King Henry VII was born into an period of conflict. Since 1455, the War of the Roses had been battling as a result of the dynastic wars for the throne of England. It was battled by supporters of the two rival branches within the Royal House of Plantagenet, the House of York represented by a white rose and the House of Lancaster represented by a red rose. Henry belonged to the latter and his claim to the throne was tenuous. His father was of Welsh royal lineage and it was this link that proved invaluable in getting support from the Welsh during the Battle of Bosworth. However it was his mother's descent through the House of Beaufort from King Edward III via John Gaunt, his third son that enabled Henry to place a legitimate claim to the throne in 1485.
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