Edward VI, Somerset and Northumberland Flashcards
royal authority; problems of succession; relations with foreign powers
How old was Edward when he came to the throne
9
What had Henry VIII set up to rule for Edward until he was of age
A regency council
What happened to the regency council that was meant to rule for Edward
delegated its power to the Duke of Somerset who made himself Protector
How did Somerset reward himself and his supporters
Promotions e.g. making himself Duke of Somerset from the Earl of Hertford
Substantial grants of crown land
How did Somerset control the council
Promoted his supporters to key positions e.g. Sir Thomas Smith (member of the Privy Council) and Michael Stanhope as Chief Gentleman
Give an example of factionalism in Somersets government
Thomas Seymour sought to turn Edward against Somerset and plotted against him with the Earl of Southampton
How was Somerset an autocratic leader
Ruled with the dry stamp and proclamations
Did Edward have any involvement in Somerset government and why
No
He was still relatively young
He was under close control of Michael Stanhope
What led to the removal of Somerset
Poor foreign policy
Style of government
Poor dealing with the rebellions of 1549
How was Somerset removed from government
1549 Earl of Warwick, Earl of Southampton and other conservatives mobilised around 2,500 troops
Somerset went to Windsor castle with Edward
Somerset was arrested and put in the tower on the orders of the regency council
How did Northumberland ensure control of the court
He was already Lord president and Lord Chamberlain
promoted himself to the Duke of Northumberland from the Earl of Warwick 1551
appointed supporters e.g. Sir John Gates as vice chamberlain
purged the conservative e.g. Southampton
How did Northumberland rule
conciliary gov
until Somerset counter coup 1551-1552 then removed enemies like Paget and rule using dry stamp
When did Northumberland become Lord president of the council
January 1550
When was Somerset made Protector
January 1547
When was Edward regularly attending privy council meetings
November 1552
When did the privy council announce that Edward would rule when he was 16
Spring 1552
Why were Elizabeth and Mary legitimate successors to the throne
The succession acts of 1534 and 1536 had been repealed
Why did Edward not want Mary to become queen and who was the preferred successor
she was Catholic
Lady Jane Grey
What was the plan called to change the succession
devyse
When were Mary and Elizabeth declared illegitimate - devyse
June 1553
How did devyse plan to change the succession
Edward could not override parliamentary statute or draft a will as a minor so the will was drafted as a letters patent
parliament was planned to be called to ratify the succession
Why was Edward unable to change the succession successfully
Chief Justice Montague refused to make Edwards will
Edward died before parliament was called to sanction the change to the succession
When did Edward die
July 6th 1553
What happened when Edward died
Northumberland declared Lady Jane Grey queen
Mary proclaimed herself queen in Somerset
