The Tudors: Henry VII - How Did Henry VII Deal With the Nobility? - Episode 3

Summary

The video explores Henry VII's strategies to gain control over the English nobility. His policies focused on reducing their power while ensuring their support. Key strategies included the use of attainders to confiscate land and generate revenue, as well as selective patronage to avoid creating threats to the crown. Henry also implemented strict laws against retaining, requiring nobles to obtain special licenses for personal staff, and enforced financial bonds to ensure loyalty. Additionally, the establishment of the Council Learned in Law helped Henry maintain fiscal control and strengthen his rule over the nobility.

Takeaways

• 😀 Henry VII faced the challenge of gaining support from the nobility while limiting their power and influence over the country.
• 😀 Henry rewarded some nobles with land but also employed severe consequences, including attainders, to ensure loyalty and maintain control.
• 😀 Attainders allowed Henry to seize land from nobles suspected of disloyalty, boosting the crown's finances and weakening the nobility's power.
• 😀 Henry reversed many attainders, even demanding payments from nobles to restore their land, securing their loyalty while strengthening royal finances.
• 😀 Patronage, a common tool for monarchs, was used sparingly by Henry to avoid creating a powerful new group of nobles that could challenge the crown.
• 😀 Henry VII accumulated significant land and wealth by reducing the number of powerful nobles and becoming the largest landowner in England.
• 😀 Key nobles such as John de Verre, Lord Stanley, and Reginald Bray were rewarded with land and titles for their loyalty during and after the Battle of Bosworth.
• 😀 Retaining, where nobles kept private armies or retinues, was a concern for Henry, and he passed laws to limit it by requiring special licenses for large retinues.
• 😀 Henry imposed fines on nobles who illegally retained men without proper authorization, though enforcement was often problematic due to nobles finding loopholes.
• 😀 Henry used financial bonds as a way to ensure the loyalty of nobles, with 36 out of 62 noble families being under bonds by the end of his reign.
• 😀 The Council Learned in Law, led by Reginald Bray, was established to manage the crown's finances, enforce noble debts, and secure payments, strengthening royal control.

Q & A

What was one of the greatest challenges Henry VII faced when he came to power?

One of Henry VII's greatest challenges was gaining the support of the nobility while limiting their power to prevent them from becoming a threat to his reign.

How did Henry VII balance rewarding the nobility and controlling their power?

Henry VII rewarded loyal nobles with land but also used policies like attainders and financial bonds to reduce their wealth and influence, ensuring their loyalty while maintaining control.

What were attainders, and how did Henry VII use them?

Attainders were laws passed without trial, allowing Henry VII to seize land from nobles suspected of disloyalty. These were used both as punishment and a way to replenish the crown's finances.

Did Henry VII ever reverse any attainders, and why?

Yes, Henry VII reversed 46 attainders during his reign, often as a way to secure the future loyalty of nobles, sometimes in exchange for payment.

How did patronage work under Henry VII, and how did it differ from other monarchs?

Patronage involved granting land or rewards to nobles to gain their support. Henry VII used it less frequently than other monarchs, avoiding creating a new class of powerful nobles who could threaten his rule.

Who were some of the notable figures rewarded by Henry VII with patronage?

Notable figures rewarded by Henry VII included Jasper Tudor, John de Verre, and Lord Stanley, who were granted lands and titles in recognition of their support.

What was retaining, and how did Henry VII attempt to control it?

Retaining was when nobles kept personal staffs to increase their power and influence. Henry VII passed laws requiring nobles to obtain special licenses for retaining and imposed fines for violations.

How effective were Henry VII's laws against retaining?

While Henry VII passed laws to curb illegal retaining, they were not entirely effective because many nobles found ways to circumvent the restrictions.

What role did financial control play in Henry VII's policies towards the nobility?

Financial control was central to Henry VII's strategy. He demanded bonds from nobles, effectively keeping them in debt to the crown, which ensured their loyalty and strengthened the royal finances.

What was the Council Learned in Law, and how did it help Henry VII control the nobility?

The Council Learned in Law was a body established to deal with the king's fiscal matters and enforce the collection of debts from the nobility. It played a crucial role in ensuring that nobles remained loyal and paid their dues.