5) Mid-Tudor crisis: The Stability of the Monarchy- not done Flashcards
- Issues of Edward VI’s age and Mary Tudor’s gender, marriage of Mary Tudor and Philip - the Devise for the succession in 1553 and the succession in 1558 - faction and its impact during the rule of Somerset and Northumberland - factional conflict between Paget and Gardiner under Mary.
What was the timeline of succession acts that put Edward in power?
1534
- First Succession Act – Mary declared illegitimate and removed from succession
1536
- Second Succession Act – Mary and Elizabeth both illegitimate; succession by any offspring of Jane Seymour
1544
- Third Succession Act – Mary and Elizabeth back in succession, after Edward, but they remained illegitimate
1546
- Conservative (Catholic) faction defeated: Duke of Norfolk arrested for son’s alleged treason (Dec) and Bishop Stephen Gardiner excluded as executor and member of future Regency Council
- Dec: Henry VIII’s Will – confirmed Third Succession Act; adding niece Frances Grey (daughter of Henry’s sister, Mary) whilst excluding Catholic Stuarts (sister Margaret’s daughter Mary, Queen of Scots, married to James V); creates Regency Council; requires Council’s consent for Mary to marry
1547
- 28 Jan: Henry died
- 4 Feb: Hertford declared Lord Protector of the Realm and Duke of Somerset
What are the weaknesses of Henry’s political legacy?
Plans for a Regency Council:
- As edward was a minor a Regency Council was necessary. Henry, concerned about political stability, attempted to establish a Council balanced between reformists (under Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford) & Catholics (under Norfolk & Gardiner).
- However, events in the last years of Henry’s reign resulted in a reformist-dominated Council:
* Influence of Sir Anthony Denny (Until Edward was 18) & Sir William Paget (in charge of Privy chamber, controlled access to Henry’s private rooms and authorised dry stamp usage) at court
* Fall of prominent Catholics Gardiner (removed from court for refusal to grant lands) & Norfolk (in tower; son to Earl of Surrey, arragned execution for putting royal coat of arms on shield and assuming royal status, would have been excuted if Henry didn’t die)
* Possible alterations to Henry’s Will (first part drafted in Dec 1546 in presence of Henry- some aruge Regency council added details when close to death. Unfulfilled gifts- any promises of lands made by Henry would be fulfilled after death), which was signed using the dry stamp?
Formation of the Regency Council:
- When Henry died in January 1547, Edward was taken to the Tower for safety, while the coronation and the make-up of the Regency Council were arranged. Henry’s instruction that the country should be ruled by a Regency Council of sixteen, each with an equal voice, was ignored. Instead:
- Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford was made Lord Protector by the Council and then made himself Duke of Somerset
- Somerset bribed other councillors with titles, offices & financial rewards (e.g. Lisle > Earl of Warwick; Wriothesley > Earl of Southampton)
- Somerset began to rule using the dry stamp and issuing proclamations; he was not based at court, but his own home (and began building effectively a palace called Somerset House)
What is a brief timeline of key events of Edward’s life?
- Brought up under Protestant tutor, John Cheke
- 28 Jan,1547: Came to the throne, aged 9
- c.1551: Began to participate in government - told Mary to stop hearing mass in her household; attended some Privy Council meetings and set some agendas
- 6 Jul, 1553: Edward died, aged 15
What was the succession in 1553?
- Early 1553 Edward’s health began to decline
- According to the succession acts Mary would inherit the throne. But during the spring and summer a plot developed to change the succession to exclude Mary
- Most accounts say it was the doing of Northumberland to- preserve his power, and because as a protestant he would lose power under Catholic Mary
- There was also evidence of Edward’s role- as he began playing a greater role in govt attending Privy council meetings, Edward was a committed Protestant and wished to continue his regime
What was the devise for the succession in 1553?
Drawn up in May 1553
- It named the male Gery heirs as the successors- but due to the lack of male heirs it was altered and named Jane Grey as heir
- This change increased Northumberland’s importance as when Guilford Dudley had married Jane she was not heir yet
What was the plot for the 1553 devise for the succession?
