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How did Henry VII justify his claim to the English throne?
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Wars of the Roses
Illustration depicting the Battle of Bosworth Field, with King Richard III on the white horse.
Henry VII justified his claim to the English throne through a combination of inheritance, military victory, and political consolidation.
Because his genealogical claim was weakāstemming from the Beaufort family, whose line had been explicitly barred from the successionāhe relied on the following justifications:
- Right of Conquest and Divine Judgment: After defeating and killing Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, Henry declared himself king by "just title of inheritance" and by the "judgment of God in battle."123
- Parliamentary Recognition: Shortly after his coronation in October 1485, he secured formal recognition of his title from Parliament, which acknowledged him as the sovereign lord.13
- Dynastic Marriage: To further solidify his position and unite the warring house of Lancaster and house of York, he married Elizabeth of York, the eldest daughter of Edward IV, in 1486.23
These actions effectively transitioned his rule from a claim based on military might to a recognized, stable dynasty.3