirs within a few years of marriage. Henry's true genius was in administration. He did not reform government, but he did increase its effectiveness. He also reestablished royal authority over the English nobility. His later years were unexpectedly difficult. The deaths of Prince Arthur and Elizabeth of York within a year of each other saddened him personally and made the succession more insecure. His own death in 1509 was preceded by several years of illness. He was succeeded by his 18 year old son, Henry. |
He [Henry VII] well knew how to maintain his royal majesty and all
which appertains to kingship at every time and in every place. He
was most fortunate in war, although he was constitutionally more inclined
to peace than to war. He cherished justice above all things; as a
result he vigorously punished violence, manslaughter and every other kind
of wickedness whatsoever. Consequently he was greatly regretted on
that account by all his subjects, who had been able to conduct their lives
peaceably, far removed from the assaults and evil doings of scoundrels.
He was the most ardent supporter of our faith and daily participated with
great piety in religious services....
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