1499: Perkin Warbeck, defeated pretender to the throne of Henry VII, is hanged at Tyburn as a traitor.
1942: Adolf Hitler orders German troops in Stalingrad to 'dig in', ensuring they will be encircled and cut off.
1971: The People's Republic of China takes its seat at the UN, replacing the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Henry ended the dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the Roses, founded the Tudor dynasty and modernised England's government and legal system.
Henry was born on 28 January 1457 in Pembroke, Wales. His father, Edmund Tudor, died two months before he was born. Henry was brought up by his uncle, Jasper Tudor, who fled with Henry to France after the Lancastrian defeat in 1471. In 1483, Henry became the leading Lancastrian claimant to the English throne and in December of that year, promised to marry Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV. Henry's promise of marriage united the opponents of Richard III, who had usurped the English throne from, and probably murdered, Elizabeth's young brother in the same year. In 1485, Henry landed at Milford Haven, killed Richard at the Battle of Bosworth and was crowned king. Having secured parliamentary recognition of his title, he married Elizabeth of York thus uniting the two sides in the Wars of the Roses.
But Henry was far from secure. His claim to the throne was shaky and he was constantly plagued with conspiracies. He consolidated his position by a treaty with France that provided both recognition and a handsome pension. Trade agreements with the Netherlands and a marriage treaty with Scotland cut off European support for Perkin Warbeck, a challenger for the throne. Finally, Henry secured a marriage between his eldest son, Arthur, and the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon, in 1501.
Henry also rebuilt royal finances by avoiding war, increasing administrative efficiency, promoting trade and enforcing royal fiscal rights to the point of ruthlessness, leaving a fortune to his successor and a legacy of hatred for some of his financial ministers. The royal council was reborn as the Court of Star Chamber and dealt with judicial matters. Special arrangements were made to promote better order in Wales and the north by setting up special councils and more powers were entrusted to the justices of the peace. Medieval rule, in which local law and custom dominated, was slowly being transformed into a single state subject to royal decrees.
When he died on 21 April 1509, Henry left a safe throne, a solvent government and a prosperous and reasonably united kingdom. Arthur had died before his father, so Henry was succeeded by his second son, who became Henry VIII.
1942: Adolf Hitler orders German troops in Stalingrad to 'dig in', ensuring they will be encircled and cut off.
1971: The People's Republic of China takes its seat at the UN, replacing the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Henry ended the dynastic struggle known as the Wars of the Roses, founded the Tudor dynasty and modernised England's government and legal system.
Henry was born on 28 January 1457 in Pembroke, Wales. His father, Edmund Tudor, died two months before he was born. Henry was brought up by his uncle, Jasper Tudor, who fled with Henry to France after the Lancastrian defeat in 1471. In 1483, Henry became the leading Lancastrian claimant to the English throne and in December of that year, promised to marry Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV. Henry's promise of marriage united the opponents of Richard III, who had usurped the English throne from, and probably murdered, Elizabeth's young brother in the same year. In 1485, Henry landed at Milford Haven, killed Richard at the Battle of Bosworth and was crowned king. Having secured parliamentary recognition of his title, he married Elizabeth of York thus uniting the two sides in the Wars of the Roses.
But Henry was far from secure. His claim to the throne was shaky and he was constantly plagued with conspiracies. He consolidated his position by a treaty with France that provided both recognition and a handsome pension. Trade agreements with the Netherlands and a marriage treaty with Scotland cut off European support for Perkin Warbeck, a challenger for the throne. Finally, Henry secured a marriage between his eldest son, Arthur, and the Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon, in 1501.
Henry also rebuilt royal finances by avoiding war, increasing administrative efficiency, promoting trade and enforcing royal fiscal rights to the point of ruthlessness, leaving a fortune to his successor and a legacy of hatred for some of his financial ministers. The royal council was reborn as the Court of Star Chamber and dealt with judicial matters. Special arrangements were made to promote better order in Wales and the north by setting up special councils and more powers were entrusted to the justices of the peace. Medieval rule, in which local law and custom dominated, was slowly being transformed into a single state subject to royal decrees.
When he died on 21 April 1509, Henry left a safe throne, a solvent government and a prosperous and reasonably united kingdom. Arthur had died before his father, so Henry was succeeded by his second son, who became Henry VIII.
