The Essex Rebellion

Question 1

When was the Essex Rebellion?

Answer 1

1601

Question 1

What were the seven main causes of the Essex Rebellion?

Answer 1

• Essex was financially weak (relied on sweet wines license)
• Poor harvests in 1590s
• Experienced ministers close to Elizabeth died , such as Robert Dudley
• Essex favoured military solutions whereas Elizabeth prioritised finances
• Essex was instructed to defeat rebels in Ireland, but instead negotiated peace
• Elizabeth started to misuse patronage (favouritism) which made Essex jealous
• She was getting older and still was without an heir. Essex held talks with her successor, James VI of Scotland

Question 2

What does the Essex Rebellion tell us about Elizabeth’s popularity?

Answer 2

Elizabeth’s rule was being doubted more and more over time, and she grew more unpopular

Question 3

Why did the Earl of Essex fall out of Elizabeth’s favour in 1598?

Answer 3

He distributed gold captured at Cadiz to his men instead of the government

Question 4

What were the six main causes of the Essex rebellion?

Answer 4

• Rivalry between Essex and Cecil
• Essex’s finances
• Humiliation in court
• Failure in Ireland
• Essex’s militarism
• Elizabeth’s patronage

Question 5

How did the rivalry between Essex and Cecil cause the Essex Rebellion?

Answer 5

Both men competed for Elizabeth’s affections. By the late 1590s the Privy Council was filled with Cecil’s supporters - a rebellion would strengthen Essex’s position

Question 6

How did Essex’s finances cause the Rebellion?

Answer 6

He wanted to be promoted like Cecil was because he was financially weak. He relied on his licence to import sweet wines for money. Elizabeth denied him this

Question 7

How did Elizabeth’s use of patronage cause the Rebellion?

Answer 7

Elizabeth became stingier as she got older, and showed favouritism by only giving it out to a select few. This made Essex jealous

Question 8

How did Essex’s personality cause the Rebellion?

Answer 8

He preferred military solutions when Elizabeth wanted to prioritise England’s finances

Question 9

How did his failure in Ireland cause the Essex Rebellion?

Answer 9

Essex was instructed to defeat the rebellion in Ireland, instead he negotiated a ceasefire. He was removed from all Crown offices and put under house arrest
On his return he broke into Elizabeth’s bedchambers, angering her further.

Question 10

How did his humiliation in court cause the Essex Rebellion?

Answer 10

Elizabeth slapped Essex in the face in 1598 and told him to “go and be hanged”. A rebellion would restore his status

Question 11

Why did the Essex Rebellion fail?

Answer 11

• The Mayor of London ordered everyone to stay in their homes, so Essex couldn’t gather more support
• The Privy Council offered to pardon his supporters if they abandoned him

Question 12

What were the events of the Essex Rebellion?

Eight main points

Answer 12

• Essex’s supporters put on a play where the King is overthrown (Richard II)
• This angered Elizabeth and she ordered him to appear before the Privy Council
• Essex refused, so 4 Councillors were sent to his house. He captured them.
• He rode into London with 300 followers to gather support
• This failed as the Mayor told everyone to stay in their houses and the Privy Council offered to pardon anyone who abandoned Essex
• As a result he fled back to Essex House, where we hoped to hold the captured Councillors hostage
• However they had been released and soldiers surrounded his house
• He was arrested, sent to the Tower of London, and eventually beheaded

Question 13

What were the seven main problems of the 1590s?

Answer 13

• Taxes went to war with Spain
• Failed harvests
• English government running out of money
• Key figures died (E.g. Dudley and Walsingham)
• Patronage reduced
• Elizabeth’s succession
• Smaller Privy Council (Elizabeth’s favourites had died, didn’t replace them)