Rebellion & Unrest Flashcards
What rebellions were there?
Western Rebellion (Prayer Book)
Kett’s Rebellion
Lady Jane Grey Rebellion
Wyatt’s Rebellion
What are the causes of rebellion?
Issues of succession
Religion
Finance
Social- enclosure, vagrancy
Faction
What are the aims of rebellion?
Threat to the crown
Religious challenging
Resistance to gov authority
What were the causes of the western (prayer book) rebellion.
- Name was suggestive of religious motivation.
- Religious tension before 1549.
- William Body (Prot sympathiser) was attacked in 48 when he supervised the destruction of images as Protestants thought it was superstitious and he was murdered.
- significant number of prots gathered in Cornwall to protest against the imposition of the Act of Uniformity. This was the only prelude to as larger disturbance in Devon, where locals objected the new prayer book.
- The inhabitants insisted the priest said mass according to the old custom.
- The rising then spread and by 20 June, rebels from Devon and Cornwall had joined forces.
- complaints about taxes thst appeared in 1st set of articles.
- Economic price increases- inflation.
What did the rebels demand in the Western Rebellion?
- To end the changes that they claimed were taking place in baptism and confirmation.
- To restore the Act of the 6 Articles.
- To restore the Latin mass and images.
- To restore old traditions.
- To restore the concept of purgatory and transubstantiation.
- The return of Cardinal apple from exile.
- Also mentioned sheep and cloth tax.
What were the key events of the Western Rebellion?
Started in Spring 1549- new prayer book was being used.
Leader was Humphrey Arundell who gathered forces.
In June he led them to Devon where another uprising was taking place in Sampford Courtney (Devon) where the priest was forced to abandon the new prayer book by the villagers.
Local Gentry did not interfere.
The two groups went on to Clyst St Mary where they met Sir Thomas Denys and Hugh Pollard who sympathised their wish of religious reform and pursued a petition to government.
However, interference by Peter Carew (Protestant) and the Sherif of Devon led to no truce and the rebels besieging Exeter.
What was the response from the government and monarchy in the western rebellion?
Slow to react- Lord Russel was only provided with small force to stop the rebellion.
However, rebels didn’t make for London and as a result Russel was able to attack and defeat parked of rebels. When backup arrived, Lord Grey, the siege was lifted and rebels dispersed. Russel caught them up in Devon where 4000 died.
How significant of a threat was the western rebellion?
Not particularly as it was majority in the South West as it didn’t reach London.
What were the consequences of the Western Rebellion?
Prayer book stayed
Leaders arrested
Somerset lost authority
Many executions-4000 rebels
What are the causes of the alert Rebellion?
- Started as enclosure riot in Norfolk towns of Attleborough and Wymondham.
- Rioters were angry with lawyer John Flowerdew who bought local abbey church and demolished part of it and enclosed other land. Flowerdew tried to turn protesters against Kett but didn’t work.
- 16000 men were assembled to March to Norwich and set camp on outskirts of Mousehold Heath.
- Eco grievance- rising rents as landowners attempted to put them up after inflation.
- Religious- brought ministers to preach and use new prayer book.
- Social- Social structure and breakdown of local government. Attacked nobles, gentry and government- criticised officers.
- Large division between social groups- 6% of population owned 60% of goods.
- Decline in cloth industry poverty and unemployment.
- Wealthy had lack of respect to rebel superiors.
- Enclosures- farmers didn’t produce enough so they had to work for landowners. By 16th century, landowners aren’t profit from owning animals. Due to cloth trade booping landowners enclosed lots of land which led to vagrancy act in 1547.
What were the aims of the Kett Rebellion?
Agricultural- Saffron (crop), Gentry exploited foldcourse system (graze sheep), peasants forced off sheep land, fishing rights (rivers).
Reflected all their grievances (economic religion social)
What were the key events in the Kett rebellion?
21st July- Somerset offered parson if they dispersed (failed).
22nd July- rebels attacked Norfolk and took control of city. They were sympathetic to Norfolk.
William Parr cut off rebels supplied and toon city- failed to act decisively.
Rebels counter attacked and his second in command Lord Sheffield was killed- it was a full rebellion but didn’t move to London.
23rd August- Warwick(John Dudley) forces arrived- trapped.
Bloody defeat at Dussindale- 3000 rebels dead.
Kett condemned for treason and hung 7th December 1549.
What were the responses of the government and monarchy?
Government sent army to deal with rebels, under leadership of Marquis of Northhampton but they were defeated. Earl of Warwick was sent who then led the massacre.
What were the consequences of the Kett Rebelliom?
The government did not change its policies on religion of enclosures. It did avoid taxes on livestock and excises to improve the conditions of the peasantry.
Lord Russell crushed western rebellion.
Dropped diverted from France and Scotland.
12000 died.
Kett hung along with 49 others.
Caused fall of Somerset due to anti-enclosure attitude and he failed to crush them. He was seen as weak.
Northumberland successfully suppressed Kett rebellion and gained prestige.
