Parents
Father: King Henry VII of England
Born: January 28, 1457 in Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire, England
Married: 1486 in Westminster, Middlesex, England
Died: April 21, 1509 in Sheen, near Richmond, Surrey, England
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Mother: Princess Elisabeth of England
Born: February 11, 1466 in Westminster Palace, London, Middlesex, England
Died: February 11, 1503 in Tower of London, London, Middlesex, England
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Children:
1. Prince Edward of England
2. Princess Elizabeth of England
3. Prince Arthur of Wales (b.9/20/1486)
4. Princess Margaret of England (b.11/29/1489) (First Marriage)
(Second Marriage)
5. King Henry VIII of England (b.6/28/1491)
6. Princess Mary of England (b.3/1496)
7. Prince Edmund Duke of Somerset (b.2/21/1499)
8. Princess Katherine of England (b.2/2/1502)
Note: Although supported by Lancastrians and Yorkists alienated by Richard III's usurpation, Henry VII's first task was to secure his position. In 1486 he married Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of Edward IV, thus uniting the Houses of York and Lancaster. Henry's reign (1485-1509) was troubled by revolts, sometimes involving pretenders (such as Perkin Warbeck and Lambert Simnel) who impersonated Edward V or his brother. In 1485, Henry formed a personal bodyguard from his followers known as the 'Yeomen of the Guard' (the oldest military corps in existence today). Henry strengthened the power of the monarchy by using traditional methods of government to tighten royal administration and increase revenues (reportedly including a daily examination of accounts). Royal income rose from an annual average of £52,000 to £142,000 by the end of Henry's reign. Little co-operation between King and Parliament was required; during Henry's reign of 24 years, seven Parliaments sat for some ten and a half months. Henry used dynastic royal marriages to establish his dynasty in England, and help maintain peace. One daughter, Margaret, was married to James IV of Scotland (from whom Mary, Queen of Scots and her son, James VI of Scotland and James I of England, were descended); the other daughter married Louis XII of France. Henry spent money shrewdly and left a full treasury on his death in 1509. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.
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