To what extent did Henry VII deserve to win at bosworth field?

Question

To what extent did Henry VII deserve to win at bosworth field?

Answer 1

Henry Tudor won the crown of England through political cunning and his marriage to Elizabeth of York.

Henry Tudor gained the support of the family and supporters of Edward IV. Edward IV's 12-year-old son, Edward V, who succeeded him, was one of the famous "Princes in the Tower", who mysteriously disappeared in the Tower of London after being imprisoned (for their own protection) by their uncle, Richard III, (who succeeded Edward V). Richard III has been widely blamed for their deaths so as to take the throne for himself, though it is not certain that he was responsible for the killings.

The political dynamics of the Wars of the Roses were complex. Henry Tudor was the closest Lancastrian claimant to the throne through his mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, a great grand daughter of John of Gaunt. Richard was from the Yorkist branch of Plantagenet family, and had claims to the throne through his father, Richard, Duke of York, a great grandson of King Edward III.

Although Richard III had a stronger claim to the throne both by pedigree and paternal descent, Henry VII was able to benefit from forming alliances with the Lancastrian branch and the supporters of the deposed child king, Edward V.

After the Battle of Bosworth Field, Henry Tudor was able to secure his position on the throne through his marriage to Elizabeth of York, the daughter of King Edward IV, and strongest Yorkist claimant to the throne. By combining his Lancastrian claim and Elizabeth's Yorkist claim, Henry secured his children's legitimacy and right to the crown.

It's not a question of whether Henry Tudor "deserved to win" at Bosworth Field. He just turned out to be more politically savvy and cunning

Hope this helped.
Peace.

Answer 2

Deserve? No one deserved to win. It wasn't about who deserved to be king of England, but who had the stronger friends and the better army.

Keep in mind that Henry VII justified his taking the throne from Richard III by pinning the deaths of the princes in the tower on him. There is NO contemporary evidence that the princes died before Richard III.

Historians don't actually come out and say that Henry VII killed the boys, but they do know that Richard III did not. He had no motive to kill them.
Have you ever wondered why Richard III was king instead of his brother's son? ALL his brother's children had been ruled illegitimate because his brother had a previous secret marriage before he married his queen and that wife was still living. He was a bigamist.

That fact was hidden by Henry VII since his wife was the older sister of the princes in the tower. To cement his claim to the throne, he had to get rid of the attainer that disinherited his wife AND get rid of the brothers who had a prior claim on the throne before her. He had them murdered, then claimed Richard III had it done.

Answer 3

To quote Clint Eastwood: Deserve's got nothing to do with it.

Henry VII won the battle. His forces were stronger. His leadership was better. He won. That's all there is to it. I'd say he "deserved" it more than his predecessor. At least he didn't murder his own nephews to get his power. That said, there is no "deserve" in political-military situations in history. You win, you "deserve."

Answer 4

Let us take a look at the person and then we might decide if he was deserving of winning the battle at Bosworth field. As an aside, discount what the Tudor historyan, Polydor Virgil had to say, as he was a sycophant and dissembler if the historical truth. HENRY-VII
b-28th Jan AD-1457 (22nd Aug. AD-1485-to-21st April AD-1509) reign 24 years: died aged 52

The only son (born posthumously) of Edmund Tudor, Earl-of-Richmond, and
Margaret Beaufort, great, great, granddaughter of Edward-III.

His body was slender but well built and strong; his height above the average. His appearance was remarkably attractive and his face was
cheerful, especially when speaking; his eyes were small and blue, his teeth few, poor and blackish; his hair was thin and white; his complexion sallow (that is... a pale yellowish colour). (polydore Vergil, English History).

He spent his early years between AD-1461 to AD-1470 in Yorkist custody, whilst the Tudor myth that Henry-VI prophesied that he would be king has no basis other than a possible meeting between them in AD-1470. After the
Battle of Tewkesbury in AD-1471, he fled with his uncle, Jasper Tudor, to Brittany, where he relied on the dukes charity in AD-1471 to AD-1484.

Richard-III's usurpation transformed his prospects: Lancastrians and alienated Yorkist's regarded him as the best alternative to Richard. With perseverance, courage, and imagination, he agreed to marry Edwards-IV's daughter Elizabeth in AD-1483, styled himself king in AD-1484, and secured French aid for an invasion. He was in the thick of the fighting at Bosworth field on 22nd Aug AD-1485.

Crowned on 30th October, he owed his throne to his own efforts but stressed
his parents Lancastrian and British heritage's; his marriage to Elizabeth
of York in AD-1486 engaged Yorkist support. Henry had learned the virtues
of caution, patience, and thrift; he had seen how disruptive noble power
could be, and he had a liking for Brittany and France. After a period
of uncertainty and education (Henry was a good learner), he embarked on
vigorous rule.

Of all the English kings before him, Henry-VII most resembled Henry-IV.
Both began new dynasties, and both had to tread with caution. He did not
want to appear merely a conqueror, but to be the peoples choice. Soon
after Bosworth he called a Parliament and by it was recognised as the
lawful sovereign. Jasper Tudor was given a Dukedom, Reginald Bray was
knighted and made treasurer; while Bishop Morton (now Cardinal) went to
Canterbury. Margarets lands were returned to her and she wept marvellously
at her triumphant sons success.

Risings in the years between AD-1486 and AD-1499- especially of impostors
such as Lambert Simnel (aged 50) in AD-1487 and Parkin Warbeck (aged 25)
in the years between AD-1491 to AD-1497 were dealt with decisively but with
conciliation. Simnel was pardoned an given a job in the royal kitchens,
the other (Warbeck) made such trouble abroad that when caught he was
executed for his impertinence. He created few Peers and relied on trusted
servants, many of them companions in exile; he controlled the nobility by
punitive bonds. To establish his dynasty in England and secureit's
acceptance abroad, he deployed his own and Edward-IV's children in
marriage; his diplomatic aims were peace, recognition, security, and trade.

Refurbishing traditional methods of government to assert his rights and
increase his revenue; in later years modifications were made to tighten
his control of administration and justice and make him richer.
His personal application to routine, including daily examination of
accounts, became legendary. As a master propagandist, he spent his wealth
wisely to reflect his majesty and his authority, especially at Westminster
and not least in scholarship and culture. He did not seek cheap popularity
and became suspicious, secretive, and miserly.

He took his Queen, Elizabeth's death in AD-1503 hard, and the death of his
heir, Prince Arthur, was a dynastic blow. But in AD-1509 he had a full
treasury, and no one opposed Henry-VIII's accession. His body was buried
in Westminster Abbey next to his beloved wife Elizabeth.