Henry V11 - Rebellion Flashcards
What are the four rebellions during Henry VII’s time?
Perkin Warbeck, Lambert Simnel, Lovel and Stafford Rising and Yorkshire/Cornwall Rebellions
Causes of Simnel’s invasion
- Teacher taught Simnel to claim he was Richard, Duke of York
- Then changed to Earl of Warwick with Yorkist support (Earl of Kildare)
- Political power and personal revenge for House of York following War of Roses
Why was political instability a cause for Simnel’s invasion?
Many nobles against new regime after 1485, wanted to overthrow
After 30 years instability many doubted Henry VII
Why was succession issues a cause for Simnel’s invasion?
Precarious position, not fully established a dynasty
Yorkist faction saw an opportunity as Henry’s link through Margaret Beaufort was weak
Why was personal revenge a cause for Simnel’s invasion?
Many angry after Richard 111 death and saw Henry as a usurper. Yorkists wanted to regain prestige lost.
Features of Simnel’s rebellion?
- Margaret of Burgundy - 2,000 German mercenaries
- John de la Pole and Earl of Lincoln joined rebels
- 4500 light infantry sent by Earl of Kildare
When was Simnel’s invasion?
Attempted invasion of England in May 1487
Why was Simnel a threat?
- Foreign support of Margaret of Burgundy
- Weakened authority at start of reign
- Henry directly met them in battle at East Stoke
- Coronation in Dublin, acceptance must have sent panic - willingness to dismiss Henry VII as king
Why was Simnel not a threat?
- Raised little support in the North and lacked widespread domestic support
- Nobles declaring support for rebellion - not a secret, time to prepare
- Real Earl of Warwick presented
Why did Simnel’s rebellion fail?
- Army poorly equipped and mercenaries paid
- Henry - 12,000 to Simnel’s 8,000
- Henry’s army led by experienced earl of Oxford who had more battle experience than Yorkist leaders
- Calculated mercy led to switching of sides
Who did Henry reinstate during Simnel’s rebellion?
Duke of Northumberland - helped neutralise Yorkist power base in North - drawing families like Howard to his side
Did support in Ireland help Simnel?
Commanders of Irish troops helped numbers but threat limited as only Ireland was trad pro Yorkist
What were the losses in Simnel’s rebellion?
Simnel - 4,000
Henry - 3,000
Causes of Warbeck’s rebellion?
- Yorkist revenge
- Claimed to be Richard Duke of York
- Many thought he was a usurper
- Henry’s weak claim to the throne through mother
Features of Warbeck’s rebellion?
- Henry made peace with both Charles and James so forced to flee
- Foreign threat from France, Burgundy, Scotland and Holy Roman Empire
- Active for many years until execution for plotting during imprisonment
- Scottish troops brutish in 1497
Why was Warbeck a threat?
- Breath and depth of foreign support
- Persistence for 8 years, constant reappearing
- Fear of foreign invasion
Why was Warbeck not a threat?
- Had barely noble/domestic support
- Leading figures like William Stanley executed so lack of support in 1495 when he landed
- Treaty of Etaples and Truce of Ayton cut of French and Scottish support
When was Treaty of Etaples and Truce of Ayton?
1492, 1497
Why did Warbeck fail?
- Henry avoided war and focused on cutting off foreign support
- Warbeck expected people to support him after landing in Kent in 1495 but no one did
- Brutality of Scottish troops
- No noble/domestic support
Causes of Lovel and Stafford rising?
- Allegiance to Yorkist cause and attempt to overthrow Henry VII
- Faithful adherents of Richard III - revenge
- Dynasty change
Features of Lovel and Stafford rising?
- During royal progress, from sanctuary in Colchester.
- Lovel headed north to ambush and Staffords roused support
- Calculated mercy - Humphrey executed and Thomas pardoned
When was Lovel and Stafford rising?
1486
Why was Lovel and Stafford a threat?
Instability of Henry’s claim, start of reign, during a progress, unexpected
Why was Lovel and Stafford not a threat?
- Derisory numbers
- No York’s pretender to rally around
- Henry had efficient intelligence operation and tracked down rebels
- No overseas backing
- No credible alternative
Reasons for failure of Lovel and Stafford?
Support for Lovel collapsed when people heard of Henry’s army heading South, denied sanctuary a second time, both minor nobles so no wealth or followers
When was Yorkshire rebellion?
1489
When was Cornwall rebellion?
1497
Causes of Yorkshire rebellion?
Resentment toward King for high taxes to support Brittany in conflict with France
Economic hardship - starvation, frustration
Subsidy of 100,000 pounds
Bad harvest last summer
Features of Yorkshire rebellion?
King used calculated mercy after
Numbers hit 5,000 as it swelled in York
Messenger earl killed
Why was Yorkshire rebellion a threat?
Considerable resistance against taxation policies
King had to act carefully for conciliation
Exposed social tensions
Why was Yorkshire rebellion not a threat?
Limited support, no solid leadership, no manifesto/demands, far away, location not a threat.
Why did Yorkshire rebellion fail?
Attempt to collect tax abandoned, more control over north implemented, Henry sent an army of 8,000
Causes of Cornwall rebellion?
- Request for money heavy tax to fund expedition north to resist Scottish king
- Cornish independently minded refused to contribute
- King recently stopped legal operation of Cornish tin mining
Features of Cornwall rebellion?
- May set out from Bodmin
- 15,000 reached outskirts of London
- Confronted by royal army led by Rhys ap Thomas
- 1000 rebels killed in battle and the rest fled
Why was Cornwall rebellion a threat?
- Marched across western counties
- strained relationship between crown and subjects
- twice the size of royal army
- Henry forced to retreat from expedition
Why was Cornish rebellion not a threat?
- Only one significant leader - Lord Audley
- No military training, poorly equipped
- Not much support outside of Cornwall
Why did Cornwall rebellion fail?
- Not efficiently organised, no training, locked proper leadership in comparison to Rhys and Lord Daubeney
- Cornish “too different” to attract support
- 1,000 rebels killed, others fled