Plot was poorly managed supporting the view that it was Edward’s doing not Northumberland’s:
- Previously a soldier Northumberland would have ensured sufficient forces to take control but had been dismissed in 1552
- He would have ensured Mary was captured and not able to flee to East Anglia
- He would have launched a propaganda campaign to prepare the nation
- When Edward died on July 2nd Mary repsonded quickly and prolaimed herself Queen- sending letters to the Privy council and important towns informing them as such
- On July 19th the rebellion collapsed
What are some strengths of Edward’s succession?
- Somerset’s assumption of power was natural and unsurprising. He was the uncle of the king and had built up a reputation as a successful soldier during Henry’s wars in Scotland in the 1540s.
- When minors had been on the throne in the past, there was not always unrest. Although the reigns of Richard II and Henry VI were both unstable, this instability did not begin until they had come of age
- The transfer of power to Somerset was smooth, partly because Henry’s death was kept quiet until Somerset had possession of Edward.
- Believed he would reach adult hood, marry and have children
What are the weaknesses of Edward’s succession?
- The most recent king to accede to the throne as a minor, Edward V (aged twelve), was deposed by his uncle Richard in the same year and probably murdered in the Tower.
- There were concerns about the image of the king. Coins had been used to show Henry VIII as powerful and militarily adept, but it was difficult to portray Edward in this way.
- Edward was not a sickly child when he came to the throne and there was every expectation that he would reach adulthood, marry and have an heir- unprepared govt
- Edward could not lead troops into war. Other states might exploit this weakness, or England might return to civil war (especially considering the factional struggles during Henry’s last years).
- There had been arguments against a Regency Council of sixteen where every member had an equal voice; it was very unlikely that decisions would have been agreed upon and it might also have encouraged even more factional unrest.
- Some questioned the legality of Somerset’s power, as it went against Henry’s wishes. This added to the potential for instability, as it could encourage others to challenge Somerset’s dominance.
Why was Mary’s 1558 succession different to the 1553 succession?
- Mary made no attempt to alter the succession in 1558
- She did try to persuade Elizabeth to maintain Catholicism
- When Mary died Henry’s third succession act was followed and the crown peacefully passed to Elizabeth
Was Edward’s age an overall strength or weakness to the Monarchy?
Although Somerset may have made a good regent and ruled well in place of Edward. The fact of the matter was that the throne was under threat as it was not held by legitimate blood and also many opposed Somerset as acting monarch, possibly insighting possible rebellion or opposition. Showing the weakness and instability that Edward’s age caused the Tudor throne
Why was Mary’s gender significant?
- England had been ruled by a female ruler only once before
- Some countries excluded women ruling through salic law
- Henry believed a female ruler would create dynastic weakness
Henry believed a woman:
- would be unable to control faction
- would be unable to lead an army into battle
- was expected to marry, but that created further problems. First, there was the question of whom Mary should marry and second the view was that queens would be subserviant to Kings
What were the problems of Mary’s potential marriage?
- If Mary married an Englishman the power of her husband’s family would increase and they might dominate court
- If Mary married a foreigner there were fears that the country would be dominated by foreigners
Who did Mary marry?
- Philip ii
- Eventually Philip of Spain
- Mary informed the council on 27 october 1553 that it was her intention to marry Philip- there was a petition from the House of Commons opposing her decision- wanting her to marry the other option Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, backed by Gardiner
- On 7th December a marriage treaty was signed and approved in jan the next year
backed by Paget
Who were the 2 candidates for the marriage to Mary?
Edward Courtenay, Ealr of Devon
- supported by Gardiner
- Descended from royal blood
Phillip II of Spain:
- Mary’s preference
- Supported by Paget
- Would bring England closer to the Hapsburgs (family of Charles V)
- Concerns this would bring England into the Hapsburg wars
Did Mary’s marriage to Phillip cause a crisis?
- The Wyatt rebellion can be seen as caused by Mary’s marriage (however can’t ignore religious causes)
- But Mary married Philip a year after she had already come to the throne, and Phillip spent majority of his time abroard and can be argued he was at best a distant confidant
