How far was Henry VII's control of the nobility 1485 to 1509 due to his financial policies?
HOW FAR WAS HENRY VII’S CONTROL OF THE NOBILITY 1485 TO 1509 DUE TO HIS FINANCIAL POLICIES? (24 marks)
Controlling nobility was important to Henry and arguably posed to be one of the biggest challenges he faced. He relied on them for a number of reasons but he also knew the importance of keeping them under control, since they had been responsible in part for overthrowing the last three kings at one time or another. As well as financial policies, he also passed a number of non-financial policies, which contributed to the change in relations between the nobles and the crown during his reign.
Henrys complex financial policies were important in his control of the nobility. For example, he used bonds and recognaisances, which were raised for political and financial purposes, to restrain the power of his nobility. Between 1504 and 1508, £50,000 per annum was collected from the bonds, which shows that they obviously contained power in controlling nobles. Another device that Henry used were feudal dues. Wardships were the feudal due which most irked the nobility since it gave the king control of a nobles’ land and it also gave the king control over the marriage of there children, which if the heir was a female could mean that the family lost control of its land entirely. His careful management of crown lands is another example of how Henry’s power over his nobility rested on his successful financial policies. Henry had more crown land than previous monarchs, some lands were confiscated under the acts of attainder and others were reclaimed after the acts of resumption. This secured control and authority over England, and by 1508 his annual income from royal estates had rose from £12,000 in 1486 to £42,000. Finally, Henry used attainders and fines to avoid wars caused by nobles, which had caused problems to previous monarchs. Henry used Acts of Attainders to declare a nobleman guilty of a crime against the crown. The noble might be imprisoned and the attainted
Controlling nobility was important to Henry and arguably posed to be one of the biggest challenges he faced. He relied on them for a number of reasons but he also knew the importance of keeping them under control, since they had been responsible in part for overthrowing the last three kings at one time or another. As well as financial policies, he also passed a number of non-financial policies, which contributed to the change in relations between the nobles and the crown during his reign.
Henrys complex financial policies were important in his control of the nobility. For example, he used bonds and recognaisances, which were raised for political and financial purposes, to restrain the power of his nobility. Between 1504 and 1508, £50,000 per annum was collected from the bonds, which shows that they obviously contained power in controlling nobles. Another device that Henry used were feudal dues. Wardships were the feudal due which most irked the nobility since it gave the king control of a nobles’ land and it also gave the king control over the marriage of there children, which if the heir was a female could mean that the family lost control of its land entirely. His careful management of crown lands is another example of how Henry’s power over his nobility rested on his successful financial policies. Henry had more crown land than previous monarchs, some lands were confiscated under the acts of attainder and others were reclaimed after the acts of resumption. This secured control and authority over England, and by 1508 his annual income from royal estates had rose from £12,000 in 1486 to £42,000. Finally, Henry used attainders and fines to avoid wars caused by nobles, which had caused problems to previous monarchs. Henry used Acts of Attainders to declare a nobleman guilty of a crime against the crown. The noble might be imprisoned and the attainted