Revision Table - Tudor Rebellions
ContextCauses/MotivationsActionsConsequencesGovernment ResponseLeadership/PersonalitiesThreat to GovernmentSuccess/FailureLambert SimnelNew monarch on throne → H7 following Wars of Roses. Potentially vulnerable.No religious divisions.Economic stability.Middle of winter.Extension of the Wars of the Roses → PoliticalSimon’s, a priest, attempts to pass off Lambert Simnel as Richard, Duke of York.H7 parades the real DofY, plans change, Simnel is Earl of Warwick.Gathers support from various Yorkist nobles. Margaret of Burgundy sends 2000 mercenaries.Rebels made for London. H7 met them, 4000 Yorkists were killed.Yorkist nobility continued to openly oppose the monarchy. Margaret goes on to support Perkin Warbeck.H7 marries E of York. Papal bull told the Irish not to rebel against that nice Henry chap again, or else.Lenient. Simon’s imprisoned for life, Simnel given a job.Seized lands of nobles who had fought against the Crown at Stoke.Simons → just a parish priest? Under influence of Bishops? Leadership significant? Ask Mr H.Simnel → Boy being tutored by Simons.Margaret → Richard III’s sister, Yorkist.As a political rebellion it posed a threat, but a ‘comfortable’ one because –H7 had real Earl of WarwickHowever, did draw King out of London onto battlefield.^ Pot. Instability of country?Instability → Pretender had gathered support in Ireland and Europe.In terms of aims – does not put Yorkist on throne – fails.Had forced King onto battlefield.Simnel had success in convincing Irish, etc. Just a shame he didn’t quite manage to overthrow H7. Perkin WarbeckNew monarch on throne → H7 following Wars of Roses. Potentially vulnerable.No religious divisions.Economic stability.Extension of the Wars of the Roses → PoliticalPerkin Warbeck appears at courts of Europe posing as Richard, Duke of York, with claim to English throne.Ignored in some courts but accepted by Charles VIII King of France.As part of peace treaty, C had to ask PW to leave the French court. Was taken in by Margaret. She gave him support in his attempts to invade England.Second attempt got him there, but on meeting Henry’s army fled.Captured and surrendered.Execution of PW buts end to longest, weakest threats to a Tudor monarch. Ends the final repercussions of the Wars of the Roses. Securing throne allows Prince Arthur to marry CofA.Warbeck but in tower but treated well.Tried to escape but was quickly recaptured. Put on trial for this, executed.Warbeck → Young cloth merchant who liked all the fancy trapping of being a prince… silk, etc. Oo’err.Margaret → Richard III’s sister, Yorkist.As a political rebellion it posed a threat, but a ‘comfortable’ one because –Plot never had much support in England, which was exhausted by war and dynasty struggles.Failed even to draw king on to battle field.In terms of aims – does not put Yorkist on throne – fails.Pilgrimage of GraceH8 been on throne for 27 years – stable monarch.Marriage to CofA deteriorates, has it annulled and declares self supreme head of church over Pope.Upsets the northern monkeys who are a conservative bunch and don’t like this break in continuity.Important to remember that different classes have different motivations. Has been seen as a general rising by the people of the North.Religious - commissioners had provided spark.Closing monastries had effect on clergy, who would support.Essentially, Aske created a common grievance – gelled the rebels together, cunning use of name and symbolism.Social and Economic – religious change gave rise to social hardship, monasteries had secular role to common man and gentry.Commons felt uncared for by govt → threat to social stability. Poverty, bad harvests, sheep tax, heavy
peace time taxation → these are desperate men. Commons had little interest in theological debate.Political - essentially only concerns upper echelons. N nobs had been pushed out with centralisation of govt.Boleyn faction vs Aragonese Faction (Darcy, Hussey, Aske)Objected to Cromwell and his policies. A rebellion against the chief minister?→ Easy surrended of Pontefract.Lincolnshire Rising – 3 govt commissioners operating in county. People felt threatened in Louth, as they loved their church spire. Violence erupted, Bishop of Lincoln murdered. Gathered support, gentry added legitimacy. King threatens the rebels – gentry abandon commons, rebellion disperses.PoG – Aske marches 10000 to York with ...
