Lovell & Stafford: 1486 Flashcards
Who was the leaders of the rebellion?
Viscount Lovell, Sir Thomas and Sir Humphrey Stafford
What was the main cause of the rebellion?
Dynastic – wanted restoration of House of York, overthrow Henry VI with unspecified Yorkist claimant
What was the location of the rebellion?
York + Worcestershire
What was the duration of the rebellion (and from what months)
One month (April - May 1486)
What was the level of threat, and why?
Very low – rebel numbers ridiculously inadequate
What was the outcome in terms of support?
Attracts little support (only dozens, not even hundreds)
What happened to the leaders at the end of the rebellion?
Lovell escapes, both Staffords are captured from their sanctuary and Humphrey is executed
Was this rebellion a success or failure, and why?
Entirely unsuccessful. the only threat this rebellion caused was the instability of his rule in the early days. there was no significant threat from the rebels
What is the context of the rebellion (why did it happen)?
Lovell was one of Richard III’s councillors, and a close ally. After Bosworth (August 1485) he fled, with the brothers Humphrey and Thomas Stafford, to sanctuary in Colchester abbey in the North. April 1486, the three left to try to raise a rebellion
Where did Lovell go to rally troops?
Yorkshire (Richard’s old stronghold)
Where did the Stafford brothers go to rally troops?
West Midlands (Worcestershire)
What did Henry VII do once he found out about the rebellion?
Henry VII, whilst in Lincoln when he found out, hurried to York and sent his uncle Jasper into the countryside with a pardon for every rebel but Lovell himself, which drained all support.
What happened to the support in West Midlands once the troops found out the king was on his way?
Stafford’s rebellion collapsed when word reached
them that the King was on his way south with an
army
Why was the rebellion non threatening?
- No candidate to support – few commons willing to rise
- Lovell and Stafford were minor nobles – no great wealth and no
large group of followers - Henry had good intelligence – tracked rebels quickly when threat
- No foreign support
- Selfish motives may explain why leading northern families did not support.
Why was the rebellion threatening?
- Timing – one year after Bosworth
- Did show that it was possible to
co-ordinate regional unrest - Lovell had nothing to lose
- Motives - Dynastic
