Henry VII of England

Henry VII, also known as Henry Tudor, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509, and the first monarch of the House of Tudor. He was the son of Edmund Tudor, 1st Earl of Richmond, and Lady Margaret Beaufort, a great-granddaughter of John of Gaunt, and after 14 years in exile in Brittany he attained the throne when his forces, backed by France and Scotland, defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of England to win his throne in battle, defending it two years later at the Battle of Stoke Field to end the Wars of the Roses, and he strengthened his claim by marrying Elizabeth of York, Edward IV's daughter. He is credited with restoring stability to the English monarchy and with administrative, economic and diplomatic initiatives, stabilising government finances through new taxes and a supportive policy toward the wool industry. He reigned nearly 24 years and was peacefully succeeded by his son, Henry VIII.