Sunday 16 August 2020

A Monarch A Month - Henry VII

Hello all!

This month's monarch of the month is number nineteen, Henry VII. Here he is, holding onto what is presumably a gold-filled money box, given his propensity for saving.

Henry VII from Kings and Queens by Bothy Threads
Started - 1st August 2020
Finished - 4th August 2020
Total stitching time - 5 hours 55 minutes


Is it me, or does anyone else think his crown and hair on the right, as you look at it, looks wrong? It's stitched per the chart, and the cover picture is the same, but it looks as if about two columns of ten rows have been duplicated. It's annoying me...


HENRY VII
Preceded by Richard III (a distant cousin)
Succeeded by Henry VIII (son)
Lived - 1457-1509
Reigned - 1485-1509
Married - Elizabeth Woodville 1486
Fathered - 3 sons and 4 daughters

Henry VII became king, and the first of the Tudor monarchs, following the death of Richard III.

Henry's mother (who was only 13 when had him) always believed it was 'God's will' that he would be King despite, at one point, being only seventh in line to the throne.

After fate had removed five of those in front of him, only Richard III remained, and he was defeated by Henry's forces at The Battle Of Bosworth Field in 1485.

In 1486 Henry married Edward IV's eldest daughter Elizabeth Woodville, thereby uniting the warring houses of Lancaster and York and creating the Tudor Rose emblem. Initially a political marriage, their love grew and Henry soon became devoted to his family.

Due to taking the throne by force, Henry often felt insecure, so he made it illegal for nobles to raise their own private armies and imprisoned or executed a number of potential or actual rivals, including one of the most dangerous, Perkin Warbeck, who claimed to be Richard, the younger of the (assumed dead) Princes In The Tower and therefore the rightful king.

Overall, Henry's reign was successful, building up the treasury by astute taxation (and mismanagement), making peace with France, Spain and Scotland (the latter two through proposed marriages with his children) and ensuring the country had a good judicial system through the appointment of local Justices Of The Peace.

Henry's health declined following the deaths of his eldest son, Arthur, in 1502 and his wife in 1503, He died in 1509 from tuberculosis and was buried in Westminster Abbey beside Elizabeth. His crown passed to his second son, Henry.

So next month the larger-than-life Henry VIII (and goodness knows how I'm going to fit his extraordinary reign into 300 words!)

Take care,
Rachel x

9 comments:

Linda said...

I agree Rachel. His head does look a little off.

Linda

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

His crown looks more like a tricorn hat of some style, maybe Google the dress of that era?
I am wondering how you will deal with Henry VIII, maybe 300 words per wife?

Tiffstitch said...

It looks somewhat like the paintings of that era, he did seem to have thick hair and the hat looks about right. But you have to be happy with it!

Katie said...

Another great history lesson. I think it looks fine but you have to decide. If it's bothering you I bet you'll fix it.

Clare-Aimetu said...

A Henry we know well as Bosworth Battlefield is only a few miles from where we live

Bethan said...

I think bullet points for the next Henry may be needed! I think his hair and hat look okay, but if it drives you bonkers you should change it x

Leonore Winterer said...

I didn't know much about Henry VII. He sounds like a decent guy, compared to some of these guys!
You might need a pass on your 300 word rule next month, though...

Faith... said...

Since Henry was insecure I thought that maybe he was looking over his shoulder to make sure nobody was sneaking up on him to take his crown or the gold. Though he did seem like a decent king and family man like not many of his predecessors.

Astrids dragon said...

It looks like he was one of those guys who had great hair! And his Mother had him at 13... wow!