HOW FAR WAS HENRY VII’S SUCCESS IN CONSOLODATING HIS ROYAL AUTHORITY IN THE YEARS 1485-87 DUE TO HIS MARRIGE TO ELIZEBETH OF YORK?
INTRO:
To an extent his royal authority was due to his marriage to Elizabeth of York as this enabled and ensured the dynasty to be secure.
However, some may argue other factors such as successfully dealing with rebellions, calling parliament and foreign support was of more significance.
I will be arguing that the marriage to Elizabeth of York led to henry successfully consolidating royal authority during 1488-87.
PARAGRAH 1: HIER
P:
The marriage to Elizabeth secured his position as a king as it solved the problem of the succession
E:
She gave birth to heirs for the new king which ensured that the dynasty was to be secure if, henry was to suddenly die. It further ensured that the possibly of events such as those that had occurred after the death of Richard III was to be decreased
E:
Prince Arthur: 19th September 1486
Henry: 24th June 1491
L:
Henry used the birth of two healthy sons as an opportunity to persuade the British populats that Tudor had a legitimate claim to the throne and also increase the support he had
As part of Tudor propaganda, he ensured that King Arthur was horn in Winchester castle
A place rich in Arthurian links
Some may say that he double exploited his situation to benefit him in terms of royal authority, and the outcome shows that his plan was one of a successful nature.
Paragraph 2: Claim was stronger
P:
The choice of marrying her also benefited him greatly as she had a stronger claim to the throne
E:
Winning over Yorkists was vital if he wanted to secure his position on the throne
Marriage allowed this to happen as he was able to show the end of the war of roses through the production of the Tudor rose
He had promised to marry her pre 1483 which increased the level of support he had, therefore he had to live up to this expectation to further increase it
Henry VII acknowledged the necessity of marrying Elizabeth of York to ensure the stability of his rule and weaken the claims of other surviving members of the House of York
E:
She was the daughter of Edward IV
The niece of Richard III
As the eldest daughter with no surviving brothers, Elizabeth of York had a strong claim to the throne in her own right,
L:
The marriage ensured that the fight between the two warring houses was over which increased his stability as a king as it meant that there was going to be no Yorkist rebellions
Therefore allowing him to consolidate his royal authority for years
Paragraph 3: AFTER CORONATION
P:
Henry wisely choose to marry her after the coronation
He ruled in his own right and claimed the throne by right of conquest and not by his marriage to the heir of the House of York
E:
The coronation occurred on the 30th of October 1483
Their marriage 18th January 1486
E:
Waited until after the coronation for the marriage as it made his kingship seen legitimate
