The stability of the monarchy 1547 - 1558 Flashcards
Who gave birth to Mary and in what year?
Catherine of Aragon, 1516
When was Elizabeth born and who was her mother?
Anne Boleyn, 1533
Who was Henry Fitzroy and why was he significant to Henry VIII?
Fitzroy was the illegitimate son of Henry VIII and his mistress, Elizabeth Blount. He was born in 1519 and was the only illegitimate son that Henry formally recognised. Fitzroy provided evidence that his father could produce sons and some historians claim that, prior to his death in 1536, Henry VIII was attempting to make him heir to the throne.
Who was Edward’s mother and when was he born?
Jane Seymour, 1537
Why was Jane Seymour included in the painting ‘The Family of Henry VIII’ even though it was created 8 years after her death?
What does the position of Mary and Elizabeth in the painting suggest?
By including her, it implies a strong family unit and therefore legitimacy in terms of Edward’s claim to the throne.
Mary and Elizabeth were painted in the background and apart from the family unit, indicating that they were regarded as background figures and not key rulers.
What did Henry establish to aid Edward before he died?
A regency council that was supposed to be balanced between religious conservatives/Catholics (under Norfolk and Gardiner) and reformers (under Edward Seymour). However, events in the last year of Henry’s reign had undermined this attempt, leaving a reformist-dominated Council.
Describe England’s position in Europe when Henry died (4)
- At war with France and Scotland (alliance meant they were fighting a war on two fronts)
- Not a major power
- Had captured Bologne from the French
- There were fears of a Catholic crusade
Describe the economic and social conditions in 1547 when Henry died (4)
- He had spent all the money he had gained from the Dissolution of the Monasteries on war and defence in the 1540s.
- He had reduced the silver content of coins to raise money (debasement - caused inflation).
- Population was rising, putting pressure on food and land (inflation)
- There were complaints about enclosure
When and where did Henry VIII die?
28th January 1547 in the Palace of Whitehall
What was the line of succession after Henry’s death and by what act had this been established?
- Edward
- Edward’s heirs
- Mary (on the condition that she gained the consent of the privy council before marrying)
- Elizabeth
Established by the 1543 Third Succession Act
When was the Regency Council formally established and who became Lord Protector?
31st January 1547
The Duke of Somerset was Lord Protector
What are the Duke of Somerset’s 4 names/titles and what was his relation to Edward VI?
Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, Earl of Hertsford, Lord Protector.
He was Edward VI’s Uncle (Jane’s brother)
True or false: Somerset’s assumption of power was against Henry’s wishes.
Why did he manage to gain supreme control?
What were the advantages of his position?
True, Henry had wanted the Regency Council to rule.
He was the uncle of Edward and has gained a reputation as a successful soldier in Scotland.
Without a leader, it is unlikely the Council would have been decisive and there may have been even greater factional unrest
What issues did having a minor (Edward) on the throne create? (4)
- Concerns it would create instability as Edward could not lead troops into war and other states might look to exploit the potential weakness
- Potential development of faction and fear that England would return to civil war (like under Henry VI - War of the Roses)
- Weak image (coin of 1553 portrayed him on horseback, no longer a child)
- Later on it became clear Edward was sickly and would not live for long
Which four main issues did Edward inherit from his father in 1547?
- Failing economy
- Religious divide
- Political instability (largely caused by Protestant/Catholic divide)
- War with France & Scotland
How many proclamations did Somerset issue in comparison with the number after he was ousted from power?
Somerset issued 77 proclamations between 1547 and 1549, compared to the 56 issued under Northumberland beterrn 1548 and 1553
What events of summer 1549 acted as a catalyst for the coup against the Duke of Somerset?
Western rebellion, Kett’s rebeliion and other rural unrest
Which 3 members of Edward’s court united against the Duke of Somerset and what were their individual reasons for doing so?
Thomas Wrothesley: Opposed to Somerset’s religious changes
John Dudley (later Duke of Northumberland): May have been looking for the opportunity to advance his power
William Paget: Believed the King’s subjects were out of discipline due to Somerset’s “softness”. “A society is maintained by religion and law. Look carefully to see whether you have either law or religion.”
What are the Duke of Northumberland’s four names/titles?
John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, Duke of Nothumberland, Lord President
How did Lords and Councillors initially go about removing Somerset from power? What did they accuse him of (4)?
They met at the house of the Earl of Warwick (Dudley) and published a proclamation accusing him of
- Being malicious and causing unrest
- Seeking glory
- Ignoring the advice of councillors
- Telling lies about the council to the King
How did Somerset respond to the criticisms against him? How did Edward intervene?
He retreated to Hamptom Court and on the 5th October, he summmoned loyal subjects to defend him and the King. On the 6th he moved himself and Edward to Windsor Castle, where Edward fell ill and complained of the cold. Edward abandoned Somerset, claiming he had threatened riots if removed from power. A week later, Somerset was removed from power and arrested.
When did the coup remove Somerset as Lord Protector and when did the Duke of Northumberland become Lord President of the Council?
Somerset removed: 13th October 1549
Northumberland installed: 21st February 1550
(The 4 months in between entailed a power struggle for control of the council)
Why did Warwick not become Lord Protector immediately after Somerset was ousted?
Religious conservatives on the Council didn’t trust him but Warwick brought in his own allies so he gained a Protestant majority on the Council.
How did the Earl of Warwick respond to rumours of a Catholic plot against him? What consolidated his power?
He claimed that he was a friend of Somerset’s and anyone who attacked Somerset also attacked him.
By January 1550, the leading Catholic members of the Council, the Earls of Arundel and Southampton were dismissed and Warwick was made Lord President. He had also positioned his own supporters around Edward to further secure his position.
How did the coup against Somerset impact the religious direction of the country?
Because Warwick had allied himself with more religiously radical members of the Privy Council, it forced him to take a more radical stance than Somerset had.
