‘The popular rebellions faced by Henry VII gave him more problems than the threats posed by pretenders to the throne’. Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. Flashcards
1
Q
Introduction
A
INTRODUCTION
- Overall limited value - pretenders had larger scope and over a longer period of time
- More immanent threat to him as claim to the throne was weak
- Both had levels of seriousness but pretenders’ biggest threat due to their intent on taking throne.
2
Q
POPULAR REBELLIONS MORE PROBLEMATIC
A
- Yorkshire rebellion 1489
- Cornish rebellion 1497
3
Q
PRETENDERS MORE PROBLEMATIC
A
- Lambert Simnel - 1 year in
- Perkin Warbeck a threat for 8 years
4
Q
CONCLUSION
A
- both types of rebellion presented clear problems to Henry
- popular rebellions were dealt with through manageable military intervention + biggest setback = monetary
- the pretenders were intent on removing Henry from the throne and ending the Tudor dynasty
- Henry lived in constant fear that all of his plans to secure the dynasty would be thrown in jeopardy at any moment
- Considerably more skill such as Etaples in 1492 and Ayrton in 1497 to put an end to the support of pretenders
5
Q
Popular rebellions more problematic: Yorkshire rebellion
A
- 1489 taxation granted in parliament of £100,000 - thwarted f.p. ambitions of helping Bretons
- Finance the involvement of English forced in the campaign in Brittany
- April: Murder of rebel of Earl of Northumberland near North ridings of Yorkshire
After he returned with negotiation done with King - thought to be behind this murder - Overcome: Earl of Surrey finally defeated the rebels outside York / Egremont escaped to Flanders
- Less people were involved but geographically further away + North = not Henry’s stronghold
- In the end, he had to be content with collecting a quarter of the intended £100,000.
6
Q
Popular rebellions more problematic: Cornish Rebellion
A
- January 1497: heavy taxation = finance expedition North - resist invasion of James IV + Warbeck
- Cornish: claimed loudly they could not bear weight of taxation
- Accused king: cruelty + malice counsellors / out of hand - threat. death authors of great oppression
- Posed greater threat than Yorkshire: up to 15,000 involved
- Attempt to exploit the rebellion made by Perkin Warbeck
- Rebels marched on London = capital = key! Only halted at Blackheath
- Withdrew troops from defending Scottish border: Lord Daubney + troops
- Rebellion was crushed easily enough by Daubney - 100 men killed / rest fled
- Punished only the leaders - executed = strong message
7
Q
Pretenders more problematic: Lambert Simnel - 1 year in
A
- Change of strategy: figurehead to be a Yorkist prince + financial support to generate military threat
- Lambert Simnel: passed of as Earl of Warwick - bigger claim to throne + imprisoned by Henry
- May 1487: crowned king of England by Irish nobility / foreign powers see him as King NOT henry
- Foreign support: Margaret of burgundy - force of 2000 mercenaries to invade England
- Rebels landed in N.W. England / drew support from Yorkist areas
- Had the real of Earl of Warwick exhibited in London - Simnel subsequently fled from Henry VII court
- Joined failed plotter Lord Lovell at Court of Margaret of Burgundy
Tension! Henry VII had killed Margaret’s brother Edward IV.
8
Q
Pretenders more problematic: Perkin Warbeck a threat for 8 years
A
- Cloth trader from Tournai, Flanders / persistent irritant to Henry for 8 years
- Once claimed to be Richard Duke of York = one of the princes in the tower - stronger claim to throne
- Patronage from foreign rulers = serious threat - fragility Henry’s position considered by others
- If activities had been confined to England he would have been dismissed as a pest
- Margaret / Maximillian / Philip gave hospitality to Warbeck - he gained support
- Henry imposed a risky trade embargo w. Burgundy in order to ease Warbeck matters
- 1496: Intercursus malus - after Warbeck left in 1495 and brought trade embargo to an end