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peace time taxation → these are desperate men. Commons had little interest in theological debate.Political - essentially only concerns upper echelons. N nobs had been pushed out with centralisation of govt.Boleyn faction vs Aragonese Faction (Darcy, Hussey, Aske)Objected to Cromwell and his policies. A rebellion against the chief minister?→ Easy surrended of Pontefract.Lincolnshire Rising – 3 govt commissioners operating in county. People felt threatened in Louth, as they loved their church spire. Violence erupted, Bishop of Lincoln murdered. Gathered support, gentry added legitimacy. King threatens the rebels – gentry abandon commons, rebellion disperses.PoG – Aske marches 10000 to York with peaceful intentions – which weren’t defined clearly, so as to widen the appeal. Articles drawn up and sent to mayor of York. Marched on Pontefract, which was easily taken. Hussy and Darcy get in on the action. Autonomy established, disciplined and organised. Norfolk sent, was sympathetic to rebels. Offers pardon and meeting – stall tactic. Askes and ringleaders sent to London. Executed. Commons pardoned.Cumberland Rising – Bigod plans to capture Hull, Scarborough and Duke of Norfolk, act as mediator with govt. Failed, fled to Carlisle, was captured and executed. Government agreed to negotiate with rebels.Aske and ringleaders rounded up, tried in London and then executed.Rents fixed and subsidy stopped. Some monasteries re-established. Rebels hung in Carlisle and Cumberland.Increases power of gentry families who remained loyal.No rebellion for remaining 6 years of Henry’s reign, but punishments lead to new plots – Wakefield in 1541.Government agreed to negotiate with rebels.Aske and ringleaders rounded up, tried in London and then executed.Rents fixed and subsidy stopped. Some monasteries re-established. Rebels hung in Carlisle and Cumberland.Aske → member of the gentry, a local lawyer.No - did not represent the views of the entire country, the economic grievances that motivated them were specific – two years of bad harvests, enclosures and entry fines. These issues did not affect the population in other areas of the country. That the nobility were willing to assume a leadership role would not necessarily happened in other areas; it was merely fortunate that the rebellion occurred in a region inhabited by members of the pushed out Aragon faction. The Pilgrimage of Grace occurred due to a particular set of circumstances in a particular place – Regionalised.the rebels never did march on London, as by doing so they would have directly challenged the King’s authority in a potentially violent manner. This was not the intention of the Pilgrimage of Grace; it did not aim to overthrow social structures.Furthermore, clearly defined social structures can be clearly seen through the leadership of the Pilgrimage; the gentry assumed leadership roles, later joined by the nobility. This was obvious adherence to the Great Chain of Being, as the nobles at the head of each of the nine hosts had not risen there by outstanding ability – one host had a nine-year-old noble as its leader. It would be unsurprising if such strict adherence to the Chain of Being had produced some very mediocre leaders, weakening the rebellions potential to threaten government. Henry, as monarch, was at the top of the Chain of Being, something the rebellion voluntarily followed. Tudor government, a monarchy, was therefore not at threat from the actions of the pilgrims.The only reasonable threat the Pilgrimage posed was to the image of England abroad. In comparison to a threat such as open opposition to the government, the significance of the threat is negligible. It is therefore reasonable to state that the Pilgrimage of Grace did not pose a serious threat to Tudor Government.SuccessRaised large forceGovt had to negotiate – considered it a threat.Promise of parliament being called to air rebel’s grievances.Small monasteries restored.End to subsidy collectionsRents fixed.Henry more cautious theologically.FailureCromwell still there.Dissolution of monasteries continues.Henry remains as head of church.Western(1549 Rebellions)Edward, minor, been on throne for two years.Somerset in control of Regency Council. S, E and Cramner look for prot reform.1549 – first prayer book. Was ambiguous.Drought + poor harvests lead to famine.Finances were poor. S had sold crown lands to pay for war with Scotland.Climate of rebellion? 1549 → the rebellion year.Religious – dislike of reforms and new prayer book. Not key to common man. Main preserve of clergy, who hijacked rebellion.Social and Economic – new taxes on sheep and cloth, increased rents due to dearth harvests.