How much of a threat were rebellions under Edward + Mary compared to Elizabeth Flashcards
State the 2 Key Plots under Edward VI
The Western Rebellion 1549 + The Ketts Rebellion 1549
Why was 1549 ‘the worst year in the Tudor period’
The mid-tudor period is characterised by increasing inflation and steep population increases, poor harvests and declining living standards.
During Edward’s reign, under The Duke of somerset as lord protector he personally continued to further Agrarian and economic discontent through his agreement to set up a commission to investigate enclosure in his proclamation and then appointed commissioners. However it achieved little apart from raising the expectations of the poor and his subsequent abandonment of the policy, alongside his introduction of a sheep tax sparked rebellion.
How much of a threat did the Western Rebellion + The Ketts Rebellion pose to the security of the State?
However, whilst the Kett and Western rebellions display the growing mistrust between the people and the monarchy/government like somerset they do not exhibit any threat towards the monarch himself or a threat to the stability of england.
Instead rebellion under Edward was sparked in the hope of having policies reverted. This was the case within the rebels demands to have the restoration of latin in church services and reinstatement of Henry VIII act of 6 articles and the case in the Kett’s rebellion where bells opposed enclosure and wanted to abolish the sheep tax which contributed to economic and social hardship.
There was no synchronisation between the two isolated uprisings + there was a noticeable lack of aristocracy/nobility.
State the rebellion under Mary I
The Wyatts Rebellion 1554
What was the objective/motivation behind the Wyatts rebellion 1553
Motivations are largely mixed - many motivated by religion as majority of Wyatt supporters came from Maidstone - a Protestant stronghold. Many protestants opposed the marriage as Spain was a catolic stronghold + philip may further insert catholicism within England.
How much of a threat did the Wyatts Rebellion pose to the stability of the State under Mary I?
Wyatt’s rebellion demonstrated despite protestants being the minority, their religious opinions couldn’t be ignored + it resulted in the execution of Lady Jane.
Mary made numerous attempts to have parliament cut Elizabeth out fo the succession after she was confined to the tower as she was convinced she was implicated but lacked evidence. If Mary succeeded in this aim, this would have posed a threat to the stability of the state, + caused major issues + concerns over the succession however it did not.
Wyatt did come close to success + had he succeeded in taking the city, Mary’s reign may have ended even more prematurely however it was effectively suppressed. Once again the plot was not against Mary as queen but against her marriage + it lacked noble support + only one of the 4 planned rising took place which made it easier for the crown to tackle Wyatt’s isolated rebellion.
State the 5 key threats to Elizabeth I security
- The Revolt of the Northen Earls 1569
- The Ridolf plot 1571
- The Throckmorton plot 1583
- The Babington Plot 1586
- Ireland 1595 Shane O’Niell
What was the objective/motivations behind the Revolt of the Northern Earls 1569?
The Duke of Norfolk desired to marry Mary + replace Elizabeth as queen.
It was partly religiously motivated, as Northfolk + some nobles desired the restoration of catholicism which would be ensured by putting Mary on the throne
It was also for political reasons + ambitions as the transition from regional to royal control aggravated some nobility. Elizabeth had take lands from these nobles so grevencies were also personal which likely tightened there desire to see her deposed by Mary I
How much of a threat did the Revolt of the Northern Earls pose to Elizabeth I + the stability of the state?
Despite the support of nobility + powerful figures the rebellion consisted of poor leadership, hopeless disorganisation + clear lack of clarity concerning the rebels objectives. It was also geographically limited (there were few rebels from outside Durham + the north) + despite concervative lords in the north there was little enthusiasm to get rid of Elizabeth.
The rebellion did not result in much due to deceive action by the queen’s authorities. The crown acted sensibly in difficult circumstances when suppressing the revolt + Ceil spent huge amounts of time commissioning + studying the map of Durham to help him make informed decisions + appropriate courses of action. When the nobles heard of crown forces approaching they abandoned their troops + they melted away after facing Elizabeth’s forces.
What was the objective/motivations behind the Ridolfi Plot 1571?
Ridolfi a Florentine merchant settled whos been involved in plotting in favour of Mary in 1569 took a leading role in attempts to overthrow elizabeth and put mary - who’d be married to Norfolk on the throne.
How much of a threat did the Ridolfi plot of 1571 pose to Elizabeth + the stability of the state?
Ceil gathered a lot of intelligence via his network of spies + the leaders + accompaces were soon arrested.
- This allowed Burghley to ensure the execution of Northfolk for treason.
- The Spanish ambassador was expelled from england which catalysed the downward spiral of anglo-spanish relations.
Mary remained imprisoned + continual threat for elizabeth. Whether to execute was huge predicament as arguably if she had executed mary at this time war with spain would have been virtually inevitable at a time where she was utilising marriage diplomacy across europe to attempt to continue peace. However this ‘peace’ was completely shaken during the 1580s after a papal Pronouncement stated anyone who assassinated Elizabeth would be doing gods work + would gain merit for executing her.
What was the objective/motivations behind the Throckmorton plot 1583
(There emerges a noticeable pattern whereby the plots against England + Elizabtehs rule get more severe following Elizabeth’s excommunication in 1570 + approaching the war with spain)
Fransis Throckmorton,an english catholic, became involved in a plot to get rid of elizabeth + acted as an intermediary between Mary.
How much of a threat did the Throckmorton Plot 1583 pose to Elizabeth + the stability of the state?
Significantly, Both Spain + France were involved in the plot as well as Mary Queen of Scots which posed a huge threat to Elizabeth
The search of Throckmorton’s house found incriminating papers that implicated both Throckmorton and other Catholic plotters. The papers contained details of the planned French invasion + the plan of a Foreign Landing in Sussex followed by an overthrowing of Elizabeth + her replacement by Mary which uncovered by the efficiency of Sir Frainsis Walsingham’s espionage network. The spanish ambassador Mendoza was expelled once again making war with spain seem more inevitbale.
The threat the Throckmorton plot posed can be seen as was a key factor in;
- The creation of the Bond of Association devised in 1584 to protect Elizabeth’s. It aimed at deterring further plots + all nobles had to sign the Bond which determined that anyone plotting against Elizabeth in the future would be executed. It also exacerbated Anglo-Spanish relations as spain had been proved complit in threat against Elizabeth + tightened conditions of Marys captivity.
Overall how much of a threat did plots pose against Elizabeth during her reign in comparison to that of Edward VI + Mary I?
The Catholic threat during Elizabeth’s reign can be defined as ever - changing. It needs to be acknowledged that the threat to Elizbeths reign can be categorised into 2 threats; the threat to Elizabeth’s life and the threat to her authority + the stability of the state.
Initially, the threat was low which is is predominately down to the foreign situation + need to preserve peace for trade + economic benefit however following the papal bul of excommunication threats become more frequent + severe. The Ridolfi plot of 1571, the Throckmorton plot of 1583 and the Babington plot of 1586 saw an increase of foriegn intervention in the plots against Elizabeth with the figurehead being Mary QOS.
The threats posed against elizabeth throughout her reign had the objective of assassinating her or deposing her , when compared to the rebellions under Edward + Marys reign the objective was repealed legislation or due to economic hardship. Therefore threats under Elizabeth were the most significant arguably of all the Tudor reigns.
