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Why did Henry Tudor promise to marry Elizabeth of York?

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Wars of the Roses Illustration depicting the Battle of Bosworth Field, with King Richard III on the white horse.

Henry Tudor promised to marry Elizabeth of York primarily to unite the opposing factions of the Wars of the Roses against their common enemy, Richard III.1

Following Richard III’s usurpation of the throne in 1483, the Yorkist party became divided. By pledging to marry Elizabeth—the eldest daughter of the late Edward IV—Henry was able to build a coalition of both Lancastrians and disaffected Yorkists who sought to overthrow Richard.12

This strategic alliance was essential for securing the support necessary to challenge the king. After Henry defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, he fulfilled his promise by marrying Elizabeth in 1486. This marriage effectively merged the rival House of Lancaster and House of York, solidifying his claim to the throne and bringing an end to the dynastic civil wars.123