Abstract The overall strategic objectives of Henry's policy are looked at noting an emphasis on a defensive policy, securing his throne and succession, and increasing the power of the country. The paper also describes how he used marriages, treaties and alliances to establish the Tudors following the insecurity of the Wars of the Roses.
From the Paper "Henry VII came to the throne of an island off the coast of Europe which had little strategic or diplomatic significance at the time of his accession. England had recently passed through a long period of civil war which had left much uncertainty as to the future direction of the country. Although we can now recognize that the wars were almost over, and would essentially end at the Battle of Stoke in 1487, there was little to indicate to contemporaries that Henry VII would not lose his throne as his three predecessors had all done. Henry's overriding tasks were to consolidate his own position on the throne and then to ensure the succession. He was well aware that this would have to be a two-pronged strategy, strengthening his internal position, i.e. within the country itself, and also externally, ensuring that no foreign power was willing to aid any of the remaining Yorkist pretenders. Henry knew that no rebellion against the throne had succeeded without foreign assistance; if he were to make the throne safe for himself and his descendants he had to forge alliances abroad and nullify the threat particularly from France."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the historical from the literary Richard III, as portrayed by Shakespeare. There is a brief description of each portrayal as well as a short analysis of the two together. The representation by Shakespeare shows the villain-hero to be one that we both adore and abhor at the same moment, but the real Richard III was just as fascinating in his ability to twist the royal line to make himself king.
From the Paper "Being so repulsive, Richard learned to use beautiful words and delicate language to disguise his face and to gain the trust and love of others by speaking sweetly to them. Lady Anne, mourning over the corpse of her father-in-law, was won over by his honeyed tongue. Richard not only slew her father-in-law, King Henry VI, but he murdered Anne's husband, Prince Edward, on the battlefields as well. Richard convinces Anne that it was her beauty that forced him into killing her beloved family. Anne, so swept up by his voice and, perhaps with the sight of an empty future, ends her resistance, stays her curses of him, and agrees to become his wife."
Tags: battle, bosworth, lancaster, plantagenet, tudor, york
