THE REVOLT OF THE NORTHERN EARLS Flashcards
(51 cards)
Why did mary queen of scots pose a threat to Elizabeth (4)
-CLAIM TO THRONE
great grandaughter of Henry VII and had strong claim to english throe
-RELIGIOUS THREAT
was catholic and a figurehead for english and european catholics who oppossed protestant rule
FOREIGN SUPPORT
catholic powers france and Spain could support her claim
ELIZABETH LEGITIMACY
-many catholics viewed elizabeth as illegitamate as they thought henry viii’s marriage to anne bolyne to be invalid
Mary queen of scots international relations
-raised in france, married to heir of french throne
-in 1560 her husband died and she returned to rule scotland
-married Lord Darnley (who also had a claim to the english throne), angering protestant nobles
-darnley was murdered and she married suspected murderer, The earl of Bothwell
-she was forced to abdicate in 1567 in favor of her son James VI
-mary escaped scotland to england in 1568 (became a focus for catholic plots)
how did court politics contribute to the northern rising (cecil and deteriorating relationships with spain)
-william cecil’s dominance in court caused resentment (nobles feared his policies were dragging england to war with spain)
-from 1567-68 relations with spain worsened (the protestant revolt in the netherlands lead to spanish brutality, AND spanish ships carrying gold and silver across the sea from rngland to pay spanish troops- threat of invasion- were siezed by cecil, wosening tensions)
-some nobles wanted to remove cicil to prevent war (e.g duke of norfolk)
what was the plot against william cecil
-Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Northumberland, Earl of Westmoreland
-norfolk (protestant with catholic sympathies) was to marry Mary
aim…
-secure royal succession (as elizabeth has no heir)
-increase norfolk power in order to remove cecil
-keep Mary in England under English control
ELIZABETH DISCOVERED PLAN IN 1569 AND FORBADE IT
role of the duke of norfolk
-most powerful noble (his involvement made the plot serious)
-1556 fled court but didnt raisea rebellion (sent message to westmoreland urging against rebellion)
-was imprisoned in tower of london on return to court
-actions contribyted to rebellion by increasing noble resentment
-had links to many discontented nobles
religious causes of the northern rising
-despite reformation england remained strongly catholic despite the reformation (77% of yorkshire nobility were catholic)
-elizabeth’s moderate religious settlement (1559, 39 articles 1563) allowed outward catholic conformity
-when spain became a greater threat from 1566, gov cracked dowm on catholic practices
what role did gov intervention in the north play
-protestant outsiders were appointed to key positions, replacing traditional catholic nobles
-radical protestant was appointed bishop of durham (James Pilkington) and he destroyed catholic imagrey and church furniture
-catholic nobles felt alienated
Northern rising key causes
-RELIGION
catholic nobles resented protestant control of the north
-POLITICAL
-nobles lost influence to protestant outsiders
FEARS OVER SUCCESSION
-saw norfolks marriage to mary as a way to stabalise the monarchy
PERCIEVED FOREIGN SUPPORT
-thought spain would support them
ECONOMIC
-some nobles faced financial difficulties under elizabeths rule
economic concerns of the nobles
appointment of rivals to key positions that had once been theirs made them lose their incomes
-both earl of northymberland and westmoreland began suffering financially and gov policy was making it worse
-wrote to the earl of pemboke asking him for the queen to give a sum of 1000
-earl of westmoreland was forced to borrow 80 pounds from sir george bowes
why did mary queen of scotts arrival in England 1568 increase tensions
-was a potential catholic figurehead for opposition to Elisabeth
-her presence raised fears of catholic rebellion and foreign intervention
how did elizabeth manage the threat posed by MQS when she was in england
-mary was placed in comfortable captivity
-initially treated well the moved to tutberry castle in 1569 to keep her away from London and the scottish border (to reduce her influence as a rallying point for catholics)
how did the proposed marriage of MQS and duke of norfolk contribute to the revolt
-some nobles including norfolk (and even protestant Robert Dudley) supported the marriage to resolve succession issues
-tied to wider resentment of william cecil
how did the northern earls justify their actions during the uprising
they presented themselves as loyal subjects who were acting to free Elizabeth from the harmful advice from figures like cecil
framed revolt as patriotic defence rather than treason
when did the northern earls officially rebel
1569, after Elizabeth summoned them to court
EVENTS OF THE NORTHERN RISING (8)
-1569, nothumberland and westmoreland started gathering troops
-rebels march into durham, capture durham cathedral, destroyed protestant symbols and celebrate catholic mass
-rebels move south and capture Barnard castle, planning to free MQS from tutbury castle
-rebels retreat north, fearing approach of the earl of warwicks army (MQS moved to coventry)
-rebels besiege barnard castle, and briefly capture Hartlepool. They hope for spanish support but no foreign support arrives
-royal army arrives north. rebels dispersed, westmooreland flees, northumberland captured in scotland
-1570, Lord Dacre attempts smaller rebellion in cumbria but defeated in bettle of Naworth. flees into exile.
-elizabeth orders mass execution pof rebel leaders and supporters. Northumberland executed in 1572
what was the strategic significance of Braham Moor
control of braham moor allowed rebels to threaten york, block gov troops from london and move towards tutbury castle (where MQS was imprisoned)
how many men did rebels gather by late November 1569
-38000 foot soldiers and 1600 horsemen
what role did Sir John Bowes play in opposing the rebellion
led the queens royal forces at Barnard castle despite heavy pressure
why did rebels retreat 24th nov and how did the northern rising eventually come to an end
WHY DID THEY RETREAT
- by nov rumours of a large royal army approaching under the earl of warwick
-lack of support against durham and yorkshire
-MQS moved from tutberry to coventry.
COLLAPSE OF REVOLT
-subsequent gov action, including the sigie of barnerd castle and skirmishes, led to the collapse of the revolt
-northumberland fled
what challenges did the gov face when responding to the uprising
-loyalist forces under president sussex was only 400 men
-had trouble mustering sufficient local support
-struggled to raise larger forces due to divided loyalty of the gentry
long term impact of these rebellions on traditional northern nobility
-northumberlands execution
-lands belonging to westmoreland and darce confiscated
-effectively destroyed power of traditional northern nobility
why did the northern rising fail
-earls of northumberland and westmoreland failed to gain widespread support outside the north
-elizabeth’s military response was swift- fores under the earl of sussex and baron hinsdon moved against the rebels
-rebels failed to take york or march further south to link with potential catholic allies
-retreated further north and dispersed when royal forces arrived
who was lord dacre and what was his role in the rebellion
-initially was loyal to elizabeth and convinced gov of his innocence
-however, he fortified his estates in cumbria and raised an army of 3,000 men
-in feb 1570, Baron Hunsdon was sent to arrest him but dacre’s forces attacked
-Hunsdon’s forces won, 500 rebels were killed or captured
-Dacre fled to scotland then fled to the continent living in exile
why was durham important to rebels
was an important administrative centre in the north but not heavily fortified, making it an easy target
local catholic gentry were angered by the protestant refors of the bishop of durham
