Stability of the monarchy Flashcards
What had Henry VIII’s will set out to happen after his death?
Establishment of the regency council, 16 men: 8 conservatives and 8 reformers
Potential problems caused by rule of a minor?
Faction, civil war, foreign invasion
What was Somerset’s style of rule?
Personal rule:
through the use of the dry stamp of the King’s signature on proclamations, the council rarely met and Somerset ruled from his house
How much influence did Edward have in government?
Somerset excluded him but Northumberland included him in decision making
Who made up the anti-Somerset faction?
Paget, Wriothesley and Northumberland
How/ why did Somerset fall from power?
Unrest in the countryside and 2 serious rebellions.
His personal style of government caused resentment.
lost support from Edward.
How did Northumberland gain control of the council?
Brought in his own allies so the council became mostly Protestant.
Leading Catholic members of the council e.g. Earls of Arundel and Southampton dismissed by 1550.
When was the first and second devise for succession issued?
May and June 1553
What did the two devise for succession state?
1st: crown pass to Lady Francis Grey oldest son and then to Lady Jane Grey and her male heirs.
2nd: made Jane heir.
Who did Mary free and who did she imprison upon her ascension?
Imprisoned: Northumberland, LJG, Guildford Dudley and Cecil
Freed: Gardiner and Norfolk
Why were women seen to be a threat to the stability of the monarchy?
A woman would be unable to control faction, lead an army into battle, and marriage meant she needed to be subservient to husband.
Why is it possible to argue that there was little instability in Mary’s reign?
Inner council set up in 1558.
Philip left England 1557.
Gardiner’s death in 1555 decreased the faction in the council.
What did Paget and Gardiner disagree about?
Religion and choice of husband for Mary
Who outside of the council did Mary take advice from?
Renard, Charles V, Reginald Pole and the Pope
Why did Mary’s style of government cause instability?
Her personal style of government, fickleness with advisors, privy council too large and diverse
When did Somerset fall from power?
1549
What did the marriage treaty between Mary and Philip state?
Son would inherit the throne but not Spain.
If Mary died before Philip, he would have no claim to the throne
Philip was to be called king but had no sovereign authority and could not hold office
What evidence is there that Northumberland was responsible for the devise?
Essential for him to preserve political power because as a Protestant he would lose all power and maybe his life
What did the Third Succession Act 1543 state?
Throne should pass to Mary and then Elizabeth
How can it be argued that Mary and Philips marriage did not impact stability?
They got married 1 year after Mary came to the throne and Philip spent more time abroad
Accession
Attainment of a position of power
Acceptable Edwardians
Group within Mary’s Privy Council composed of experienced men, formerly in PC under Edward e.g. William Paget, Earl of Arundel.
Most of them quickly abandoned Northumberland and joined Mary.
Ambitious
Term used to describe someone who was more concerned with advancing their own career than anything else
Chronicle
Account of important historical events in (chronological) order
Claimant to the throne
Someone who claims they have the right to the throne
Conservatives
Catholics
supported limited religious and political change
tended to be ‘older’ nobility
Conspiracy
A secret plan by a group to do something unlawful/ harmful
Coup d’etat
Seizure of removal of a gov or highest-ranking official.
Done by a political faction, rebel group or military without the involvement of wider population at large
Court
A changeable group composed of the monarch’s advisers, government officials, ladies in waiting and servants, including PC, visiting dignitaries and their attendants
Courtier
Person who serves/ participates in the royal court/ household as the monarch’s adviser.
Deprived of the rank of
Where someone’s title an position are taken away
Disinherit
change one’s will or take other steps to prevent someone from inheriting property/ title
Dry stamp
Copy of the royal signature which would be printed on documents. Used towards the end of Henry VIII’s reign, sometimes without his knowledge.
Faction
A group of people who have come together for a common political purpose, usually to prevent the development of something.
less formal than a political party and membership could change over time
Framlingham
The castle which Mary fled to during the LJG affair.
She gathered her troops at Framlingham castle and received news that Northumberland had surrendered and she had been proclaimed queen.
framlingham council
also known as Kenninghall faction.
a group within Mary’s privy council composed of her close followers like household officers (e.g. Waldgrave).
were with her when she was first proclaimed queen and didn’t have a council.
Great seal of England
Chief seal of the crown used to show the monarch’s approval of important state documents
Homage
Public expression of great respect and honour towards someone else.
Legitimate heir
Heir who is legally entitled to inherit the title, position, wealth and property of the deceased.
Letters of summons
Letters issued by Mary to leading figures in the country calling them to support her against Northumberland during the Lady Jane Grey crisis.
Lord Protector
LP of the real and Governor of the King’s person.
meant to support Edward during his minority rule. however LP became most powerful person in the country
Martyrs
a group within Mary’s PC composed of men who had been persecuted/ imprisoned during reigns of Henry and Edward e.g. Stephen Gardiner
Marriage Treaty
Passed in April 1554 to regulate the marriage of Mary and Philip.
served as a business contract between England and Spain, specifying what the countries could expect from the union, England would not become a satellite of Spain.
Patronage
System of influence in which those who have the power to control appointments to office or right to privileges appoint people in return for their support.
Penitent
person who repents their sins and seeks forgiveness
Personal monarchy
much of the monarch’s power depended on his presence, presence, personality and ability to physically convey power.
Progress
royal trip made by the monarch and a large number of their attendants
privy council
group of powerful noblemen appointed by monarch to advise but not control.
met daily.
advised on domestic and foreign issues.
Realm
the kingdom
Reformists
Protestants,
supported religious change either due to their own beliefs or to further their career.
supported some political change.
tended to be ‘newer’ nobility.
Regency Council
Henry VIII set out plans for a council of 16 trusted men to guide Edwards minority rule.
somerset quickly became leader of council and lord protector
Renunciation
formal rejection of something
Retinue
monarch’s attendants and servants
1st succession act 1534
Mary declared illegitimate, Elizabeth recognised as heir
2nd succession act 1536
Elizabeth declared illegitimate
3rd succession act 1543
ordered the succession: Edward, Mary, Elizabeth
Summon
order someone to be present
Sweating sickness
mysterious and contagious disease, struck England and Europe in epidemics beginning late 1400s
The tower
of London
Transfer of power
movement of power from one body to another, or one person to another.
Usurper
person who takes a position of power or importance illegally or by force
your grace
title of respect used when addressing high ranking noble
Thomas Wriothesley
had been a royal servant under Henry VIII,
religiously conservative but pragmatic as had gained land from the dissolution
became principal secretary in 1540, lord chancellor 1544,
executer of Henry’s will,
became earl of Southampton in 1547 but lost the position under somerset.
later readmitted and helped to bring somerset down.
