Who was Perkin Warbeck and why did he threaten the Tudor dynasty?

Perkin Warbeck (c. 1474–1499) was a Flemish impostor who claimed to be Richard, Duke of York, the younger son of King Edward IV who was presumed murdered in the Tower of London in 1483.1

He posed a significant threat to the nascent Tudor dynasty because he served as a focal point for lingering Yorkist aspirations and baronial discontent against Henry VII. For six years, Warbeck was accepted by various European powers—including France, Scotland, and the Holy Roman Empire—as the legitimate heir to the English throne.12

By exploiting political instability and social unrest, such as Cornish anger over taxation, Warbeck attempted to lead military campaigns to overthrow the king. His existence as a pretender forced Henry VII to maintain a policy of dynastic security, eventually leading to Warbeck's capture and execution in 1499 to eliminate the threat he posed to the stability of the realm.12