Simnel/ Warbeck Flashcards
Causes of the rebellions: H’s weak claim to the throne
Include counterpoint
Comes from a legitimised female line (Beauforts)
Legitimised on the grounds that they would never make a claim for the throne
JdlP, Earl of Warwick and the PitT all have stronger claims
COUNTER: Winning Battle of Bosworth did improve legitimacy
Causes of Simnel rebellion: foreign support
Earl of Kildare gives him 6000 Irishmen (prevented him from gaining English soldiers)
Margaret of Burgundy gives him Schwarz and 2000 mercenaries
Causes of Warbeck rebellion: foreign support
France shelters him until the treaty of Etaples
James IV gived him 1400 men and marries him to Catherine of Gordon
Margaret of Burgundy shelters him 2 times and gives him 300 men
Causes of the rebellions: failure to successfully unite York and Lancaster
Include counterpoint
The nobility was still quite divided
JdlP and M of B both opposed H repeatedly and play key roles in these rebellions
Stafford rebellion led to Humphrey being executed
COUNTER: Very little disagreement about Prince Arthur’s right to rule
Causes: weak dynastic claim
Was a usurper that only had a claim through a female, legitimised line (Beauforts)
This meant that JdlP and the Princes in the Tower had better claims to the throne
Weak dynastic claim- who do Simnel and warbeck impersonate?
Simnel- Warwick
Warbeck- Prince Richard (prince in the tower)
How do H’s actions contribute to starting the rebellion?
They may have increased resentment
Causes- Yorkist disatisfaction (Wars of the Roses)
The Yorkists felt robbed of the crown
Causes- Yorkist disatisfaction (Battle of Bosworth)
JdlP, Francis Lovell and the Stafford Brothers all fought at Bosworth
Weakness of the Yorkists
They are divided- anti ricardian Yorkists are less willing to play roles in rebellions
What are the Yorkists motivated by?
Fears of a potential loss of power and fears of reprisal for fighting against Henry at Bosworth
What were the Fitzgeralds of Kildare motivated by?
Potential alliance with a Yorkist England
Domestic threat?
Generally limited due to ambivalent nobility- Stanleys and PERCYs switch sides at Bosworth and divisions with anti ricardian yorkists
15 000 join the Cornish tax revolt
Why did Kildare support Simnel?
He thought he would have a better chance at political survival because other rival anglo Irish lords were Lancastrians
Why was Kildare’s support for Simnel significant threat for H?
Kildare was able to provide him with 6000 men, a base from which to launch an invasion and he was outside of H’s direct reach so he was unable to send an army to Ireland
When were the Irish defeated?
1487 at the Battle of Stoke
Why did Ireland’s significance not decline in the 1490s?
H did not have the military strength to directly control Irish affairs
Aftermath of Kilare’s support of Simnel
Hchose to pardon Kildare but wanted him to take out bonds to ensure his good behaviour. Kildare refused and said an oath of loyalty instead.
Why did Kildare not get involved in supporting Warbeck?
He recognised that he had just escaped getting punished for his involvement in the Simnel rebellion
Impact of Warbeck being unable to gain Irish support?
Warbeck was forced to leave Ireland quickly.
H realised that Kildare could not be trusted so he replaced him with Poynings. Introduced Poynings’ law which prevented Irish parliament from passing laws without the king’s permission
Why was MoB such a large threat?
She was King Richard’s sister and a widow which meant that she was able to control territories in the heir’s name until he came of age
Why had Burgundy and Englamd historically had a close relationship?
Burgundy had control over Antwerp, a port which was the main destination of English wool. This meant they were reliant on each other
When did MoB allow Warbeck to stay in her country?
1493-5. During this period she got Warbeck to be invited to the former HRE’s funeral where he was recognised as the rightful king of England
What did H do to reduce the Burgundian threat? Did this work?
He enforced a trade embargo to put pressure on Burgundy. No because Duke Philip put an embargo on English goods. Tension s only declined when war broke out in Italy
