Stability of the Monarchy Flashcards
(29 cards)
How old was Edward when he came to the throne?
He was 9, which was confirmed in the January 1547 devise for the succession which reversed the previous succession acts which excluded Mary and Elizabeth
How was the regency council adapted from Henry VIII’s original intentions?
It was meant to be a regency council of 16 members, balanced between conservatives and reformists, but clauses were added to Henry’s will which allow the reformists to reward themselves, and Edward Seymour became Lord Protector
What were the preconceptions about having a minor on the throne?
It meant that Edward could not lead the country into battle, and it was felt that he’d be exploited by foreign powers and would not be able to match factionalists
Why was Somerset initially popular as Lord Protector?
He was the king’s uncle, he had a good reputation as a soldier in Scotland in the 1540s and there was a smooth transition between Henry VIII and Edward VI because Somerset kept the King’s death quiet until he had possession of Edward
Why did Somerset lose favour?
He used his position to increase his own wealth and power, even ordering the execution of his own brother, Thomas Seymour, which led to criticism from former supporters
Who were the members of the anti-Somerset faction?
It formed in 1549, consisting of Dudley, who wanted more power, Paget, who was unhappy because Somerset promised that he’d be listened to and he wasn’t, and Wriothesley, who was unhappy for religious reasons as he remained a conservative
What gave the anti-Somerset faction an opportunity to publish a proclamation against him?
The events of the summer of 1549 with the Western and Kett’s rebellion gave them an opportunity to publish a proclamation against him
What was Somerset’s response to the proclamation issued against him?
He retreated to Hampton Court on the 5th October 1549, summoning his loyal subjects to defend him and the king. He took Edward to Windsor castle the following day, but Edward abandoned Somerset, leading to Somerset’s arrest
Who replaces Somerset?
Dudley (Northumberland) comes in as Lord Somerset’s replacement
What happened to Somerset following Northumberland’s introduction?
Northumberland attempted reconciliation and Somerset’s daughter married Northumberland’s son, and Somerset returned to court. However, Somerset continued to plot and there were rumours that he wanted to take over as lord protecter, leading to his execution on the 22nd January 1552
What problems was Northumberland faced with?
The council contained a lot of religious conservatives, who did not trust him. He won their support by first of all sympathising with them and making out that he was catholic and then removed them in January 1550 by allying with more religiously radical members of the council which leads to a radical updating of protestant policy
What happened when Edward fell ill in 1553?
Northumberland arranged the marriage of his son, Guilford Dudley, to Lady Jane Grey, which was soon followed by the changing of the devise to Lady Jame Grey as the successor
Why did Northumberland not want the throne to go to Margaret?
He didn’t want it to pass to Henry VIII’s older sister because it would fall to the Catholic Queen of Scots, and Lady Jane Grey had a claim through Henry VIII’s younger sister Mary, and Edward was keen to continue Protestantism in England
When did Edward die?
6th July 1553, but his death was kept quiet for two days before prominent men in London were forced to sign the devise
When was Lady Jane Grey proclaimed queen?
10th July 1553
How did Mary become queen?
Mary proclaimed herself queen at the same time as Lady Jame Grey before escaping to East Anglia, where she was able to raise forces with letters of summons along with asking Charles V for help. It was interests of the ruling classes to support the rightful ruler, and when Northumberland left London to confront the challenge from Mary he lost lots of support within the Privy Council and army
What problems did Mary face upon taking the throne?
She released Gardner from jail early on and shows leniency against many who had opposed her, and Paget joined the new Privy council
What happened to Northumberland?
Northumberland renounced protestantism but was executed on the 22nd August 1553, and Guilford Dudley and Lady Jane Grey were arrested after Wyatt’s revolt and executed
Why was female rule a problem?
Female succession in England was not governed by Salic law, it was felt that a female would be open to factionalism, was unable to lead troops into battle and there were issues surrounding marriage - if she married and English man he could become too powerful, and if she married a foreigner it was felt that England would be giving the King title to a foreign power
Who was John Knox?
He was an extreme Calvinist, and a Scottish protestant who in 1558 wrote a source attacking female rulers, although this was also possibly attacking Mary Queen of Scots
What were the issues with Mary wanting to marry Philip of Spain?
She wanted to maintain strong ties with Spain as it was a major Catholic power, but she did not consult parliament and simply announced that she would marry Philip
When was the marriage treaty approved?
January 1554
What did the Marriage treaty lead to?
Wyatt’s revolt, which was led by Sir James Croft, Sir Peter Carew and Sir Thomas Wyatt, and there was a planned a four-pronged rising based in Devon, Leicestershire, the Welsh Borders and Kent, but only Kent rose
What evidence is there that the Wyatt rebellion was more about religion than about marriage?
Wyatt was a committed protestant
