How Did Tudor Monarchs Control The Country Flashcards
What were the marches?
Areas of England that were borders with Scotland and Wales
The marches as a problem for royal control
- There was a history of military conflict between the English and the Scots on the northern border between England and Scotland and up until the 1500s there had also been a history of Welsh rebellion against English control
- This caused marcher lordships (noble families) to develop, especially on the northern border and they were given semi-independent power in their areas. This was both legal and military as they were the first line of defence against invasion of England. Especially in the north these noble families had sometimes ruled these areas like quasi-kings (Percy and Neville family). These noble families sometimes created disorder with their own rivalries but also in supporting rebellion.
Problems for Royal control in general
– Tudor Monarchs had no standing army or a full-time paid police force so they were reliant on nobility and gentry to enforce law and order predominantly in voluntary, unpaid roles. These roles gave status and power.
– However there was always a possibility that members of the landed society might join a rebellion if they had a particular grievance against the monarch
– Communication was poor in the tudor era so the most difficult rebellions to suppress were those in remote areas of the kingdom
Controlling the Welsh marches under Henry viii
CROMWELL
–1534 - appointed roward Lee as Lord president of the council of Wales
