Why did Henry Tudor win the Battle of Bosworth?

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  • Why did Henry Tudor win?
    • Richard's mistakes
      • Lost confidence in the run up to the battle
        • Spent a huge amount of money commissioning a fleet led by Viscount Lovell
        • Spent a huge amount defending the west of Wales
      • Richard led a charge towards Tudor
        • Richard's father had died leading a charge in battle
          • Wanted to restore his fathers honour
        • He may have been trying to prove his worth as king
          • He died
    • Support
      • Domestic
        • Made frequent visits from across the channel to build public support
        • Encourged small sporadic uprisings to destabalise Richard's rule
          • Made frequent visits from across the channel to build public support
        • When he landed in England he knighted 11 loyal supporters
        • Publicly promised to marry Elizabeth of York
          • Won the support of his royal servants
            • Sir James Blougt who, after keeping him in custardy for 10 years, fled with the Earl of Oxford to join Henry
            • Sir Giles of Daubeney and Sir Robert Willoughby had been loyal to Edward IV
        • Sir Richard Corbet, Sir William Stanley's stepson, joined Tudor with 800 men
          • His brother Lord Stanley sent 4 knights
            • Lord Stanley's nephews Rhys ap Thomas and Sir John Savage agreed to back Tudor
              • Did not openly declare for him
              • Friends of Richard Griffiths and John Morgan of Cardigan
              • After being promised the Lieutenacy of Wales, Rhys ap Thomas declared for Henry and brought 1800 - 2000 extra men
            • Sir Robert Tunstall
            • Sir Hugh Persall
            • Sir Humphrey Stanley
            • Sir John Savage
      • Foreign
        • Charles VIII of France
          • Supported Tudor while he was in exile in France
          • 60,000 francs
          • 1,800 mercenaries led by Philbert de Chandee
    • Weapons and tactics
      • Buckingham's rebellion had taught him that careful preparation was vital
      • Strategic placement of the Stanleys
        • The Stanley brotherss switched sides at the battle and fought for Tudor
      • Swiss Pike manoeuvre
        • Unpredictable as it had never been used before in England
      • Landed at Mill Bay out of sight of Dale Castle and villages he feared would be occupied by Richard's supporters
        • Moved north then in to central Wales where the Duke of Buckingham had landed
        • Avoided the Yorkists near Brecon
        • Away from the coastal defences
    • Significant individuals
      • 1,800 mercenaries led by Philbert de Chandee
      • Margaret Beaufort was in a position of Power after marrying Lord Stanley, one of the most powerful nobles
        • Family connections with the Courtenays, traditional lancastrian loyalists
        • Good at promoting her son's interests and making connections
      • Lord Stanley's nephews Rhys ap Thomas and Sir John Savage agreed to back Tudor
        • Did not openly declare for him
        • Friends of Richard Griffiths and John Morgan of Cardigan
        • After being promised the Lieutenacy of Wales, Rhys ap Thomas declared for Henry and brought 1800 - 2000 extra men

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