To what extent did Tudor rebellions fail to achieve any of their aims? Flashcards
Yes they failed:
Aims Poor Leadership Size Location Determination and strength of the Tudors
No, they had a measure of success:
Aims Leadership Support Size Location
Aims
• Some rebellions failed to achieve their aims because the government explicitly could not allow them to do so.
- Dynastic
E.g. Lovell & Staffords 1486, Simnel 1487, Warbeck 1490s, Northumberland 1553.
- Other political rebellions that threatened the monarch or a key minister/policy could also be allowed no degree of success.
E.g. Northern Earls 1968-70, Essex 1601.
• Although, the demand for more political representation in the north of England (e.g. 1536 and 1569), was recognised and saw reforms to the Council of the North.
• Rebellions regarding economic & in particular taxation grievances - greater chance of success.
E.g. Yorkshire 1489, Cornish 1497 and Amicable Grant 1525.
• Religious rebellions on the whole did not achieve aims.
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 intro introduced penal laws specifically against catholic recusants after NE.
- Although HVIII did intro Act of Six Articles after PoG, continued with protestant reform and closed down larger monasteries.
Leadership
• Poor leadership - where not strong/ organised/ effective.
E.g. Steer, Warbeck or Bigod.
• Where lacked elite support of established nobles, fails to attract economic, military or international help.
E.g. Cornish 1497 or Oxford 1596.
Although - Cornish successful in not paying tax to fund war in Scotland.
• The age of the leader had an impact on outcome. E.g. Simnel too young, Northumberland and Westmoreland too old to inspire loyalty and provide charisma needed to lead a major rebellion.
• Indecisive/Lack of strategy.
E.g. NE had no clear plan. underestimated time to travel to London – Mary queen of scots had been moved to Coventry.
- Wyatt indecisive and failed to advance on London when might have succeeded.
• Inability to rally support or wrong type.
E.g. Northern Earls – lacked funds to pay supporters, 600 desertions.
- Simnel limited by type of support – presence of Irish lords reduced English support dramatically.
Size
• Small rebellions failed to get noticed and so failed to achieve aims - people did not want to get involved
E.g. Oxfordshire 1596.
• The size and spread of rebellions could also delay or reverse govt. policy
E.g. taxation in 1489, 1497 &1525;
• Size of PoG led to more political representation in the North, six articles, led to the demise of Cromwell. - to a degree achieved aims. Remained protestant, larger monasteries closed down.
• Scale of 1549 rebellions led to Economic and social policy esp. on poor and enclosure after 1549 led to the demise of Somerset.
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, Northern.
• 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.
Determination and strength of the Tudors
• Across the period, the government bought time with pardons whilst recruiting a militia to smash rebels forces and also allowing the rebellion to run out of steam & dissolve.
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 - failed to alter 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.
Support
• Failed to achieve aims if support was inadequate.
E.g Oxfordshire 1596
• Some rebellions had a wide support network
E.g. Simnel 1587 - Irish mercenaries, Warbeck 1490s - foreign help from MoB, Lincolnshire 1536 - Yorkist and Aragonese factions. All drew on the support of clergy and nobles.
Although these largely failed anyway - showing that support did not have an overwhelming influence on their ability to achieve their aims.
