Henry VII of England

Enrique VII de Inglaterra, por un artista anónimo

Henry VII of England (28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509) was the King of England from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509, marking the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. His victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field, the culmination of the Wars of the Roses, effectively ended the decades-long civil wars that had beset England. Henry was the last king of England to win his throne on the battlefield.

Early Life

Henry VII was born at Pembroke Castle on 28 January 1457, the son of Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond, and Margaret Beaufort, who was directly descended from John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III. His father died two months before he was born, leaving his 13-year-old mother as his only parent. After Edward IV reclaimed the throne in 1471, Henry fled to Brittany for safety, spending most of his youth in exile.

Claim to the Throne

Henry's claim to the throne was tenuous at best. It was derived through his mother, Margaret Beaufort, from the Lancastrian line of the royal succession. In 1485, Henry landed in Wales and gathered support for his cause. He marched into England and faced Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. Richard III was killed in the battle, and Henry was crowned Henry VII of England.

Reign

Henry VII's reign was marked by efforts to consolidate his power and ensure the stability of his realm. He established the Tudor dynasty and worked to strengthen the monarchy, reduce the power of the nobility, and increase the revenues of the crown.

Economic Policies

Henry VII is known for his fiscal prudence. He reformed the tax system, improving royal administration and increasing revenue without overburdening the common people. He also encouraged trade by negotiating commercial treaties and fostering the wool industry, which was the backbone of the English economy at the time.

Diplomacy

Henry VII used marriage alliances to secure peace and strengthen ties with other European powers. The most notable of these was the marriage of his son Arthur, Prince of Wales, to Catherine of Aragon, daughter of the Spanish monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. After Arthur's death, Henry arranged for Catherine to marry his second son, the future Henry VIII of England.

End of the Wars of the Roses

Henry's marriage to Elizabeth of York effectively ended the Wars of the Roses by uniting the houses of Lancaster and York. Their union symbolized the end of the conflict and the beginning of a new era of peace in England.

Death and Legacy

Henry VII died on 21 April 1509 and was succeeded by his son, Henry VIII. His reign is often seen as a turning point in English history, marking the transition from the medieval to the modern era. He is credited with restoring stability to the English monarchy and laying the groundwork for the prosperity of the Tudor period.