Northumberland's Coup: 1553

Question 1

NC: Storyline/Narrative?

Answer 1

• Edward VI is dying and because he has no child, there is a contention for the crown
• Northumberland, Lord Protector of Edward VI, supervises the rewriting of the King’s will that Elizabeth and Mary are not included as heir to throne, and is replaced by Lady Jane Gray (who is married to Northumberland’s son).
• The changes to his will were never passed before Edward’s death on 6th July so it was not legal
• Northumberland sees Mary as a threat to his plan to maintain power, so he intially sends his son Robert with 300 men to capture her, but they failed to. He goes instead with 2000 men because he’s more experienced. He tells the Privy Council and colleagues to stay vigilant to Mary’s attempts
• Mary is prepared: biggest landowner in East Anglia (gained loyalty of gentry and nobility), military equipment from Royal Navy, increase in military camp
• Privy Council in London accept Mary as Queen and commanded Northumberland to disband army, he’s arrested by Earl of Arundel, and tried and executed by Mary supporters in hostile catholic crowd in London

Question 2

NC: Location?

Answer 2

East Anglia

Question 3

NC: Size?

Answer 3

Mary - Unknown Northumberland - 2000 men

Question 4

NC: Duration?

Answer 4

9 days whilst Lady Jane Gray was on the throne

Question 5

NC: Main cause?

Answer 5

DYNASTIC (Factional): Faced by the accession of Mary, Northumberland fears losing hold on power

Question 6

NC: Subsidary causes?

Answer 6

Almost equally important is Northumberland’s strong espousal of Protestantism. He has grave concerns at the possible accession of the Catholic Mary

Question 7

NC: Support?

Answer 7

Mary I - Support from London and East Anglia.
Northumberland’s - Support came from his and his supporter’s retainers. He did not gain support on the way.

Question 8

NC: Leadership?

Answer 8

Earl of Northumberland - he engineers a coup to keep control after the death of Edward VI

Question 9

NC: Organisation?

Answer 9

Some organisation – Northumberland sent someone to hold Mary (but failed). Northumberland left London to lead troops

Question 10

NC: Strategy and Tactics?

Answer 10

Capture Mary – Declare Lady Jane Grey Queen and keep her on the throne.

Question 11

NC: Level of threat?

Answer 11

High. Coup might have succeeded had there been any popular support, as it was aimed at the heart of the government. Northumberland was able to seize control of power for a week

Question 12

NC: Overall Outcome?

Answer 12

All classes show considerable loyalty to Tudor dynasty, irrespective of Mary’s religion

Question 13

NC: Outcome of leaders?

Answer 13

Northumberland and Lady Jane are executed

Question 14

NC: Why threatening?

Answer 14

• Attempt to remove Tudor family from
  the throne
• Aim threatening
• Northumberland did hold power for a
  week
• 10th July – Lady Jane Grey proclaimed
  queen

Question 15

NC: Why non-threatening?

Answer 15

• Failed to secure Mary Tudor
• Allowed Mary to gather support in
  East Anglia
• London backed Mary Tudor
• Northumberland unpopular with other
  nobles
• Edward’s Devise was illegal and not
  approved by parliament
• Protestant reformation not embedded
  enough
• Lacked popular support- Northumberland’s unpopularity – he lacked significant support even from other nobles – and his failure to arrest Mary when he had the chance
• Timing – Edward died before the “devise” could be approved by parliament; it was technically illegal for a minor to alter the wishes of the previous king
• The failed coup show the people of England preferred a legitimate Tudor to a Protestant queen who was not a member of the royal family
• The Protestant reformation was not yet entrenched – many welcomed the accession of Mary and the return of the old religion