Lancastrians, Yorkists and Henry VII, 1399–1509 - 4 The Yorkists divided,…

The idea

Henry Tudor's victory at Bosworth in 1485 depended on several factors. Foreign aid, especially from France, provided money, ships and troops, while support from Brittany earlier gave him a base. The Stanleys, a powerful noble family, played a decisive role: Thomas, Lord Stanley, and his brother Sir William Stanley, brought forces that tipped the balance. Their late intervention on Henry's side weakened Richard III's army at the critical moment. Henry's success also relied on his own leadership, the unpopularity of Richard III, and the defection of key Yorkists. Without foreign aid and the Stanleys, Henry's small invasion force might have been crushed. Thus, the battle was won by a combination of external support and timely noble defection.

What earns the marks

• Explains how foreign aid, particularly from France, provided Henry Tudor with essential resources such as troops, ships and finance for his invasion in 1485.
• Analyses the role of the Stanleys, especially Thomas, Lord Stanley, and Sir William Stanley, in bringing significant forces to support Henry at Bosworth and their decisive late intervention.
• Assesses the importance of the Stanleys' switch to Henry's side in tipping the balance of the battle, considering Richard III's reliance on their support and their family connection to Henry through Margaret Beaufort.
• Evaluates the relative significance of foreign aid and the Stanleys alongside other factors, such as Henry's leadership, Richard III's unpopularity and the defection of other nobles, in explaining Henry's success.
• Uses specific evidence, such as the date 1485, the names of the Stanleys and the nature of French aid, to support arguments about why Henry won at Bosworth.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Overstating the size of Henry's army or the French contribution without considering the logistical challenges.

  Put it right: Explain how foreign aid was crucial but not overwhelming.

• Treating the Stanleys as loyal to Henry from the start.

  Put it right: Show their calculated neutrality and late intervention, which was decisive but not guaranteed.

• Ignoring other factors such as Richard III's mistakes or Henry's own leadership.

  Put it right: Integrate foreign aid and the Stanleys into a broader explanation of success.

Exam tips

• Structure your answer around the two named factors, foreign aid and the Stanleys, but also consider how they interacted with other reasons for Henry's success.
• Use precise details about the Stanleys' forces and French aid to demonstrate depth of knowledge, but avoid listing facts without analysis.
• Reach a clear judgement on the relative importance of foreign aid and the Stanleys, supporting it with evidence from the battle and its context.