Saviourhood, Liberation, and Unity in the Royal Image of King Henry VII of England

Abstract

When Henry Tudor seized the throne of England in August 1485, becoming King Henry VII of England (r.1485-1509), he portrayed himself not as a usurper or rival, but as a saviour. According to Henry, he claimed the throne to free England from tyranny, and to unite the kingdom under the rule of a new, just king – himself. Throughout Henry’s nearly two-year campaign for the throne and later as king, Henry regularly highlighted the stark differences between himself and his predecessor Richard III, portraying himself as the antithesis to Richard’s villainy, and as the figure who would unite England by ending the civil conflict later known as the Wars of the Roses. Henry maintained that his purpose in seeking the throne was neither for greed nor personal glory; rather, he asserted his claim in the name of saviourhood. The idea of saviourhood played a crucial role in the creation of Henry’s royal image, and was expressed by Henry via two main characterisations: that of himself as a liberator, and of himself as a unifier.