Most Significant Threat To Henry VII

What was the most significant threat to Henry VII's reign? Some people argue that the De la Poles were the most significant threat to the throne and whilst they surely had the most potential I disagree with that claim. The brothers had three times the chance to make a claim to the throne, as all of them had an equal claim to it through their maternal heritage. Albeit they did not use it to their advantage or were unable to use it. John wasted his claim by supporting another, which would have given him a high political position of his own if he has succeeded and put another York in power but would not have gotten him the crown. He did help Simnel but he himself did not pose a significant threat to the throne. Edmund de la Pole tried to gain …show more content…
Lambert Simnel not only had the claim to the throne by claiming to be the grandson of Edward IV but also substantial support. Simnel had several factors working in his favour, he was claiming to be a Yorkist in a country where many people were looking for a Yorkist king. Henry had just recently taken over the country, a Lancastrian who no one thought had a valid claim to the throne and wanted to be rid of as quickly as possible. European leaders who felt he had no right to be on the throne and were willing to help a claimant tople Henry and of course the inexperience of Henry himself. Simnel had become such a significant threat because he used the kings weak claim and stated his own, more stable claim above it, while being backed by Ireland and the Duchess of Burgundy. This gave him an army and a chance to march into London and take what people believed to be his rightful place. Henry even played into his handy by pardoning some rebels who rallied to Simnel's side. Simnel's army though was beaten by Henry's and Simnel lost the support he had once received after losing the chane to invade London. It also stemmed from the problem that Simnel was not the mastermind behind the plan and with the leaders either dead or arrested there was no one driving the claim forward. The reason Simnel had become such a momentous threat was because he had gathered the support he needed, even from nobility right under the nose of Henry. Due to the fact that it was a false claim though and that he did not mastermind this plan Henry pardoned him and allowed him to live his life in the kitchens while many nobles who had backed him did not receive the same kindness. Simnel did what many others had not done, he had survived, he had gained the support he needed and been declared King and actually marched towards London in an attempt to topple Henry. All the other threats,