The Birth of the first Tudor King; Henry VII

(Cover image – © Unknown Artist – The National Portrait Gallery)

The Tudor dynasty is most frequently associated with the reign of King Henry VIII and his ruthless pursuit in securing a male heir and strengthening his lineage. Such focus has resulted in history somewhat neglecting the importance of Henry VIII’s predecessor and founder of the Tudor dynasty, Henry VII. In celebration of his 566th birthday, this article will explore the early life of the first ever Tudor King.

On 28th January 1457, 13-year-old Margaret Beaufort gave birth to a son in the confines of Pembroke Castle in Wales. Despite his Tudor lineage, the young babe was given a Lancastrian name fit for royalty – Henry. Henry’s father, Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond,  had died just mere months before his son’s birth. The conditions at Carmarthen Castle where Edmund was captured by Yorkists in August of 1456 made it impossible for him to survive the plague which infected his body in November the same year.  Thus, leaving Edmund’s brother Jasper to be the primary parental figure throughout Henry’s early life.

Lady Margaret Beaufort (© Wikipedia)

Henry was born during a period of immense political instability with Lancastrian favours falling further and further each day. The War of the Roses (a term coined by novelist Sir Walter Scott) had only begun two years prior to Henry’s birth. Richard, the Duke of York’s victory against the Duke of Somerset in the first Battle of St. Albans in 1455 resulted in the capture of Lancastrian King Henry VI. Henry VI would not sit on the throne for another 15 years following the first battle.

Bloodshed and betrayal were therefore commonplace in young Henry Tudor’s life. By 1461 the young boy had lost both his grandfather Owen Tudor and step grandfather, the Duke of Buckingham to various battles for the Lancastrian cause. In February 1462, just weeks after his fifth birthday, the young Henry was taken from his mother  by Yorkist William Herbert on King Edward IV’s orders. Lord Herbert’s actions served as part of the King’s campaign to seize any Lancastrian land, subsequently strengthening the Yorkist cause. Lady Margaret had no choice but to surrender Henry to the cause without resistance if she ever wanted to see her young son again.

King Edward’s decision to take Henry was a tactical one in attempt to co-opt him to the Yorkist redemption. If deemed successful, the King promised that the land and title of Earl of Richmond would be reinstated to Henry.  Aware of this potential, Lord Herbert made Henry his ward, investing £1,000 into the wardship and arranging the marriage between his daughter Maud and Henry.  Henry spent the next seven years of his life in Raglan Castle alongside Lord Herbert. He and many other of Herbert’s wards including Henry Percy, son of Northumberland, were educated by Oxford University graduates. The boys were taught grammar, horsemanship, archery and many more essential skills for anticipated battles. Recalling his time with Herbert in later life, Henry described his time there as being “kept as prisoner, but honourably brought up”.

Meanwhile, Henry’s mother Margaret spent the next five years tactfully ingratiating herself into the King’s favour in the hope to be reunited with her son. Such attempts were fruitful as in 1467 Margaret was permitted to spent a week alone with her son. Up until this moment, Margaret was only allowed to converse with Henry via letters. The pair wouldn’t be completely free from the Yorkist Clasp until 1470 however, and even then it would be brief.

 King Edward IV (© Wikipedia)

In July 1469 during the battle of Edgecote, Henry witnessed the downfall of his ward Lord Herbert who was captured and executed by the Earl of Warwick’s army. Warwick more famously referred to as the “Kingmaker” had betrayed his Yorkist roots for his own self-serving interests and sided with the Lancastrians.

Though a Lancastrian at heart, Henry had spent his formative years under Yorkist influence. Such predicament forced him to flee, finding safety at Weobley castle, home to Lord Herbert’s brother-in-law. Henry spent the next year of his life in refuge at Weobley. However, following the reinstatement of King Henry VI , the young Tudor was freed and embarked to London with his Uncle Jasper (who had previously been exiled to France) to be reunited with his mother.

Lancastrian bliss was fleeting, with no time to relish in newfound victory as the Wars of the Roses persisted. By 1471 Henry VI was back in the tower. King Henry’s wife Margaret of Anjou led her forces into battle against King Edward IV in Tewksbury and were hastily destroyed. Edward, the Prince of Wales, only child of Anjou and Henry VI and Lancastrian heir was killed during the battle at just seventeen years old.

It was widely reported that the death of Henry VI’s sole heir was what eventually caused his own demise. Indeed, the King had been, for many years, psychologically fragile. In his youth he often exhibited signs of grandiosity and paranoia. However, following his brief reinstatement he appeared catatonic and mute after many years of seclusion and imprisonment. Much debate surrounding the factual cause of his death remains between historians, with many inferring that Henry VI’s death was actually murder.

The death of the Prince of Wales is arguably one of the most defining moments during the trajectory of Henry Tudor’s early life.  It was at this moment, a boy of 14 years old, appeared to be a promising threat towards the Yorkist cause.

Nevertheless, Henry’s claim was inconspicuous and lacked any legality as it derived from his mother’s lineage. Lady Margaret Beaufort was the great granddaughter of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. However, his children were born before his marriage to their mother Catherine Swynford. In 1397, Henry IV confirmed Richard II’s legitimation of the children of this union. However, had specifically and legally excluded the Beaufort’s claim to the throne.

Despite this, Henry’s safety was certainly not secured. Fearing for the young Tudor’s future, Jasper took Henry to Brittany, seeking refuge under Duke Francis.

