Henry VII: Consolidation - Cornish Rebellion

Question 1

Date

Answer 1

• 1497

Question 2

Cause

Answer 2

• January 1497, Parliament voted for a tax to finance the campaign against James IV and Perkin Warbeck
• Cornish refused to contribute to a tax that was to pay for a campaign in the north - no impact on Cornwall

Question 3

Leaders

Answer 3

• Michael Joseph (An Gof) - blacksmith
• Thomas Flamanck - lawyer and former MP of Cornwall (1492)

Question 4

Brief Summary

Answer 4

• A second tax rebellion in Henry Vll’s reign
• Caused by his attempts to raise money to defend the north against a possible Scottish invasion to support Perkin Warbeck
• Battle of Blackheath, 17 June 1497 - rebels were defeated

Question 5

Rebellion

Answer 5

• May 1497, An Gof and Flamank led rebels from Bodmin and gained impoverished leader Lord Audley
• June 16th, rebels reached outskirts of London and 15,000 of them camped on Blackheath
• Henry VII had been preparing for war against Scotland, but diverted his main army of 25,000 to meet Cornish rebels under Lord Daubeney
• Lord Daubeney had little trouble beating the rebels, large in number but effectively leaderless
• 1000 rebels killed at so-called Battle at Blackheath on 17 June 1497

Question 6

Outcome

Answer 6

• An Gof and Flamank were executed
• Cornish Rebellion hardly threatened Henry’s position but showed his fragility
• Rebels managed to March from Bodmin in Cornwall to Blackheath (just outside of London) without anyone challenging them

Question 7

Reasons for Failure

Answer 7

• 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