1485-1509 Great Britain Henry VII Silver Halfpenny – gFine

Henry VII: From Exile to Empire Builder

A Birth in Exile

Born on 28 January 1457 in Pembroke Castle, Wales, Henry Tudor entered the world under a cloud of conflict. His father, Edmund Tudor, had died before Henry was even born. His mother, the formidable Lady Margaret Beaufort, was just thirteen when she gave birth to him. Despite her youth, she would prove to be a political force to be reckoned with.

Margaret’s Power Play

Margaret’s determination to see her son on the throne was nothing short of heroic—or perhaps mildly terrifying. As the Wars of the Roses tore England apart in a tug-of-war between House Lancaster and House York, Margaret quietly plotted. Her son, the last serious Lancastrian heir, had been exiled to Brittany for safety. But Margaret, undeterred, worked the court and her contacts like a chess master, aligning with disgruntled Yorkists and securing key alliances.

Battle, Crown and Peace

In 1485, Henry landed in Wales with a modest army and marched toward destiny. At the Battle of Bosworth Field, he defeated King Richard III, ending over 30 years of dynastic strife. He claimed the throne as Henry VII, marrying Elizabeth of York shortly after. That clever union stitched together the feuding houses, effectively ending the Wars of the Roses and launching the Tudor dynasty.

Achievements: Cunning, Coins, and Control

Henry VII was no showy warrior king. Instead, he excelled in strategy and finance. He kept the nobles in check by creating the Court of the Star Chamber, a sneaky way to keep an eye on troublesome lords. He stabilised the economy, reformed the tax system, and filled the royal coffers without drawing his sword. His shrewd marriage alliances extended England’s influence across Europe.

Legacy and the Future King

When Henry died in 1509, he left a secure throne to his son—Henry VIII, a monarch who would turn the kingdom upside down with six wives and a new church. But none of that could have happened without Henry VII’s quiet brilliance. He built the foundation, forged peace, and transformed a fractured England into a formidable monarchy.

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