Richard III (The increasing instability of his reign)
Refers to AQA AS History (Britain 1483-1529 - Section 1, Chapter 2 - The reign of Richard III)
- Created by: Bethany
- Created on: 26-04-13 16:46
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- Richard III - Increasing Instability in his reign.
- Relations to the nobility
- Avoided reliance on great magnates, as they might be prone to abuse their power/ usurp the throne.
- Chose to rule trough minor nobles, as more likely to be loyal for extra reward
- e.g. Scrope of Bolton, Dacre, Greystoke, Fitzhugh.
- Lower tiers adapted well to new rule - educated
- Some gentry who were rewarded great land and offices did not get titles
- e.g. Sir Richard Ratcliffe and William Catesby.
- Counsel of North
- Independent royal counsel designed to keep law and order.
- Named son Edward as leader of counsel but intended to run it himself.
- As North less troublesome for Richard, however, he handed it over to his nephew, John de la Pole.
- Overrode interests of the two great magnates in the North, the Earl of Westmorland and Northumberland.
- Not surprising the Northumberland chose not to back him at Bosworth.
- Justice
- Main problem for the King was that he was only seen as an usurper to the throne by his subjects.
- The public satisfaction with the King was very low.
- His hold on power, was, according to historian Cathy Lee, 'tense and uncertain.'
- Richard III sent instruction to Southampton, Windsor and York that city authorities should punish those who suggested he poisoned his wife and murdered the two princes.
- Main problem for the King was that he was only seen as an usurper to the throne by his subjects.
- Financial Management
- Yorkist Tradition; active supervision of royal purse.
- Faced high expense of lavish funeral of his brother.
- Closely administered crown estates to maximise ordinary revenue.
- Act of Parliament outlawing 'benevolences' relied on by Edward, instead favouring forced loans (equally unpopular!) to meet growing commitments.
- Had to pay for suppression of Buckingham rebellion, to wage war with Scotland and for the impending confrontation with Henry Tudor.
- Parliament and Personal Affairs
- Only called one parliament in his short reign, and even this was delayed until January 1484 by the Buckingham Rebellion.
- Dominated by Richard's right to rule and be King
- Titulus Regius, proclaiming the illegitimacy of the Princes in the Tower, and therefore strengthening his own legal claim.
- Voted the King customs revenues for life
- Passed acts of attainders against men implemented in Buckingham Rebellion
- Nothing major was passed as 1484 was dominated foreign policy and family tragedy, with the death of his son, Edward, in 1484. His wife then died the following year.
- Foreign Policy
- Continued to chose to continue Edward's war with Scotland despite James III desiring peace.
- Ill-judged as required an expensive campaign.
- Defeat at Lochmaben in July was the result
- Henry Tudor posed a growing threat. He was the leading Lancastrian claimant and had been sheltered in Brittany since 1471.
- Richard negotiated secretly for Duke Francis II of Brittany to surrender Tudor in return for the annual revenues from the Earldom of Richard.
- Plans were foiled by Bishop Morton in exile in Flanders, sent a warning to Tudor who swiftly fled France.
- Richard negotiated secretly for Duke Francis II of Brittany to surrender Tudor in return for the annual revenues from the Earldom of Richard.
- Continued to chose to continue Edward's war with Scotland despite James III desiring peace.
- Renaissance King
- Gave impressions he was reconciled with Edward IV's family.
- Indeed, he won over Elizabeth Woodville by guaranteeing her safety, allowing her to stay at court and providing her with an annuity of 700 marks per anum.
- Placated Lancastrians by developing a cult for Henry VI.
- Exhumed and reburied in St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
- Supported Henry VI's foundation at King's College, Cambridge.
- Gave impressions he was reconciled with Edward IV's family.
- Relations to the nobility
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