Causes of Tudor rebellions Flashcards
Causes of Tudor rebellions
Religion Tax Social Economic Succession Political Gov intervention Single cause
How important was religion?
• This was only important in the period after the break with Rome and was not a cause after 1569.
• Even within the period 1536-1569 it was not always the main cause and may have been the cloak for political causes.
E.g. PoG 1536, Northern Earls’ 1568-70
• PoG: seems important - Pontefract Articles focused on religion, Wounds of Christ Banner.
- Was it really? Most wouldn’t have read the words of heretics.
- Closure of monasteries – argued social and economic services would be affected.
• Similarly - Western wanted at least two monasteries in every county.
• Kett’s and Western: reaction to introduction of protestant reforms, underlying social tensions especially in Western Rebellion.
• Similarly Wyatt 1554 concern at Mary’s attachment to Catholicism & marriage to Philip of Spain.
• Northern Earls’ rebellion (1569) in terms of Mary Queen of Scots, but also leading protagonists Catholic.
• Ireland: rebel leaders use religion as a rallying call
E.g. Kildare, Geraldine - mainly political about English control.
How important was tax?
• Important in period up to 1549, but declined in importance afterwards.
• Often the only cause of rebellions
E.g. Yorkshire 1489, Cornish 1489,
• Also subsidiary cause:
E.g. PoG 1536, Western 1549
• Issue largely for HVII and HVIII
• Yorkshire 1489: traditionally south had funded wars against France and northern counties defended the Scottish border.
- Bad harvest 1488
• Cornish 1497: to pay for war with Scotland
• Amicable Grant 1525: Wolsey.
- Non-parliamentary taxes. Shortage of coinage, unemployment following fall in wool prices.
• After this - Tudor monarchs learnt not to collect unusual taxes and this seems to be less of an issue.
• Tax rebellions often also about English control of the more remote parts of the country.
How important were social and economic factors e.g. enclosure, poverty?
• Enclosure was important.
E.g. 1549 Kett, 1596 Oxfordshire.
– Oxfordshire really a rebellion? Less of an issue than it appears.
- Subsidiary 1536 PoG (issue used to gain support) - Limited role across period as a whole.
• Social causes most important in 1549 E.g. Kett, Western (hint of class war)
- Kett – 17/29 demands were focused on enclosures, rents and landlords.
• Social and economic not really an issue in Ireland.
• Social and economic largely caused unrest rather than full-scale rebellion
• No specific rebellion caused by poverty, but it did make people more inclined to support rebellion
E.g. Pilgrimage of Grace, Kett,
How important was the succession?
- Present throughout - changed in nature - overthrow under Henry VII and Edward VI/Mary to securing succession under Elizabeth.
- More of a feature than you might think – as in occurs at the beginning and the end of the period.
- HVII – lack of legitimate claim, clear rival claimants, need to establish himself. E.g. Lovell & Stafford’s 1486, Simnel 1487, Warbeck 1490s.
- HVIII PoG, wanted Mary restored to the line of succession.
- LJG was not really about succession – it was about Northumberland holding on to power.
- Wyatt feared probable exclusion of Princess Elizabeth from the throne.
- Northern Earls clearly has an eye to succession – hence Mary QoS being moved to Coventry. But not the only cause.
How important were political factors? (factionalism, control in Ireland)
• Factional causes were present throughout the period and was a key factor in many rebellions:
- Yorkist rebellions under Henry VII, linked to religion with Aragonese faction
- Similar with Northumberland, Wyatt and Northern Earls
- Essex his rebellion was due more to being excluded from power
• Dynastic rebellions also about political control, resentment from the traditional Yorkist families about losing influence at court.
• All Irish rebellions were protests at English settlement and control of Ireland.
• LJG was not really about succession – it was about Northumberland holding on to power.
• Wyatt - resentment of marriage and the possibility of increasing Spanish influence at court.
• Elizabethan rebellions – growing resentment at the power of the Cecil family at the expense of traditional nobles .
E.g. Northern Earls and Essex
How important was Government intervention?
- As centralisation took hold & Crown became more omniscient, political and legal privileges were swept away and traditional practices eroded.
- Those most affected lived in the more distant parts of the country and were prepared to revolt
- Cornish rebellions 1497 and 1549 partly due to a feeling that they ought to be treated differently from the rest of the country.
- Similarly, northern counties complained that they were being ruled by ‘strangers’.
- PoG & Northern Earls both petitioned that a parliament should meet in the north to redress local issues.
Why is it hard to determine the single cause of a rebellion?
• Only a few had a single cause.
• Religious evident 1536 and 1569 often used as rallying call, something that united support regardless of other issues.
E.g. Particularly in Ireland.
- Commonly political factors were also present.
• Concern over succession constant theme throughout the period - later years assumed religious connotations
• Economic and social problems largely did not cause rebellion. Were most acute in the mid-16th century and underpinned a host of revolts in 1549.
Why did rebellion occur in Ireland?
- Resent interference from central government in the administration of its affairs (One overarching cause).
- Many of the rebel leaders use religion as a rallying call
E.g. Kildare, Geraldine, but there were mainly political about English control.
