To what extent did the nature of rebellions change in the course of the Tudor period? Flashcards
To what extent did the nature of rebellions change in the course of the Tudor period?
Aims and objectives Leadership Size Location Government response
Aims and objectives
• Initial rebellions were political in their causes and dynastic in their aims.
E.g. Lovel & Stafford’s 1486, Simnel 1487, Warbeck 1490s, Northumberland 1553.
Most threatening - HVII & the Tudors could have ended at Stoke.
• As the Tudors systematically removed pretenders and claimants, dynastic began to lose their impetus
• Throughout the period - Tudors became more secure, alternative claimants died out and people grew accustomed to their rule. (hence decline in frequency)
• Middle of the period - aims that were unacceptable- as they tried to tell the monarch what they must do.
E.g. demands of Western 1549, Kett’s 1549.
• Rebellions regarding taxation tended to occur earlier on in the period as the government learnt not to impose novelty or inappropriate taxes.
E.g. Yorkshire 1489, Cornish 1497, Amicable Grant 1525.
• Religious factors only became important after the break with Rome and was not a cause after 1569.
E.g. Elizabethan church settlement of 1559 - moderate policy that satisfied most religious groups.
• Even within 1536-69 religion not always the main cause and may have been a cloak for political causes E.g PoG or Northern Earls
• Nature of aims altered throughout period. From direct dynastic threat under HVII; opposition to ministers and religious changes under HVIII; continuing religious difficulty - largely cloak under Edward VI and Mary I; to social issues under Elizabeth.
Leadership
• Early leaders tended to be inadequate.
E.g. Lovell & Staffords 1486 - poor tactics and organisation, Simnel 1487 - too young, Warbeck 1487 - lacked efficient strategy.
• Rebellion became less threatening if it lacked elite support and leadership.
E.g. Lack of established nobles in Cornish 1497, Oxfordshire 1596.
- Failed to attract economic, military or international help.
• As the period advanced, Tudor nobility became less inclined to indulge in treasonous activities.
Instead of rebelling - voiced concerns in more effective parliaments.
Although, not the case in Ireland - e.g. Fitzgerald in Munster 1569-1583, Geraldine rebellion 1579-83 and the Earl of Tyrone 1595.
• Rebellions without noble leadership in England could still be effective - leadership then came from the gentry, lawyers or clergy.
E.g. PoG - Aske = lawyer and large number of county gentry,
Kett, a minor landowner, assumed control in Norfolk
Size
• Small rebellions failed to get noticed and so failed to achieve aims - people did not want to get involved E.g. Oxfordshire 1596
• 1536 and 1549 rebellions were far larger than those facing Henry VII.
• In relation to the size of the government forces, however, the overall threat declined.
• The teaching of the Church/ social pressures/ Great Chain of Being - By 1500 general acceptance of the Tudor dynasty.
• Size relatively declined as lost noble support and foreign rulers became less prepared to support rebellion for power play in Europe.
E.g. Simnel’s Irish mercenaries, MoB for Warbeck.
- Foreign support for Tyrone did not materialise.
Location
• Location of rebellion stayed relatively consistent.
Throughout the period, the northern and south-western counties were the most common location for rebellion.
• Peripheral counties - ought to be treated differently to everyone else, own traditions, not represented in London.
• Rebellions close to London achieved more e.g. Amicable Grant 1525 and Cornish 1497.
• The more remote the rebellion and regionalist demands, the less likely the rebellion would gain popular support in other areas and spread.
E.g. Cumberland, Western.
• Although, also meant that the rebellion was less quickly suppressed. Gathering info, raising troops but also the distance from London displaced the problem in the minds of the Govt.
E.g. Yorkshire 1489, Ketts’ 1549.
Government response
• Across the period, the government bought time with pardons.
E.g. Lovell & Stafford’s 1486, Lincolnshire 1536, Western 1549, Tyrone 1595.
Also played for time with negotiations.
E.g. PoG 1536, Ketts’ 1549.
• Legislation - monarchs consistently were not intimidated by rebellion and continued with planned legislation (Apart from tax rebellions).
E.g. After prayer book rebellion Edward pressed ahead with protestant reforms - in fact, Cranmer published a more Protestant book 3 years later.
Similarly - Elizabeth introduced penal laws specifically against catholic recusant after NE.
Although HVIII did intro Act of Six Articles after PoG, continued with plans to close down larger monasteries.
• Punishment and retribution - HVII and Mary lenient. Appease subjects.
E.g. Simnel spared, Wyatt 600 spared 71 killed.
HVIII, Edward and Elizabeth vindictive.
E.g. PoG peaceful, Western 100 hanged, Oxfordshire 20 men.
• Gov response effective if determination to stand their ground.
