Wyatt's rebellion of January 1554

Question 1

What does Xenophobia mean?

Answer 1

Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries.

Question 2

Where did the rebellion start in autumn 1553?

Answer 2

Kent.

Question 3

What did some gentry at court (some = MPs but not councillors) begin to discuss in autumn 1553?

Answer 3

The possibility of engineering a Protestant succession ~ Mary would be deposed and Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon, would marry Princess Elizabeth, who would become Queen.

Question 4

In December 1553, what plans were concluded?

Answer 4

For co-ordinated risings in Kent, Herefordshire, Devon and Leicestershire on March 18th 1554.

Question 5

On December 27th 1553, what did the Emperor’s commissions arrive in England to begin?

Answer 5

Negotiations on the marriage treaty.

Question 6

On January 14th 1554, what provoked earlier action than the rebels had planned?

Answer 6

Terms of the marriage treaty announced by proclamation.

Question 7

What happened in Mid-January 1554?

Answer 7

• Renard got wind of the plot ~ Courtenay was made to confess all that he knew.
• Three out of four locations didn’t raise supporters - in Kent, Sir Thomas Wyatt raised 2,500 armed men.

Question 8

Who was chosen by the government on January 29th 1554 to stop Wyatt’s men and what happened?

Answer 8

Duke of Norfolk (Howard) ~ forced to return to court when his troops were persuaded to join Wyatt.

Question 9

Where did Wyatt eventually reach on February 3rd 1554?

Answer 9

The Thames at Southwark.

Question 10

What happened on February 12th 1554?

Answer 10

Wyatt led his troops about 20 kilometres west to Kingston, before eventually being stopped at Ludgate, half a kilometre from the Queen at the Tower ~ Wyatt and his supporters were forced to surrender and ask for mercy.

Question 11

How many rebels were executed and who else was executed because of the rebellion?

Answer 11

• 90 rebels including Wyatt.
• Lady Jane Grey and her husband.

Question 12

What are the causes of Wyatt’s rebellion?

Answer 12

• Rebels = didn’t want Mary to marry a foreigner.
• Xenophobia.
• Religious reasons ~ the rebels didn’t want to see a Catholic restoration.
• Kent ~ there had been a decline in the cloth industry and political instability ~ economic hardship ~ people = less tolerant of change.
• Only six months after the Lady Jane Grey affair ~ suggests that the unrest was caused by the rule of a female monarch.

Sir James Croft, Sir Peter Carew and Sir Thomas Wyatt all held office during Henry VIII and Edward VI ~ now feared that they would lose their influence and be replaced by Spaniards.

Question 13

What were the political reasons for Wyatt’s rebellion?

Answer 13

Philip’s presence at court might affect their career opportunities. The men had all held office under Henry VIII and feared they would lose influence. They feared the Spanish would dominate the court and government.

Question 14

What were the reasons for Wyatt’s rebellion to do with marriage?

Answer 14

• Timing - January 1554 = marriage treaty announced.
• Xenophobia - Government would be taken over by a foreigner.

Question 15

What were the economic reasons for Wyatt’s rebellion?

Answer 15

Decline in the Kent cloth industry.

Question 16

(not really counted as a cause but still important)

What were the religious reasons for Wyatt’s rebellion?

Answer 16

Wyatt was a Protestant and the area around Maidstone where he gained most support was Protestant. When the rebels reached London they attacked the Catholic Bishop of Winchester’s property.

Question 17

When was the Marriage Treaty approved?

Answer 17

January 1554

Question 18

When did Wyatt’s rebellion take place?

Answer 18

January 1554

Question 19

Name two other causes (not marriage) of Wyatt’s Rebellion:

Answer 19

Xenophobia, decline in cloth trade.

Question 20

What were the aims of Wyatt’s rebellion?

Answer 20

To remove Mary and replace with Elizabeth.

Question 21

Why did the planned four pronged attack not go ahead?

Answer 21

Only Wyatt could raise support.

Question 22

How did Wyatt’s Rebellion fail because of leadership?

Answer 22

Only Sir Thomas Wyatt was able to raise a force to march on London ~ alone ~ options were fewer.

Question 23

Why did Wyatt’s Rebellion fail due to Wyatt/popularity?

Answer 23

• Raised a force of 2,500 in Kent ~ included a number of gentry but none of the nobility ~ reduced popular appeal.
• Wyatt was not known outside of Kent.
• Didn’t have enough members of the elite class.

Question 24

How did Mary successfully distract Wyatt and what did this enable Mary to do?

Answer 24

Mary diverted Wyatt with offers of discussions ~ Mary gained the time she needed to build up London’s defences and dispatch the royal army under Pembroke against the rebels.

Question 25

How serious a threat to Mary was the Wyatt Rebellion?

Answer 25

Wyatt…

• His family served the Tudors faithfully.
• One of the largest landowners in Kent.
• Had experience in local government ~ acted as sheriff and been involved in drawing up military plans for defence of the country in times of unrest.
• Played on people’s anti-Spanish sentiment ~ emphasised his aim to only protect the Queen from unsuitable counsellors.

Therefore, he had social standing and expertise to summon a militia rapidly.

Question 26

Why was Mary able to defeat Wyatt/why did Wyatt fail?

Answer 26

• Mary rallied support - Guildhall speech.
• Mary stayed in London ~ she was stronger.
• Wyatt took too long to reach London ~ gave Mary time to prepare.
• The French didn’t seize the opportunity to invade.
• Renard and Paget took the sting out of the rebellion - discovered it early.
• Courtenay confessed his involvement with the plot.
• The events moved too quickly and had to be moved forward 2 months ~ not all rebellions started - only one ~ Wyatt = alone.

Question 27

Why was Lady Jane Grey executed?

Answer 27

Her father was involved in the rebellion.