Henry Vii (Routledge Historical Biographies)

Description:
This new biography illuminates the life of Henry VII himself, how he ran his government, how his authority was maintained, and the nature of the country over which he ruled since he first claimed the throne in 1485. Sean Cunningham explores how Henry's reign was vitally important in stabilizing the English monarchy and providing the sound financial and institutional basis for later developments in government, and tackles key questions in the debate: Was Henry VII a conventional late medieval nobleman? How did his upbringing affect his later kingship? What was the nature of Henry's marriage to Elizabeth of York? How and why did he become the main rival to Richard III following the disappearance of Edward V and his brother in July 1483? Up until now, the details of Henry as a person and as a king, his court and household, his subjects, and his country have remained little known. This book remedies that lack, and brings to the forefront the life and times of the very first Tudor king.

Table of Contents:
Part 1: Introduction 1 An Overview of the Book 2 Henry VII, the Man and his Reputation Part 2: Gaining the Crown 3 Childhood, Youth and Exile 4 The Transformation of the Tudor Threat 5 Conspiracy and Rebellion, 1483 6 Henry Tudor and France 7 The Road to Confrontation 8 The Battle of Bosworth Part 3: Forging the Dynasty 9 Starting to Rule 10 The First Tudor Parliament 11 Henry in the North, 1486 12 From Irish Invasion to Yorkist Rebellion, 1487-89 Part 4: Perkin Warbeck 13 The Origins and Dangers of Warbeck 14 The Invasion of France, 1492 15 Warbeck and the Tudor Elite 16 Breaking Warbeck's English Support 17 The International Plot Thickens 18 1497: Northern War and Western Rising 19 Warbeck's Final Flourish and Failure 20 The End of Warbeck and Warwick Part 5: The Rigours of Kingship 21 Personal Losses and a Crisis of Authority, 1499-1504 22 Illness, Decline and Death Part 6: Tudor Government at Work 23 The Ideology of Tudor Royal Power 24 Finance and Taxation 25 Parliament 26 Justice and the Central Courts 27 Justice and Local Lordship Part 7: Lordship, the Crown and the regions 28 Noble Power and the rule of the Counties I: Kent II: Lancashire III: Suffolk Part 8: Royal Power and Personnel 29 Council and Councillors 30 Court and Household Part 9: The Preservation of Power 31 Anti Retaining Measures 32 Bonds and Recognisances Part 10: The King's Nation 33 Henry VII and the Church 34 London and the Crown 35 Trade, Commerce, Exploration, and the Economy Part 11: Projecting Tudor Influence 36 The Defence of England 37 Henry VII and the British Isles Part 12 Conclusion 38 Henry VII's Posthumous Reputation 39 Modern Opinions of Henry VII 40 Henry VII's Place in History