3.3.1 Henry VII and the Tudor dynasty

Henry Tudor became King Henry VII after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. He was the first Tudor monarch. To unite the warring houses of Lancaster and York, he married Elizabeth of York. Their combined symbol — the Tudor rose — merged the red and white roses.

Henry VII was a shrewd and careful king who restored stability to England after the Wars of the Roses. He strengthened royal finances, avoided expensive wars, and established England as a more prosperous and stable country. The Tudor dynasty he founded would rule England for over a century and include some of the most famous monarchs in English history.