^ affected lower classes – attack on gentry? Gentry had benefited from sale of crown lands. Lack of care for tenants, break down of chain of being?Body murdered on enforcing new religious changes.New prayer book used/introduced, sparks rebellion.Dependant on prot gentry, Arundell persuaded to lead. Need gentry leaders.Articles drawn up → but by clergy. JP’s powerless.Carew fails to negotiate, sets fire to rebel’s barns, heightening rebels distrust of gentry.Laid siege to Exeter, town resists.Lord Russell fails to gather support, requires Lord Grey + mercenaries.Rebels re-establish in Sampford Courtenay, lacked organisation.Rebellion put down.Government looks to make an exampleRingleaders executed, priest hung from church tower, but →Commoners mainly pardoned. Upper classes fear possible further reaction.Sent catholic Lord Russell. Failed to gather support, forced toDispatch Lord Grey with 300 Italian mercenaries.Feared further rebellion, given nature of 1549.Ringleaders executed, made and example of.Clergy assume a leadership role and hijack demands of rebels. As only literate members of the population, particularly at this section of the Chain of Being, can pool the wool over the poor exploited rebels eyes. NoWas a social/economic rebellion by the lower orders, removed from centre of power by both classAnd location. Was a long way from London -And a stationary regionalised uprising at that.Attracted relatively few supporters.However – Russell failed to gather significant force to oppose them.JP’s were not willing to stop rebellion.Were many such rebellion up and down the country in 1549.Could also be seen as a fundamental break down of Chain of Being – Guy → ‘Class War’In terms of its aims, no.Was hijacked by literate clergy, and even then failed to change religion.Common man’s grievances not aired, sheep and cloth taxes upheld.Lacked organisation, did not get near centre of power.However – did raise some support – grievances were widely held.Got to Exeter.Kett’s (1549 Rebellions)Edward, minor, been on throne for two years.Somerset in control of Regency Council. S, E and Cramner look for prot reform.1549 – first prayer book. Was ambiguous.Drought + poor harvests lead to famine.Finances were poor. S had sold crown lands to pay for war with Scotland.Climate of rebellion? 1549 → the rebellion year.Like many others, important to remember that different classes have different motivations.Social and Economic – standard hunger grievances, but the poor are always hungry. Agrarian grievances key, enclosures, rack-renting. Bit of exploitation by the gentry. Lower orders look back to strong social structures of chain of being.Religious – Not Cath, looking for prot reform to go further.Political – Kett a middle class encloser, so used agrarian grievances to attract support. Would have been looking for self-advancement.Rebels broke down fences on the enclosing Flowerdue’s (weird bloke with plait?) land. Bit odd, as Kett was also landowner.Established camps with rigid rules/structures, did not want mob rule. Had prot services using new prayer book.Laid siege to Norwich. Marquis of Northampton fails to pacify rebels, requires large govt. force. Pardon offered to those rebels who would disperse. Other risings delay force arriving at Mousehold Heath, eventually was put down by force.No return to previous social structures.Furthered discontent with Somerset from ruling elites.Kett executed.Offered pardon to all those who dispersed – quite tied up with all these rebellions.Rebellion put down by force, although Northampton failed initially.Kett executed.Kett – local landowner. Had enclosed land. Gentry, not noble type, not at court. Ambitious. Looking for self-advancement as would have been in prime position to carry out negotiations, putting him in an important position.NoWas a social/economic rebellion by the lower orders, removed from centre of power by both classAnd location. Was a long way from London -And a stationary regionalised uprising at that.Attracted supporters, but numbers is essentially immaterial.However → represented necessity for fundamental change in attitude – the lower orders could rule themselves successfully. Commune that developed was something govt. should have been scared of.In terms of its aims, no.Did not counter agrarian grievances, even if Somerset did have sympathy with them. Further religious change did come about, but it is doubtful that it was the result of the rising.Kett had has head chopped off. Hardly political advancement now is it!Wyatt’sMary on throne following LJG fiascoHad popular supportDevout Catholic, determined to marry a Spaniard - PhilipAllegiances – France/Scotland vs Spain?Economy stable – currency reform, good harvests, few socio-economic problemsLittle evidence of religious motivation. Conspirators not religiously ‘homogenous’. Placing E on throne not relevant, E had declared catholic faith.Few social and economic factors. Potential for civil war had been overcome. M legitimate, strong. Economically prosperous, good harvests. Growing stability. Opportunity cost to non-elites high.Political RebellionElite conspirators – different to previous pop. protests.Aim was regime change, not in name of monarch.E – ‘second person in realm’ – lurking about.Faction – Spanish marriage – xenophobia – fear for positions.Wyatt’s force came from pressed men. Little pop. support.Nov ’54 – Clear