11. Faction And The Fall Of Somerset Flashcards
What did Somerset lack?
The legitimacy of a king
What was Somersets rule vulnerable to?
Factional rivalries
Who was governed the country within weeks of Henry’s death?
Somerset with members of his own household
Who was Sir Thomas Smith?
The only member of Somerset’s household who was appointed a member of the privy council
Who was the only person who was from Somerset’s household who was appointed on the privy council?
Sir Thomas Smith
How did Somerset reinforce his power?
By controlling the kings privy chamber through the appointment of his own supporter as chief gentleman
Who was appointed chief gentleman?
Sir Michael Stanhope
What did Thomas Seymour do?
-Tried to turn Edward against Somerset
-tried to plot with the Earl of Southampton against Somerset
What happened to Seymour?
He was arrested for treason
Why was Somerset unpopular?
Due to his style of government and policy failures, leading to his overthrow
What happened when Northumberland replaced Somerset?
He was anxious to avoid the mistakes of Somerset, so called himself Lord President of the Council
What were many of Northumberland’s key supporters in his coup?
Conservatives
What did Somerset do to his conservative supporters?
He moved against them to ensure his own dominance
What did Northumberland do over time?
He took more power
What happened to presumed enemies?
They were removed from the council
Who was an example of Northumberland’s presumed enemies?
Paget
What happened to paget?
He was removed from the council and sent to the tower
What reasons led to an anti Somerset faction?
-concern about the unrest of 1549
-somersets style of government
When did the anti Somerset faction form?
Mid 1549
Who was in the faction?
Warwick (later called Northumberland), paget, Southampton, and Wriothesley
Who was opposed to Southampton’s religious changes?
Wriothesley and Southampton
Who was concerned about the disorder?
Paget
Who was motivated by the desire for personal achievement?
Warwick
What happened in August 1549?
Warwick and Southampton, along with two other conservative nobleman, decided to move against Somerset
Who were the two conservative noblemen who moved against Somerset?
Earl of Arundel and Lord St John
What did the group that moved against Somerset do initially?
Tried to secure the support of Princess Mary, but she decided to steer clear of conspiracy
What did Somerset do as he lost his grip on power?
He retreated to Hampton court palace
What happened on the 5th October?
Somerset called on loyal subjects to defend him and the king
What happened on the 6th October?
He moved to Windsor castle, taking Edward with him
What did Edward complain about?
-complained about the cold
-accused his uncle of treating him like a prisoner
-claimed Somerset had threatened riots in the streets if he was removed from power
What happened to Somerset now that Edward was against him?
He was removed from Windsor and arrested
What did the council consist of?
Majority of religious conservatives who didn’t trust Warwick
What did Warwick do to the council?
He brought in his own allies and removed opponents to create a Protestant majority
What happened in early December?
There was rumours of a Catholic plot to remove Warwick
What did Warwick do about the Catholic plot rumours?
He used it as an excuse to turn in the leading conservative councillors, arundel and Southampton, and they were dismissed in January 1550
When was Warwick promoted to Duke of Northumberland?
October 1551
How did Northumberland further secure his position?
He placed his own supporters in important positions around Edward
What happened to Somerset?
He was released from jail and restored to the privy council. However he continued to plot against Warwick do was executed
When was Somerset executed?
January 1552
