Threat Flashcards
Lovel threat
1486
very low:
rebel numbers very low, under 100
Simnel threat
1487 high forced into battle foreign support - 2000 German mercenaries, 4,5000 Irish pretender to rally around H7 new to throne and insecure
“That such a ridiculous scheme almost succeeded shows how fragile was Henry’s grip on the crown.” - Roger Turvey
Yorkshire threat
1489 low did not aim to overthrow H7 limited support no influential leadership no march south
though:
Did require royal force to put rebellion down
Cornish threat
1497
low
Rebels did not gain support/ sympathy outside West Country
did not intend to overthrow the king, so when Henry didn’t negotiate with them
there was little they could do when he attacked
Their army was not professional or well equipped
didn’t have credible aristocratic leadership
though:
15,000 rebels reached outskirts of London
Warbeck threat
Yes:
Warbeck was active for many years and a more convincing pretender than Simnel.
considerable foreign support –> France, Burgundy, Ireland and Scotland - all Henry’s powerful neighbours
Foreign backing was substantial until after the debacle in Kent. At one point Maximilian gave his wife as surety for a loan (leaving her with the lender) so he could hire 6,000 mercenaries.
Real Richard of York could not be shown because he had been murdered in the tower
Ttreaty of Etaples is a sign of how dangerous Warbeck and his backers were
Warbeck’s threat was his persistence.
He attempted five invasions and two escapes from his comfortable captivity.
He was executed not for the threat he actually posed, but for he threat he might pose if circumstances changed.
Hhis actions threatened Henry’s attempt to marry his son Arthur to Catherine of Aragon – the Spaniards complained of England’s instability
No:
Failed to generous significant backing in England
no equivalent of the Battle of East Stoke
All his backers, whether kings or Cornish commoners, had motives other than believing in Warbeck as king
Despite attempting to seize the throne for 8 years, Warbeck spent a total of less than 50 days on English and Irish soil, and failed to attract the support of a single important English backer
Warbeck was treated well after his capture – kept at court rather than in prison. This suggests Henry did not see him as a major threat
Silken Thomas threat
yes:
Potentially dangerous as Ireland acted as useful landing stage for Spanish or French fleets/armies
The rebellion should be seen as serious because its aims were major – it was “an act of total opposition to what was going on” (Anthony Fletcher), and had Silken Thomas emerged victorious he would have set himself up as ruler of Ireland
No:
Poor battle strategy
POG threat
Estimated 50,000 rebels in total
All classes
Some demands were met
Some good organisation
Government were forced to bring in outside troops
4 months
Kett threat
low:
loyal rebellion, did not aim to bring down king. Did not even intend to bring down Somerset as they did
was
•Disorder was widespread – Trouble in 25 counties from Yorkshire to Cornwall (Kett was an example of oneproblem, rather than the leader of all these outbreaks of disorder). At least 20 rebel camps where disgruntled commons assembled. At least 16 rebel petitions.
•Threat heightened in part because of the incompetence of the local authorities in putting Kett down – allowed rebels time to gather strength
Northumberland threat
high
Coup might have succeeded had there been any popular support, as it was aimed at the heart of the government.
Northumberland was able to seize control of power for a week
Wyatt threat
low threat
Rebels were badly organised and not well supported.
That Protestant London backed a legitimate Catholic queen against Protestant rivalsshows strength of Tudor “brand” after 70 years
Yes
Could have been dangerous if Londoners had supported Wyatt - Mary may have been deposed and Elizabeth enthroned
Close seat near London
Support from gentry
Nationalist feeling vs. Phillip and his marriage to Mary
Shane O’Neill threat
threatening:
Rebellion long lasting - largely because it was financially and militarily impossible for English to bring decisive force to bear. Elizabeth facing threat of French invasion
No
Dublin was threatened but while O’Neill wanted to rule his part of Ulster without interference, there was no call for outright independence or regime change
Northern Earls threat
low:
Plotters told by De Spes before they started that it was likely to fail
Norfolk and both Earls showed no courage/ determination - seemed reluctant to act
Many northern ears had answered cowardly to rebel calls
Clifford, Earl of Cumberalnd, failed to act
Rebellion in mid winter - many rebels freezing and starving
Far from London
Geraldine threat
English counter-measures were effective - brutality worked
No threat outside of Munster
Tyrone threat
high:
England at war with Spain
Elizabeth aware of strategic importance of Ireland - Spain had landed there before
Money to fight a rebellion in short supply
Elizabeth underestimated the scale of the revolt, made several unwise appointments and deployed insufficient resources
first Irish rebellion which had as its aim a truly island-wide campaign against the English.
If successful, there would have been regime change in Ireland
Oxfordshire threat
Low:
Government over reacted - out of fear - thought there was a larger conspiracy
