1497 Cornish Flashcards
Outline the Cornish rebellion
Cornwall rebelled over taxes to fight the Scots. Although the Cornish rebels marched to London, they were slaughtered at Blackheath, the leaders were executed and the county was fined
What was the main cause of the Cornish rebellion?
Unfair taxation
Why was the tax that sparked the Cornish rebellion considered unfair?
The Cornish objected to paying for wars which did not concern them, as they were already paying a tax to protect the border against France
Which royal officials did the rebels claim to have their grievances with?
John Morton
Reginald Bray
Who led the Cornish rebellion?
Original leader was a blacksmith called Michael an Gof
Later leaders were Thomas Flamank, a gentleman from Bodmin, and then Lord Audley – discontent Somerset minor noble
What also led to the Cornish rebellion?
Henry had issued new regulations on tin mining and suspended the privileges of the Stannaries – the local Cornish court and parliament. This hit both at the key contributor to the Cornish economy and at local independence from the centre
Why can the Cornish rebellion be considered as a moderate threat?
15,000 rebels reached outskirts of London. However they did not garner support outside West Country and did not intend to overthrow the king. Their army was not professional or well equipped
How much was the subsidy that Henry tried to raise?
£60,000
Why did the location of the Cornish rebellion have particular significance?
The south-west resented the increased role of central government, particularly with regards to taxation. Cultural and linguistic differences gave the region a sense of difference and encouraged resistance to taxation
Where did the Cornish march to?
Blackheath, where the Peasants’ Revolt had gathered in 1381
Why was Lord Audley’s role in the Cornish rebellion so significant?
It gave the rebellion legitimacy and authority
How did Henry deal with the Cornish rebellion?
He raised an army of 20,000 which caused a third of the Cornish rebels to abandon the rising, the rest were defeated in battle
How did the Cornish rebellion impact the government?
It had an impact on preparations to attack Scotland as troops had to be diverted and this forced Henry to sign a truce with Scotland
Why was the Cornish rebellion initially a threat?
They initially outnumbered Sir Giles Daubeney’s army
Why did the Cornish rebellion fail?
Cornish were “too different” to attract support in the south of England. Many spoke a different language
Poorly equipped. Cornish had no cavalry or artillery, or even good weapons and armour. They were faced by a professional army
No support from any nobles with any resources.
No sympathy for the rebel cause among Londoners
