Origins & Early Life

Henry VII (28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509), also known as Henry Tudor, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor. Henry was the son of Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond, and Lady Margaret Beaufort, a great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt (son of Edward III) who founded the Lancastrian cadet branch of the House of Plantagenet. Thus Henry's claim to the English throne was as the great-great-great-grandson of Edward III.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Henry VII's father Edmund Tudor was the half-brother of the Lancastrian king Henry VI. Edmund died three months before his son was born, and Henry was raised by his uncle Jasper Tudor, a Lancastrian, and William Herbert, a supporter of the Yorkist branch of the House of Plantagenet. During Henry's early years, his uncles and the Lancastrians fought a series of civil wars against the Yorkist claimant, Edward IV. After Edward retook the throne in 1471, Henry spent 14 years in exile in Brittany. He attained the throne when his forces, supported by France and Scotland, defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

He was the last king of England to...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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