Most Significant Threat to Henry VII From Rebellion, 1485-1509

How to assess threat

Henry faced many threats as King and which is most significant depends upon a number of factors because history never has one simple answer. These factors are can be used to compare the different rebellions and assess the threat it poses in relation to the other threats. For instance, the degree of threat faced by each will vary depending on what the aims of the leaders were, how stable Henry was at the time and how persistent the rebels were in pursuing their aims etc.

The leader’s aims

The aims of the leaders are a good “first glance” indication of how much of a threat Henry faced. For instance, the Yorkshire and Cornish rebellions were over tax issues. Therefore, there is less of a threat to Henry personally because all they wished to do by rebellion was not to pay the taxes. However, the rebellions from Wales and the Midlands/North were designed to attack Henry personally rather than just criticise one of his policies. The revolt of the Staffords’ and Lovel (midlands and North) was only a plot to overthrow him which was quickly put down, but the Yorkist Vaughan’s in Wales set out to kill Henry and take Brechin Castle. Therefore, on the basis of what the rebels intended, the Welsh rebellion seems most threatening to Henry.

Henery VII’s stability

Henry’s stability is important to assess threat posed. This is because if he was powerful and secure, a revolt would be relatively unthreatening. However, rebellion in 1485, when he was an unstable ruler, would be far more difficult to crush without the resources of a permanent king. On this basis, the Cornish revolt was the least threatening as it occurred towards the end of his reign when he was much more widely accepted as king. Furthermore, over the period since the start of his reign he had managed to restore some wealth into the treasury and had more influence with noblemen. He could therefore afford to take the Cornish threat lightly and indeed ignored them for a long time choosing instead to concentrate on Scotkand and Warbeck. At the other extreme, again the Welsh rebellion was most threatening as it happened relatively soon after 1485 and therefore would have been harder to deal with as he had considerably less power and influence. Fortunately for Henry, Rhys Ap Thomas swiftly put down the rebellion for him. It was potentially dangerous at a volatile time for the King. Yet again, however, this view is still limited as if another factor such as the rebels’ persistence is considered the view of which minor rising was most threatening becomes more informed and comprehensive.