Henry VII's New Men and the Making of Tudor England

During his reign, Henry VII appointed low-born ministers with legal, financial, political, and military skills to enforce his will, building their own careers and fortunes. This volume presents a kaleidoscopic portrait of these new men, analyzing their offices, relationships, and wealth, establishing their importance in the operation of Henry's government and the making of Tudor England.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 416 pages
Publication date: 16 March 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The reign of Henry VII is a fascinating and enigmatic chapter in English history. While he brought an end to the Wars of the Roses and laid the foundations for the strong governments of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, his style of rule was unconventional and at times oppressive. At the heart of his regime stood a group of low-born ministers, known as the new men, who possessed a range of legal, financial, political, and military skills. These men enforced the king's will and in the process, built their own careers and their families' fortunes. Some of these new men are well-known, such as Sir Edward Poynings, governor of Ireland, or Empson and Dudley, who were executed to gain popularity for the young Henry VIII. However, there are many less famous new men who played significant roles in Henry VII's government.

Sir Robert Southwell was the king's chief auditor, Sir Andrew Windsor the keeper of the king's wardrobe, Sir Thomas Lovell, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was so trusted by Henry that he allowed the former Yorkist pretender Lambert Simnel to be employed as his household falconer. These new men not only played a crucial role in the operation of Henry VII's government but also paved the way for their relatives to achieve glory. Sir Thomas Brandon, master of the horse, was the uncle of Henry VIII's favorite Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk. Sir Henry Wyatt, keeper of the jewel house, was the father of the poet Sir Thomas Wyatt.

This volume, based on extensive archival research, presents a kaleidoscopic portrait of these new men. It analyzes the offices and relationships through which they exercised power and the ways they gained their wealth and spent it to sustain their new-found status. It establishes their importance in the operation of Henry's government and, as their careers continued under his son, in the making of Tudor England.

In conclusion, the reign of Henry VII is a complex and multifaceted period in English history. While his unconventional style of rule and his use of the new men may have been controversial, they played a crucial role in shaping the course of English history. The new men, with their diverse skills and backgrounds, helped to establish the foundations of the Tudor dynasty and laid the groundwork for the prosperity and glory of England in the centuries to come.

Weight: 626g
Dimension: 154 x 235 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198884712