Elizabeth - Northern Rebellion

Question 1

Causes- Northern rebellion

Answer 1

Many believed her father’s marriage to Anne Boleyn, her mother, was illegal because it broke the sacred laws of marriage due to his divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
Mary’s presence in the north of England encouraged the Catholic nobles to attempt to take power through physical force.
The Duke of Norfolk resented William Cecil’s influence on the monarchy and was intent on increasing Catholic influence in the royal court.
Northern Catholic nobles had lost power in the royal court under Elizabeth.

Question 2

Event of Northern rebellion

Answer 2

Elizabeth prevented Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, from marrying Mary, Queen of Scots. Norfolk left the royal court without permission and headed north.
Taking this as a sign, a group of northern lords led by Westmorland and Northumberland began the rebellion by holding an illegal Catholic mass in Durham Cathedral.
Afterwards, they began to march south with around 4,600 men. Elizabeth struggled to raise an army to resist them.
Eventually one of her loyal lords, the Earl of Sussex, raised an army and the rebels fled.

Question 3

Results of Northern rebellion

Answer 3

The Revolt of the Northern Earls led to increased oppression of Catholics and greater government control in the north.
Elizabeth quickly put Mary, Queen of Scots, under house arrest and sent her to Coventry to secure her imprisonment.
There were more than 450 executions of Catholics who had been involved in the revolt, including the Earl of Northumberland in 1572.
The lack of support for the revolt reflected Elizabeth’s popularity.