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Henry VII Government - Coggle Diagram
Henry VII Government
Central Administration and the Royal Council
LOA
Henry's reforms were limited in institutional novelty but revolutionary in application. He shifted the focus of government from a large, unwieldly body of aristocrats to a personal, efficient tool of the monarch that relied on "new men" whose loyalty was tied to the crown rather than hereditary status.
Succeses
Use of "new men":
Henry bypassed the "super-nobles" who had destabilized previous reigns
. He relied on a core group of loyal, often legally trained, advisors such as John Morton, Richard Fox, and Reginald Bray
. This ensured that ability and loyalty were the sole criteria for service
The Chamber System:
Henry shifted the center of financial administration from the slow-moving Exchequer to the Royal Chamber
. By the 1490s, the Chamber handled over 80% of royal revenue, giving the King closer personal control over finances
Small Working Groups
: Although 227 men attended his Council, Henry worked with a small "inner ring" of about six or seven regular attenders
Failures/Limitations:
Lack of Bureaucracy:
The system was not a "modern" state; it was a "personal monarchy" that relied entirely on Henry’s own tireless supervision
Institutional Continuity:
Many of his "reforms" were actually revivals of techniques used by Edward IV, such as the use of the Chamber and the Council of the North
Evidence:
Lord Dinham
served as Treasurer until 1501, followed by Thomas Howard, showing Henry was willing to use former Yorkists if they proved loyal
The Council Learned in the Law (est. 1495):
A highly specialized committee that ruthlessly exploited the King’s prerogative rights, making it the most feared and efficient organ of government
Financial Administration and Prerogative Rights
LOA:
Henry’s financial reforms were extraordinarily successful in achieving his aims of solvency and security, even if the methods were historically limited in scope (relying on old feudal dues). He understood that a wealthy king was a strong king
Successes
Massive Income Growth:
Henry inherited a bankrupt throne with an annual income of £12,000 and increased it to over £100,000 by his death
Crown Lands:
Through the Act of Resumption (1486) and escheats (land reverting to the crown), the royal estates became larger than ever, yielding £42,000 p.a. by 1509
Feudal Obligations:
He maximized wardship (income from the estates of minors) from £350 in 1487 to £6,000 in 1507
Failiures/Limitations
Unpopularity:
His pursuit of every penny earned him a reputation for "cynicism and greed"
Reliance on Taxation Flashpoints:
Attempted direct taxes caused the 1489 Yorkshire Rebellion and the 1497 Cornish Uprising, teaching Henry to be cautious with Parliamentary grants
Evidence:
The French Pension:
Negotiated in the Treaty of Étaples (1492), providing an annual sum of £5,000
Sir Thomas Heron:
As Treasurer of the Chamber from 1492, he oversaw the meticulous auditing that Henry initialed himself
Control of the Nobility and Public Order
LOA
Henry’s reforms were unlimited in their success in breaking the power of the magnates, but limited in scope because they relied on the "blunt instruments" of financial coercion rather than a new police force or standing army
Successes:
Bonds and Recognisances:
This was Henry’s "financial screw" to ensure loyalty. By the end of his reign, 46 out of 62 noble families were financially at his mercy
Acts of Attainder:
Henry passed 138 Attainders, using them as "sticks" to punish disloyalty, but also "carrots" by reversing 46 of them to reward good behavior
Legislation Against Retaining:
Statutes in 1487 and 1504 aimed to eliminate private armies
Failures/Limitations:
Deep Resentment:
The Council Learned in the Law, led by Empson and Dudley, became so hated that Henry VIII had them executed immediately upon his accession to appease the nobility
Continued Local Power:
Henry still had to rely on great families with local roots, like the Stanleys and Percys, to govern the provinces
Evidence
Lord Burgavenny:
Convicted in 1507 for illegally retaining 471 men and fined the staggering sum of £70,650
Earl of Surrey:
Imprisoned and attained after Bosworth, he worked his way back to favor by suppressing northern rebellions, eventually having his attainder fully reversed in 1492