Henry VII secured his consolidated power and secured his throne and new Tudor dynasty through a variety of measures. Henry married well. He used parliamentary power to legalize his seizure of power. Then, Henry used his tax collectors and law courts to subjugate the nobility. Also, lastly we secured international recognition for his dynasty, through his children’s marriages. This left his successor, Henry VIII, with a stable throne without fear of warring factions.
Henry had pledged at a ceremony in 1483, while in exile in France, to marry Elizabeth of York. When he became king, Henry married Elizabeth, Edward IVs daughter and united the Houses of York and Lancaster. A new dynasty, the Tudor dynasty, was born. The War of the Roses in which rival claimants had fought over the English throne was at an end.
Henry’s next move was to have parliament pass a law retroactively declaring him king on 21 August 1485. This was the day before he defeated and killed the Yorkist king Richard III. Thus, he could legally declare Richard a usurper and anyone that fought for Richard a traitor, liable to be executed. Also, Henry had parliament repeal the Titulus Regius that declared his wife and all of Edward IVs children by Elizabeth Woodville bastards.
Henry VII issued proclamations and laws against “livery and maintenance”. Nobles with large numbers of manservants could turn their manservants into private armies. These same nobles that required their servants to wear specific badges cause an increase in affinity to the lord they served. Henry forced nobles to pay heavy taxes for these rights. He collected taxes equally high from lords that were seen to live frugally and extravagantly. Henry introduced the Court of the Star Chamber, were he could declare the verdict and destroy over mighty subjects.
Through his children’s marriages, Henry VII, secured international recognition for his dynasty. First in 1489, he signed the Treaty of Medina Del Campo with Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain and betrothed his son Arthur to Catherine of Aragon, whom he was again to wed to his second son Henry after Arthur died. Henry then negotiated the Treaty of Perpetual Peace between England and Scotland and married his daughter Margaret to James IV, the King of the Scots, in 1503.
By these measures, Henry VII, secured his throne and the Tudor legacy. His successors would have a kingdom that was not threatened by dynastic rivals. Then, above all, he secured peace for his country after years of civil war.