House of Plantagenet Family Tree (© The National Archives)

For twelve years following the Battle of Tewksbury, the house of York remained stoic against Lancastrian resistance and there was little hope in Henry returning from exile.

However, instability arose following the death of King Edward IV in April 1483, the disappearance of the ‘Princes in the Tower’ and usurpation of Richard III.

The enduring mystery surrounding the fates of both Edward V and Richard, Duke of York caused much malcontent throughout the nation, questioning Richard III’s overall reputation. After the death of his wife Anne Neville and son Edward, Prince of Wales in 1484 loyalties towards the king weakened further. 

Henry and his mother Margaret, who originally only intended for Henry’s earldom to be reinstated, saw Richard’s weakening position as opportunity to establish a Tudor throne. Many supported the idea, however with the proviso that Henry would marry Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of the late Edward IV and Yorkist heir. Thus, theoretically uniting the two houses and ending the Wars of the Roses.

Such events did transpire following the infamous Battle of Bosworth in 1485. However, in fear that he would be seen as consort to a Yorkist monarch instead of a Lancastrian King in his own right, the newly proclaimed King Henry VII insisted on being crowned in isolation. The papal dispensation to marry the young princess proved the perfect delay in ensuring this as the dispensation would take months to arrive and the coronation ceremonies were being planned for October.

Between 28th and 30th Celebrations both in London and across the country commenced for the King’s coronation. Much of the pompous splendour was meticulously orchestrated by Margaret Beaufort, now ‘My Lady The King’s Mother’. She ensured that Henry’s coronation surpassed the grandiosity of his predecessor Richard III just two years prior. Hundreds of yards of velvet, cloth of gold and lace red roses adorned the procession. King Henry VII rode under a luxurious canopy held by four Knights on foot. He was shrouded in a rich purple and ermine gown, his brown hair loose against his shoulders. Beside him rode his greatest aide, Jasper Tudor, now Duke of Bedford and John De la Pole, brother- in- law to former Kings Edward IV and Richard III.

 Elizabeth of York (© Wikipedia)

It was not long after that the new King married his bride on 18th January 1486. The pair had had the pleasure of acquainting themselves with one another prior to the wedding. The nineteen-year-old Elizabeth was a marvel indeed both in looks and personality. The princess Elizabeth was tall, fair haired and blue eyed. She was also thought to be kind and diplomatic in nature. The pair appeared to engage in each other’s humour and whilst it was never intended to be a love match, some historians do argue that King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth certainly did fall for one another.

Initial fears of illegitimacy were supressed following parliament’s decision to rescind Richard III’s  order to bastardise Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville’s children. The Beaufort line of descent was also legitimised.

The marriage was fruitful and on the 20th of September 1486, the first Tudor heir was born. According to Margaret Beaufort’s book of hours, the little Prince of Wales was slightly premature, arriving just eight months after the marriage. Nevertheless, the young infant appeared healthy and was named Arthur, after the legendary hero himself.

Arthur, Prince of Wales (© Wikipedia)

The pair would go one to secure the succession even further, with Elizabeth giving birth to another six children. Princess Margaret (later Queen of Scotland), named after her strong-willed grandmother entered the world on 28th November 1489. Just eighteen months later, Prince Harry, the future King Henry VIII was born at Greenwich on the 28th June 1491. On 2nd July 1492 Princess Elizabeth was born, named after her mother and grandmother Elizabeth Woodville. Princess Mary (later Queen of France, Duchess of Suffolk, and grandmother to ill-fated  Lady Jane Grey) was born on 18th March 1496. Prince Edmund shortly followed in 1499 and Princess Katherine in 1503.

 Princess Margaret Tudor (© Wikipedia)

Tragedy however was frequently encountered In the House of Tudor. Princess Elizabeth died a few short months after her third birthday in 1495. Prince Edmund also passed around the age of one in 1500. Princess Katherine died mere days after her birth in February 1503 and Prince Arthur, heir apparent to the Tudor throne died aged 15 in 1501.

Princess Mary, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk with her second husband Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk (© Wikipedia)

Perhaps one of the greatest losses Henry VII suffered from was that of his wife Elizabeth in 1503 a few short days after the birth and death  of their daughter Princess Katherine. The young Queen died on her 37th birthday on 11th February 1503 after succumbing to postpartum infection.  Many accounts from the period note Henry falling into an extended period of depression and grief following the sudden death of his wife and children, often secluding himself from daily court life. Henry himself fell considerably physically ill following the loss of his Queen, refusing any medical intervention and only engaging in conversation with his mother. Foreign alliances through marriage were proposed to the King, yet her never accepted, with Henry remaining a widower up until his death in 1509.

 Henry VII, Elizabeth of York, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour (© Royal Collection Trust)

Henry’s 24 years on the throne were certainly unique, much like the circumstances that brought him onto it. His own upbringing certainly shaped his own reign, with the young king often imposing prudent financial cuts and tactical treaties. Interestingly, Henry was the first English King to have a recognisable portrait of himself on circulated coins, arguably aiding in a more personal relationship with himself and his subjects.  King Henry VII’s reign was somewhat a peaceful one in comparison the decades of calamity and instability that had consumed the nation prior to his accession. However, suspicion and paranoia remained with numerous Yorkist uprisings and pretenders such as Perkin Warbeck attempting to usurp the Tudor throne. This paranoia transcended well into the early reign of his son King Henry VIII too as seen by his disposal of possible claimants. Nevertheless, King Henry VII’s reign was certainly prosperous and his actions arguably forged one of the most famous dynasties in the whole of British history.

- Written by Lucy Palmer-Cooper