M intends to marry P.Group meet, conspire to replace M with E and marry to Courtney.Planned co-ordinated revolt with French involvement.News leaks. Renard tells M and Gardiner investigates, finds out.Forced to act immediately. Small rising in Cornwall. Only Wyatt raises sig. support.Wyatt refuses to negotiate. Duke of Norfolk’s force mutinies.Wyatt wastes time – attack on Lord Cobham.Mary has time to gather support, Wyatt stalls further, his force shrinks.Gates closed to Wyatt, citizens of London support Queen, Wyatt surrenders.Wyatt and other conspirators executed – but less than 100 total.LJG and Guildford Dudley executed.E placed in tower.Realised actions were essentially elite rebellion.New monarch, needed support, citizens saved her.Feared harsh reaction could spark further rebellion – thus lenient.Public opinion strongly against severity. Philip also advised leniency.Thomas Wyatt → family of wealthy gentry had been fashionable at court. Wyatt had served each Tudor. Declared support for M during LJG crisis. Essentially a loyalist. Frustrated by failure of protest by other means. Driven to rebellion. No experience, over cautious.But, he and others knew, as elites, that failure would mean death. Depth of feeling clearly immense.Carew → Evangelical.Norfolk → Old, retired rubbish.Mary → Strong, legitimate, had support.Had little popular support, force 3,000 max. But - Came as close as any to overthrowing government.Rebellion was final desperate measures of elites. Rebels were very close to centre of power – threat.As gentry, leaders had ability to ‘muster’ men, which would have formed part of M’s defence. Maybe caused mutiny of Norfolk’s army?Wyatt got to London. Heart of government. Benefits from proximity.Significant threat to govt.In terms of aims – did not replace M with E – fails.Came as close as any.That it did fail, due to practicalities, shows bankruptcy of rebellion as method of solving political crisis. Shows growing stability that negates threat.Northern Earl’sE been on throne for 11 years. Country socially and economically stable – Northumberland’s currency reforms taken effect.Religious settlement – compromise – 1559.N England trad. religiously conservative.M QofS in EnglandFactions in court emerge. Anti – Burghley prominent. Burghley’s rise to power continues.Felt Burghley pushing England closer to war with Spain – bullion ship etc.E had refused to discuss marriage and succession.Anti-cecil faction had devised succession plan. M QofS to marry Norfolk, M to be named successor. Northumberland + Westmoreland backed for Catholic succession. E found out, imprisoned N.Political with religious overtones.Wstmld + Nthmbld loose status at court under E. Resent loss of position – similar to Wyatt’s?Sudden response to failure of Norfolk marriage proposal – no clear plan.Religious factors cited as main grievances. Religion possibly becomes identified with loss of pol. status?Used 5 wounds of Christ, similar to PoG.New Bishop of Durham strongly protestant, gathers clique. Inflames issue.Norfolk marriage plot.E suspicious of N+W.Called before Sussex at Council of North, not satisfied with result, E calls them to London.Sparks rebellion. W+N gather force.March on Durham Cathedral and hold catholic mass S cannot put down attack, complains to Privy Council.Wander about up North. Fails to gather forces a bit further south. Rebellion splits when people aren’t paid and leave.On hearing of nearby royal army, Earls disband infantry and flee. N gets to Scotland, W to Netherlands.E orders execution of 700, 450 actually killed.N handed over in 1572 and executed. W gets away.Earls loose all status as lands handed over to Crown.(Papal Bull of 1570, to create opposition to E. Intended to be released during rebellion, not after)R forced to muster royal army after S fails to put down the rebellion.E declares martial law and authorises death of 700 rebels. Lenient in only max 450 actually kissed.Crown repossesses rebels lands.No changes to govt. policy.Northumberland → No longer lieutenant general of north, not allowed custody of M QofS. Both he and Westmoreland are prominent Catholics.N + W both suffer loss of status and of wealth, W being known to ask for money.Norfolk → trad. Catholic family, famous courtiers.Sussex → torn. Friend of Norfolk’s but aware of duties to Queen, role on Council of the North.Force of 3000 is large but does not pose significant threat.Foreign support did not actually exist, Philip unlikely to support M QofS – a Guise.Threat regionalised. Could not even gather support from Lancashire.Were a long distance from London, centre of power and M QofS, focus, who E moved to Tutbury → reduces threat.E had reduced autonomy of area → reduces threat.Papal Bull not issued during rebellion.Did warrant repoonse → may have been perceived as threat by Queen, if only to her image.FailureDoes not gather a great deal of support.Doesn’t achieve objective of replacing E with M QofS.Brings about no changes of religious policy.Lost all their lands and privileges, worsened own situation.