1486-87 Lambert Simnel Flashcards
Outline the Lambert Simnel rebellion
Lambert Simnel claimed to be the Yorkist Earl of Warwick, who had a better claim to the throne than Henry as the son of the Duke of Clarence and cousin to Edward V. Although he had some English and Irish noble support, he was defeated at the Battle of East Stoke
What was the main cause of the Lambert Simnel rebellion?
Dynastic issues and the succession
Who orchestrated the Lambert Simnel rebellion?
An Oxford priest, Richard Symonds, claimed his pupil, was the Earl of Warwick
Who was the Earl of Warwick?
A nephew of Richard III who had been imprisoned by Henry
Who supported the Lambert Simnel rebellion?
Yorkists including the Earl of Lincoln, Lovell, and Edward IV’s sister, Margaret of Burgundy
Where was the Lambert Simnel rebellion based?
Ireland, with an attempt to invade England through Lancashire
What was the significance of the Irish Earl of Kildare?
He crowned Simnel king in Dublin
What role did Margaret of Burdundy play?
She funded mercenaries for Simnel
Why could the Lambert Simnel rebellion be considered as a high level of threat?
Despite lack of significant support from commons in England, Yorkists have Irish military aid and are able to raise sufficient funds to hire a mercenary army. Rebellion took place early in Henry’s reign; few actively supported him and the Battle of East Stoke was pretty closely fought
How did Henry use a pre-emptive strike to deal with Simnel’s rebellion?
He had the clergy read a papal bull which excommunicated the rebels
The real Earl of Warwick was paraded to show Simnel was an imposter
How many of Simnel’s mercenaries were killed at East Stoke?
Around 4000
Was Henry supported by the nobles during Simnel’s rebellion?
Henry had the support of a duke, five earls, a viscount, and four barons
What military support did Simnel have?
2,000 German mercenaries paid for by Burgundy
About 4,500 ill-disciplined Irish kerns (light infantry) sent by Kildare
A much smaller force of Yorkists under the command of half a dozen local gentry which joined after they landed in England
Outline the Battle of East Stoke
Henry had 12,000 men to the rebels’ 8,000, but not all were fully committed to his cause. It was only when Lincoln, the Irish leader, Geraldine, and the German mercenary commander were killed that it became clear that the rebels would lose
Why did Lambert Simnel’s rebellion fail?
Simnel was not clearly legitimate and was only 12 years old – a child, not an inspiring leader
Simnel depended on foreign support – Germans and Irishmen – and this made it much harder to raise support in England
Henry’s treatment of the Yorkist nobility after Bosworth was effective. He confiscated land but allowed men such as the Earl of Surrey to prove their loyalty and regain their property. Especially key was Northumberland’s decision to stay loyal – he had fought for Richard at Bosworth
Exhaustion and poverty – the north had been devastated by war and most were focused on survival for themselves and their families, not another bout of dynastic fighting
Bad behaviour of the undisciplined Irish troops who often pillaged and stole, which dissuaded locals from joining
