THE STABILITY OF THE MONARCHY Flashcards
1544 July
Act of succession, throne and uncertainty
3rd Act of Succession
Edward (and any sons) inherit throne but Elizabeth and Mary position left uncertain
1546 December
Will, 123, dry stamp and treason act
Henry VIII will
Edward first - Mary second - Elizabeth third
Signed using the Dry Stamp and supported by 1547 Treason Act
1547 January
Regency council and lord protector
Regency council established with Somerset as Lord Protector
1550 February
Lord president of council
Northumberland becomes Lord President of the council
1552 January
Execution
Execution of Somerset
1553 May
Marriage of Lady Jane Grey
Northumberland’s son (Guildford Dudley) marries Lady Jane Grey
1553 June
Succession, successors to throne
Edwards Devise for the succession excludes Mary and names Lady Jane Grey and her heirs male as successors to the throne
1553 July 6th
Death
Edward dies
1553 July 10th
Proclaimed queen
Lady Jane Grey proclaimed queen
1553 July 19th
Defeat
Lady Jane Grey defeated and Mary becomes queen
1553 August
Execution
Northumberland executed
1554 January
Rebellion
Wyatt Rebellion
1554 July
Marriage
Mary married Philip II of Spain
1558 November
Death
Death of Mary Tudor
1558 November 17th
Accedes to throne
Elizabeth accedes the throne
Act
A written law authorised by Parliament and the monarch
Dry Stamp
Copy of the royal signature which could be used on printed documents
Faction
A loose group of people who have come together usually for political purpose
Noble
A person of noble rank of birth (ie very high in society) eg Duke,Earl.
Regency Council
A group of ministers appointed to rule on behalf of a king until he comes of age
Privy Council
Central group of the monarchs most important advisors
Succession
The process of a monarch inheriting the throne or the line by which the throne is passed on
Minority Rule
Minority Rule: Previous young kings had either been deposed (Richard II), been the cause of civil war (Henry VI), or killed (Edward V).
- Edward VI would be expected to take control of the kingdom as an adult but would require support before.
- A Regency Council was established by Henry VIII but Edward Seymour (Somerset) ensured he became Lord Protector initially but after factional conflict was overthrown by John Dudley (Northumberland.)
Female Rule
Female Rule: The only previous female Monarch, Matilda, had been over thrown in a civil war in the 12th century.
- As female Mary could not lead an army into battle and may not be able to control the strong factions in government.
- Any woman would be expected to marry and therefore be under the influence of her husband be he a foreign Prince or English noble.
- The queen would need to produce a successor and this depended on her ability to conceive a child.
Factional Conflict
Factional conflict: Both Edward’s and Mary’s governments were divided by factional conflict.
- Somerset position as Lord Protector angered key figures like Paget, Dudley and Wriothesley who conspired against him.
- Under Mary, a large Privy council, the presence of Spaniards and the rivalry between Paget and Gardiner caused friction in government.
- The root of unrest was commonly either religious conviction, personal rivalries or more likely the pragmatic exclusion from power.
Succession
Succession: Edward never married and died quickly without producing an heir.
- Mary was never able to conceive and died without a child. Therefore the succession was largely determined on the ground of the 3rd Act of Succession, Henry VIII’s will, and Edward’s devises’.
- Therefore there was uncertainty in government as to the direction of the crown.
- This served to further complicate issues of faction in government as men sought to preserve their future power and careers.
Edward VI (1547 to 1553)
Son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour ruled crowned age 9.
Mary I (1553 to 1558)
Daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon.
Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset
Privy council, advisors, fall from power
- Became Privy Councillor in 1537 and was one of Henry’s leading advisors at the end of his reign.
- Created as Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector in 1547. -Fall from power 1549 and executed in 1552.
John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland
Various posts, strong reputation, puts down a rebellion, executed
-Various posts under Henry VIII and establishes
strong military reputation.
-Made Earl of Warwick in 1547. In 1549 put down Kett’s rebellion and removes Somerset.
-Executed after failed attempt to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne.
William Paget
MP, privy councillor, supported somerset, opposed religious reforms
- MP under Henry VIII and helped try to secure Henry’s divorce.
- Became a privy councillor in 1543, then Henry’s private secretary.
- Supported Somerset but served both Northumberland and Mary.
- Was opposed to Mary’s religious reforms.
Stephen Gardiner
Bishop, diplomat, devout catholic, rival of paget
- Bishop of Winchester.
- Served Henry VIII as a diplomat and later private secretary.
- Was a devout Catholic, imprisoned in the Tower under Edward was recalled to Mary’s council upon her accession.
- Rival of Paget as he looked to prevent high control of the Council under Mary.
