Rebellions 1449 - 1554 Flashcards
What were the four rebellions within this period?
- Western Rebellion (1549)
- Kett Rebellion (1549)
- Lady Jane Grey Coup (1553)
- Wyatt Rebellion (1554)
(Notes are brief so may want to read over notes n quotes)
What was the context of the Western Rebellion that made the regime vulnerable?
- Somerset was new to power and put through unpopular Prot reforms - ‘prayer book rebellion’
- William Body was killed
What were the aims of the Western rebels?
- Return religion back to previous ways e.g Latin mass
- Not a direct threat to the crown - only trying to undo government policy ‘we will have’ shows no respect
- Wanted Cardinal Pole back in power
Who were the leaders and what was the strength of the Western rebels?
- Led by priests (Robert Welsh) and Humphrey Arundull - a thug - didn’t really know what to do / any military experience
- The rebels are only really peasants - a lot of numbers but not prepared to fight. Popular rebellion
- 6,000 massacred
Any foreign support for Western Rebellion?
None
Actions of the Western rebels?
- Surrounded Exeter for 6 weeks but failed to capture
- No respect for authority - massacred JP’s and letter to parliament
- Don’t march on London
= No real threat
Effectiveness of Gov response to Western rebellion?
- Slow response - have Scottish war etc to focus on
- Seen as unimportant - offered pardons
- Local government didn’t do anything - walk through towns etc
- Most forces in Scotland - distance - no money to squash
- Eventually send 3,000 men
What was the context of the Kett rebellion that made the regime vulnerable?
- Enclosures - Somerset set up commissions but didn’t really do anything about them
- Inflation, debasement, bread prices increasing
Aims of Kett’s rebellion?
- No threat to Ed - wanted to control rents and change local government and priests who they thought were abusing power.
- ‘We pray your grace’ - sympathetic, respectful
Hardly a threat
Leadership and strength of Kett rebels?
- Robert Kett - yeoman - largely farmers
2. No lords or knights - 16,000 peasants - popular rebellion
Any foreign support for the Kett rebellion?
None
Actions of the Kett rebels?
- Captured Norwich - armed city - showed bare bums etc
- Killed Lord Sheffield and defeated royal army
- Rode to royal herald & prepared to fight - all of East Anglia under rebel control for 6 weeks.
- Don’t march on London
Effectiveness of Gov response to Kett rebellion?
- Offered pardons
- France declared war & Western rebellion - distractions
- John Dudley puts down eventually - 10,000 killed
What was the context of the Lady Jane Grey (LDG) coup which made the regime vulnerable?
- Edward was ill - protestant - the only heir was Catholic Mary according to Henry’s will
Aims of LDG coup rebels?
- To change the succession to make LDG legal heir
- Ed draws up ‘device’ - get rid of Mary & Eliz
- LDG - a prot - married Northumberland’s son
Real threat to Henry VIII’s wishes - serious challenge to throne
Leadership and strength of LDG coup rebels?
- Led by Northumberland and Edward IV - serious
- Helped by protestants - court led
- Not keen to fight though - 2,000 men
Foreign support for LDG coup rebels?
None
Actions of LDG coup rebels?
- Draw up device
- Letters patent
- LDG proclaimed queen
- Marched vs Mary’s army - but half run away
- Lacked cavalrymen
Effectiveness of gov response to LDG coup rebels?
- Failed to arrest Mary - when she marched onto London she gathered massive support
- Tudor legitimacy - Henry’s will - always will be popular regardless of religion
Context which made the regimen vulnerable to Wyatt rebellion?
- Just after marriage treaty - not everyone in favour - prot nobles not happy
- Mary new to the throne
Aims of Wyatt rebels?
- Mary mustn’t marry Phillip & seek English husband - xenophobic
- Plotters should be restored to govenment
- Secret aims to restore back to protestantism and overthrow Mary and place Eliz - wouldn’t gain support if declared
= Direct challenge to throne
Leadership and strength of rebels?
- 3,000 rebels at peak
- 4 prong attack on London initially but couldn’t gain support apart from Sir Thomas Wyatt in Kent
- All noblemen involved
Any foreign support for Wyatt rebellion?
- French ambassador suggested support but didn’t do anything
Actions of Wyatt rebels?
- Was potentially big but 3 rebellions collapsed
- Wyatt marched onto London however but was met with large defence over bridge over Thames
- Demoralised vs Pembrook - tried to storm Ludgate but was stopped and surrendered
Effectiveness of Gov response to Wyatt rebels?
- Earl of Pembrook - smaller army but armed well and organised
- Mary fortifies London - didn’t leave and defended it well
- Mary made an inspiring speech which rallies everyone vs rebels - she also had loyalty with the likes of Gardiner tells everyone to support her
