Simnel Rebellion Flashcards
Background info
A priest Richard Simons Oxford Scholar tutored a 10 year old called Lambert Simnel
Background info
A priest Richard Simons Oxford Scholar tutored a 10 year old called Lambert Simnel
PLan
Simons a crafty and ambiguous man groomed Simnel to impersonate one of the Yorkist princes - once he was accepted he would be rewarded w/ a high church post maybe bishopric
- teach him: basic Latin grammar, polite french, practical and social skills in an aristocratic household, details of Yorkist family life, and the self-assurance of a king - did it well - impressed the Anglo-Irish nobles in Dublin
Events
Nov 1486 - Rumours of imposter reached the King
Feb 1487 - Calls his Counsel to agree pre-emptive action
Spring 1487 - Earl of Lincoln and Lord Lovell reunited at court of Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy
5th May 1487 - Lincoln, Lovell and Yorkists arrive in Dublin
24 May - Coronation of Simnel as Edward VI in Dublin
4th June - “Edward VI” + Yorkist army land in Cumbria
16th June - Battle of Stoke - end of the War of the Roses - one-sided - de la Pole and Schwartz killed and Lovell disappeared
Rebellion - Strengths
Foreign support - supplement Yorkist opposition to Henry
Simnel recognised by Irish nobles
Warwick’s extensive land and links w/ Wales, Calais and Marches - challenge with support was serious
Yorkist prince claim - coronated reinforces this
Gathering support in areas that favoured Richard III
Route of invading army - won small victories against Lord Clifford and Scales
Battle of Stoke favoured small army
German mercenaries using new pike tactics
Rebellion - Limitations
Irish troops poorly equipped and armed soldiers 8,000
Limited support had been gained - main were Irish supporters and German mercenaries
Defeat in Battle
Simnel is captured
Army using crossbow - inferior to longbow
High ground - failed to use to advantage
PLan
Simons a crafty and ambiguous man groomed Simnel to impersonate one of the Yorkist princes - once he was accepted he would be rewarded w/ a high church post maybe bishopric
- teach him: basic Latin grammar, polite french, practical and social skills in an aristocratic household, details of Yorkist family life, and the self-assurance of a king - did it well - impressed the Anglo-Irish nobles in Dublin
Events
Nov 1486 - Rumours of imposter reached the King
Feb 1487 - Calls his Counsel to agree pre-emptive action
Spring 1487 - Earl of Lincoln and Lord Lovell reunited at court of Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy
5th May 1487 - Lincoln, Lovell and Yorkists arrive in Dublin
24 May - Coronation of Simnel as Edward VI in Dublin
4th June - “Edward VI” + Yorkist army land in Cumbria
16th June - Battle of Stoke - end of the War of the Roses - one-sided - de la Pole and Schwartz killed and Lovell disappeared
Rebellion - Strengths
Foreign support - supplement Yorkist opposition to Henry
Simnel recognised by Irish nobles
Warwick’s extensive land and links w/ Wales, Calais and Marches - challenge with support was serious
Yorkist prince claim - coronated reinforces this
Gathering support in areas that favoured Richard III
Route of invading army - won small victories against Lord Clifford and Scales
Battle of Stoke favoured small army
German mercenaries using new pike tactics
Rebellion - Limitations
Irish troops poorly equipped and armed soldiers 8,000
Limited support had been gained - main were Irish supporters and German mercenaries
Defeat in Battle
Simnel is captured
Army using crossbow - inferior to longbow
High ground - failed to use to advantage
Henry Tudor Strengths
Operational HQ - aimed to stop invasion from East
Knew threat of imposter - efficient intelligence network of spies
Undermined supporters - favours to Northumberland and Howard
Deprived Elizabeth Woodville access - stop conspiring
Calls Counsel to meet before coronation - pre-emptive
Establishes martial law - keep law and order
15,000 soldiers (out-numbered)
Skill archers (longbow) + tough billmen
Henry Tudors Weaknesses
No allegiance from Anglo-Irish nobles
Earl of Lincoln - member - betrays Henry w/o realising
Weak loyalty by nobles e.g Woodville and Stanley - Henry paranoid they’re not
Didn’t know size of enemy force
No official record of response till Councel decides to parade Earl of Warwick - did he act as if there was no record or not act all?
Levels of Support
Foreign involvement: Margaret of Burgundy - financial aid + 2,000 German mercenaries
Irish nobles supported Simnel and formed part of the army
Sanctuary/haven for Yorkist supporters to meet and conspire against Henry
Extent of domestic support for Yorkists : very little
Margaret of Burgundy
3rd daughter of Richard Duke of York, sister to Edward IV and Richard III
Married Charles the Bold - Duke of Burgundy
Implacable opponent of Henry - mainspring of plots against him
Sympathetic support for Simnel and Warbeck
Maintained Yorkist exiles
Financed imposter’s invasion fleets
Limitations to help 5,00 men and 2 small fleets - minor expenses to Margaret
Significance - Actions & Fears
Aug 1487 - issuing pardons
Nov - summoned Parliament to issue Act of Attainder against 28 rebels
Faced continued challenges from conspiracy to rebellion + Yorkist agents @ heart of gov
Some regions support any challenge and the “Irish problem” remained unsolved
Feared Foreign attact esp. Burgundian support threat