Northumberland tackled issues his first move was to revalue the coinage to bring economic stability.
Northumberland passes 3 acts to help with problem of sheep farming.
How significant a threat was the ketts rebellion?
Lasted 8th July 49- 27th 1949.
It didn’t last long dk it wasn’t long enough to be an issue but it was a threat as they conquered Norwich and did leave Somerset on edge.
What were enclosures?
What did landowners do- what were the consequences
Traditionally landowners would rent parts of land to farmers but the farmers never produced enough food to pay their rent and survive so instead they would often work for the landowner.
By the 16th century, there was a change in making money- instead of growing and seeking crops, they would make money by owning animals because of the cloth trade.
Consequently landowners swapped crop farming to sheep farming d started to enclose their fields with fences to make money- this rehired less workers. They also enclosed common land too not just private. They also increased rent for peasant farmers.
Due to no jobs and increased rent, there was lots of anger and resentment.
The farmers who became homeless were called Vagrants. This led to Edward passing the Vagrancy Act in 1547.
What were the causes of the Lady Jane Grey Rebellion? (LJG)
LJG took the throne after Edward died in 1553 because…
He wanted a Protestant reign.
His sisters were illegitimate.
Northumberland wanted her to marry his son to have power.
Most people wanted a Tudor as a monarch so they didn’t support LJG.
What were the aims of the LJG rebellion?
Mary’s aim was to take the throne from Jane as she believed she was the rightful heir.
She wanted the country to be catholic.
What were the key events during the LJG rebellion?
- Mary had a rich and lavish lifestyle but Henry illegitimatised her and she lost this.
1553- Jane married Northumberland’s son.
1553- Edward changed order of succession to make Jane queen.
6th July- Edward dead.
10th- Jane queen.
10-19th- Mary built up support in Suffolk.
19th- Privy council realised mistake and proclaimed Mary as Queen.
22nd August- Northumberland executed.
12th February 1554- LJG beheaded.
What were the consequences of the LJG rebellion?
Mary was crowned Queen.
LJG imprisoned in tower.
LJG beheaded in February.
Northumberland lost power and branded as traitor.
Catholic had power and reformists exiled.
What were the responses of the government and monarch during the LJG rebellion?
When Mary came with her army most nobles switched sides to Mary and abandoned their support for Jane.
The Privy Council changed their minds and names Mary Queen.
LJG taken from the throne 9 days after being announced as Queen.
Mary coronated October 1553.
How significant a threat was the LJG rebellion?
When LJG took the throne, it was not a huge threat to Mary as she did not have a lot of support- she didn’t have the Tudor Blood.
The threat of Mary was significant as she had the support of the people and managed to obtain the support of the nobility and finally the Privy Council.
What were the causes of the Wyatt Rebellion?
-Mary’s decision to marry Phillip of Spain.
- Hatred of foreigners- didn’t want court to be dominated by Spaniards as there would be no space for english.
- Fears Mary would be dominated by Phillip and England would be dragged into the Habsburg Wars (no benefits for England).
-Rumours of replacing Mary with Elizabeth.
- Wyatt was member of Kentish gentry who loyally served Tudors.
- Marriage made him change sides as he was fearful of losing his position.
- Many lost positions due to Mary and saw rebellion as their only option.
- Fears of Phillip gaining patronage.
- Fearful of an heir and future of England.
- Could’ve also been for religious reasons but didn’t show this because Wyatt wouldn’t have as much support.
- Decline in Cloth Kent trade meant there was unemployment.
- Factional reason- Mary’s arrival on the throne resulted in shake up in Office and Mary lost positions and lost their influence.
What were the aims of Wyatts Rebellion?
Replace Mary with Elizabeth to marry Edward Courteney.
Religion- all 4 leaders were Protestant.
If they used marriage, recruit Protestants and Catholics.
What were the Key events of Wyatts rebellion?
October 1st 1553- initial planning.
Jan 5th 1554- terms of marriage announced.
18th- plans uncovered- only started in Kent and not fully prepared.
25th- headquarters established.
29th- Mary’s response.
Feb 3rd- Wyatt reaches Thames.
9th- Elizabeth arrested.
12th- end of rebellion.
What were the governments and monarchs response to the Wyatt rebellion?
Mary sentenced her cousin to death. Mary tried to convert Jane to Catholicism but failed. Jane and husband executed. Wyatt ultimately tortured and killed.
What were the consequences of the Wyatt Rebellion?
Wyatt and nobles involved were sent to Tower of London and local churches.
Originally Mary wanted to deal harshly with them but was persuaded otherwise to demonstrate her true Christian status and raise her status.
Wyatt and Duke of Suffolk executed with 90 rebels.
Ultimately caused the death of LJG and husband Guildford.
How significant a threat was the Wyatt rebellion?
Failure to graft nobility, failure to conjure support in 3/4 locations, government unable to defeat and fled.
Overall very significant as even though the rebellion was not successful they posed a severe threat to Mary and came undeniably too close to succeeding.
