Society Flashcards
rebellion under Mary
Wyatt Rebellion
date of the Wyatt Rebellion
1554
mary’s ministers fear of the rebellion
As some of Mary’s ministers feared, the prospect of a Spanish Marriage was enough to provoke rebellion. This was despite the fact that the marriage treaty of january 1554 had attempted to allay fear of Spanish influence.
various uprisings of the wyatt rebellion
The original plan was for four simultaneous uprisings. One in Devon led by Edward Courtenay. One in Hertfordshire, One in Leicestershire led by the Duke of Suffolk - father of lady jane grey and Kent led by Sir Thomas Wyatt. The other risings failed to materialise and the only rising happened in Kent where Wyatt rose 3000 men
debate over motives
The rebels had a mixture of motives, though there is debate over whether the main motive was the marriage to Phillip or religion. The rebels wanted to replace Mary with Elizabeth who was to marry Edward Courtenay descendant of Edward IV (Yorkist king so he had some claim to the throne). Although the government tried to play this down, some of them were motivated by religion with much of Wyatt’s loyal support coming from Maidstone, a protestant stronghold
political motives
Many supported LJG and were xenophobic, they feared that the government would be controlled by Spain, nobilities joined the rebellion because they feared the Spanish would gain prominence at court which would leave them out of a job. Some nobles joined as they had already lost their job due to Mary’s purging of the council. Marriage created the fear of Spanish interests dominating political decision-making.
what nobility was involved in the Wyatt rebellion
Sir James Croft
economic issues
The decline of the cloth industry might have prompted some poorer rebels to use revolt to express their social and economic grievances. In Kent especially as it had led to high unemployment. However, while there was a significant economic decline in Kent, it was unlikely to have been a major trigger for rebellion, instead, these tensions may have been a factor enabling Wyatt to win more supporters. The resentment for the proposed royal marriage was the main grievance, especially amongst the leaders of the rebellion. There was an implicit objective to get rid of Mary. The involvement of Jane Grey’s father in the rebellion implied a desire to restore Jane to the throne
Events of the rebellion
Wyatt marched his rebel army into London, but he hesitated giving Mary time to fortify the capital. London Bridge was closed against him. Mary initially sent Norfolk to put down the rebellion, but this failed. Mary also refused to leave London against the advice of the councillors and gave a speech to Londoners, some in London let Wyatt pass but the majority turned on him and the rebellion collapsed within a week
Level of Threat
Unlike the 1549 rebellion, Wyatt’s Actions were serious because he threatened the capital, although the failure of the City to support him meant that the danger posed by the rebels was reduced. Though the rebellion was highly significant as it showed protestants were a minority whose religious opinions could not be ignored. It demonstrated the extent to which there was popular suspicion of the Spanish marriage
outcome
Wyatt was executed but Mary was not overly punitive, she executed only 90 rebels and pardoned some. Elizabeth was arrested and imprisoned in the towers but later released as there was no concrete evidence found against her. Courtenay was sent into exile, and LJG and her husband were executed as long as she was alive she posed a threat because she could be used as a figurehead in any future rebellion. Wyatt came close to success, he had raised and kept a large following, outmanoeuvred the Duke of Norfolk and came close to securing the City of London. Had he succeeded in taking the city, Mary I’s reign might have come to a premature end. However, she acted decisively in the face of crisis.
