5 - the problem of gender & mary's marriage

Question 1

last female ruler of England

Answer 1

• Queen Matilda
• led to civil war (many supported Stephen instead)

Question 2

reasons why a female ruler might weaken the monarchy

Answer 2

• unable to control faction
• unable to lead an army into battle
• expected to marry (even queens would be subservient to their husbands)

Question 3

further problems over who Mary would marry

Answer 3

• Englishman -> power of his family would increase & dominate court
• foreigner -> fears of country dominated by foreigners

Question 4

two candidates for Mary to marry

Answer 4

• Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon (backed by Gardiner)
• Philip of Spain (backed by Paget)

Question 5

Who backed Edward Courtenay?

Answer 5

Gardiner (Catholic faction)

Question 6

Who backed Philip of Spain?

Answer 6

Paget (reformist faction)

Question 7

Which candidate for Mary’s marriage did the Catholic faction support?

Answer 7

Edward Courtenay, Earl of Devon

Question 8

Which candidate for Mary’s marriage did the reformist faction support?

Answer 8

Philip of Spain

Question 9

Why was Philip of Spain Mary’s first choice?

Answer 9

would bring her closer to the Habsburgs, her mother’s family

Question 10

Why was support for Philip of Spain so little?

Answer 10

could potentially drag England into foreign wars

Question 11

When did Mary inform the Council of her intention to marry Philip?

Answer 11

27th October 1553

Question 12

What was the Council’s reaction to Mary’s intentions of marrying Philip of Spain?

Answer 12

petition from the House of Commons (ignored by Mary)

Question 13

When was Mary’s marriage treaty presented to the Council?

Answer 13

7th December 1553

Question 14

When was Mary’s marriage treaty approved by the Council?

Answer 14

January 1554

Question 15

When did rebellion break out in response to Mary’s marriage?

Answer 15

January 1554 (six months after defeat of Lady Jane Grey)

Question 16

Who began plotting a rebellion as soon as there were rumours of a marriage between Mary & Philip of Spain?

Answer 16

• Sir James Croft
• Sir Peter Carew
• Sir Thomas Wyatt
  (all held office under Henry VIII & Edward)

Question 17

Why did Croft, Carew & Wyatt start plotting?

Answer 17

• feared they’d lose influence to and be replaced by Spaniards (who’d dominate court & government)
• all had links to reformed belief (Wyatt = Protestant)

Question 18

Where was the 4-pronged rising based?

Answer 18

Devon, Leicester, Welsh borders, Kent (only Kent rose)

Question 19

Where did the Wyatt rebellion actually rise?

Answer 19

Kent

Question 20

What did the rebels plan to do?

Answer 20

marry Elizabeth to Courtenay (but he disclosed the scheme & the rebels were forced to act early)

Question 21

Why was the Wyatt rebellion even more serious?

Answer 21

the force sent under Norfolk to try and confront the rebels ended up deserting

Question 22

How far did the Wyatt rebels get?

Answer 22

the gates of London

Question 23

How did Mary prove that a female ruler was not necessarily weak, during the Wyatt rebellion?

Answer 23

stayed in London & refused to retreat to safety, even when it seemed as though they’d be defeated

Question 24

impact of the defeat of the Wyatt rebellion on stability

Answer 24

• marriage only happened 12 months after Mary came to the throne
• Philip spent more time abroad than in England (limiting influence)