Duke of Northumberland Flashcards
(13 cards)
What are the Duke of Northumberland’s names and titles in order?
- John Dudley - son of H7’s tax gather Edmund Dudley
- Viscount Lisle - he was a soldier
- Earl of Warwick - initially enjoyed a good working relationship with Somerset but overthrew him in 1549 to become Lord President of the Council
- Duke of Northumberland 1551
What did Northumberland want to avoid? How did this take shape?
- Wanted to avoid excessive power that had brought Somerset down
- Northumberland became Lord President of the Council instead
How did the nature of his regime change over time? (role of the conservatives)
- Many of his key supporters were conservatives and some hoped for a regency led by Princess Mary.
- But Warwick turned against the conservatives fearing that he might be ejected by them.
What determined the religious character of the regime?
- Purging (getting rid of) the conservatives Southampton and Arundel
- Cranmer support (Protestant)
- Edward VI’s increasingly assertive Protestantism
How did Warwick consolidate his position?
- Promoted himself to earl of Northumberland
- Apted his own hardman, Sir John Gates as Vice Chamberlain of the household to ensure his control over court
Why was govt effective for a time under N’land and which men played a role in this?
- Effective govt through privy council - made easier by expelling Southampton
- William Paget drew up a set of guidelines for more effective operation of the privy council
- William Cecil (originally one of Somerset’s men) transformed himself into N’land’s key administrator
To what extent could Somerset’s failed coup be called a turning point in the way govt ran (N’land’s exercising of power)?
- After Somerset’s failed counter coup he was executed and N’land became less conciliar in his approach to govt
- He started to behave in a more dictatorial manner (like Somerset) e.g. presumed enemies such as Paget were removed from Council and sent to the tower.
- Power increasingly lay in the hands of N’land and Gates (his henchman) who had possession of the dry stamp (to affix the king’s signature to documents)
What is the historiography of N’land?
Ruthless and unscrupulous:
- Coups against Somerset and the conservatives
- Somerset’s execution
- Failed attempt to alter the succession
Able governor:
- Solved many problems inherited from Somerset
- Operated an effective govt
What did H8’s will lay down?
- Should be succeeded by EdVI.
- If he should die without children should be succeeded by Mary.
What happened in Feb 1533?
- EdVI taken ill and by end of March the Venetian ambassador reported he was dying
Why did N’land need to address this issue?
- If Mary were to come to the throne, Catholicism would be restored
- He supported a more radical form of Protestantism
What was the Devyse?
- A plan produced to alter succession.
- Original idea may have come from EdVI (his handwriting all over it) - anxious to ensure continuation of Protestantism.
- He was prepared to exclude his half-sisters from succession.
- N’land next preferred choice = LJG who was married to his son Guildford Dudley
- June 1533 Mary and Elizabeth = illegitimate.
Why did the Devyse fail?
- Edward died 6th July 1553 before Parliament could meet
- This made it patently illegal.
- LJG still proclaimed Queen 9th July
