Issues of age, gender & succession

Question 1

What actions did H8 take to avoid instability after his death?

Answer 1

• Third succession act (1543) - reversed earlier succession acts that excluded Mary & Elizabeth from the succession
• Created the regency council to help Edward rule - balanced between reformists and conservatives*

Question 1

What led to the ‘devise for the succession’ (May 1553)?

Answer 1

• Attempt by Northumberland to preserve power: arranged the marriage of his son (Guildford Dudley) to Lady Jane Grey
• Edward’s commitment to Protestantism: he wanted to exclude Mary in order to preserve the religious reform programme

Question 2

What mistakes did Northumberland make during the alteration of the succession?

Answer 2

• He did have sufficient forces available to ensure control
• He did not ensure Mary was captured and unable to raise forces: she escaped to East Anglia
• He did not launch a propaganda campaign to prepare the nation for the change in succession

Question 3

How did Mary respond to her brother’s death?

Answer 3

• She proclaimed herself queen in East Anglia and sent letters to the Privy Council and towns informing them
• She issued proclamations, letters of summons & asked Charles V for help
• She raised a large force which Northumberland had to confront - he did not gain support & was forced to proclaim Mary queen

Question 4

What actions did Mary take after her assumption to power?

Answer 4

• Those who had supported the devise wrote to Mary to explain their actions - whom she showed leniency (Paget joined the Privy Council)
• Released imprisoned conservatives from jail (Norfolk & Gardiner)
• Later executed Northumberland despite his renunciation of Protestantism

Question 5

What problems did a minor on the throne create?

Answer 5

• Created fears that England would return to civil war + increase factional struggles
• Edward was unable to lead troops into war - this weakness could be exploited by other states

Question 6

Why was it feared that a female ruler would weaken the monarchy?

Answer 6

• Woman were subservient to their husbands
• A woman would be unable to control faction
• A woman would be unable to lead an army into battle

Question 7

Why was there opposition to Mary’s marriage to Philip?

Answer 7

• Many feared England would become a part of the Hapsburg empire & be dragged into wars
• Members of the political elite feared they would lose influence and be replaced by Spaniards