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Mid-Tudor
Restore and develop powers of the monarch
How far, in the years 1547 to 1569, did concerns over the succession threaten
the stability of England?
Edward - crisis Edward - not crisis
Easy to overstate the threat to the Tudor
dynasty under Edward
Ascension of Edward VI to the throne in
Act of Succession passed by Henry in 1544
1547 traditionally interpreted as a moment
secured Ed’s position, despite being a
of profound weakness for the Tudor
minor
Dynasty - a minor only 9 years old
The rebellions during the year of the ‘many
Henry VIII left explicit instructions that a
headed monster’ (1549) were in fact
Regency council of 16 members was to be
caused by a range of factors. For instance,
established
Western = new prayer book. Ketts =
Somerset subverted this, in January 1547,
multiple causes, and the rebels in each
Privy Council elected him Protector. In Feb
case stated their alleigance to the king
1547 Ed and 13 executors gave Somerset
Somerset’s ‘encouragement’ of the lower
royal authority until Ed was 18 (possession
orders was more a fear in the minds of the
of dry stamp) - made himself Duke of
nobility than anything else - rise to power
Somerset - destabilised government -
arguably a natural result of the weakening
expensive foreign policy, sheep tax 1549 ,
of the conservative faction of the proposed
underpinning rebellions
regency council in the last years of Henry
When position challenged - kidnapped Ed
rather than a seizure of power against
- undermining position of Ed - leading to
Henry’s will
arrest
The succession crisis was done entirely
Northumberland attempted to subvert Act
with the blessing of Edward himself prior to
of Succession and install Lady Jane Grey
his death. It was much his scheme as
in 1553 - period of uncertainty, vulnerable
Northumberland’s (his ‘device’)
When Mary marched on London,
In any event, the attempt to install Lady
Northumberland raised forces against the
Jane Grey failed - Mary was accepted by
rightful monarch
the majority and her succession was
accomplished without bloodshed
Mary and Liz - crisis Mary and Liz - not crisis
The reigns of Mary, and even the early However, as with Edward before them, the
part of Elizabeth’s reign witnessed some transition to Mary and then Elizabeth was
Mid-Tudor 1
, uncertainty and instability. Ascension of a relatively smooth and their authority widely
minor to the throne followed by a woman accepted during their reigns
makes the dynasty vulnerable - easy to This was due to the authority of Act of
manipulate power Succession
The major threat to Mary came early in her Wyatt’s rebellion, like Kett’s had a variety of
reign. Her marriage to Phillip II caused causes including local grievances over
unrest at court and more widely - people economic problems. Kent had experienced
feared England would be subsumed into a long-term decline in the cloth industry.
the HRE and slavishly follow the will of The rebels here too professed their support
Spain for Mary and was ultimately suppressed
This triggered Wyatt’s Rebellion (1554) Parliament keen for Elizabeth to name an
and the rebels made it all the way to heir, but this was more to do with securing
London, in sight of the queen, before it the monarchy rather than as a challenge to
was stop. Wyatt himself likely to have it
wanted to dethrone Mary Support for Mary Queen of Scots,
Elizabeth’s early reign was beset by particularly before 1569, was to make her
uncertainty due to her unwillingness to be Elizabeth’s heir not her replacement
married and produce an heir. Made worse
after 1562 - smallpox
Northern Rebellion (1569) - plot to marry
Mary Queen of Scots to Norfolk and make
her rightful heir
Foreign policy
Questions
How successful was foreign policy in the years 1529-1558?
To what extent were Henry VIII’s aims in foreign policy continued in the
reign of Edward VI?
How successful was foreign policy in the years 1529-1558?
Foreign policy overall was unsuccessful, there were individual successes that
had short term effects but every monarch had differing aims so difficult to
characterise foreign policy as a whole still ultimately a failure due to financial
constraints and the limited influence England had over larger, powerful
countries such as France and Spain
Henry VIII Edward (Somerset)
Aims: achieve military glory, regain land in Aims - inherited Scotland after Henry so
France, prestige and international forced to deal with it, wanted to enforced
recognition marriage between MQS and Ed to unite
Mid-Tudor 2
, Failures: fragile alliance with France 1532 - crowns and then defeat Scotland in battle,
aimed to strengthen position as key player build garrison forts on border, force them
and put pressure on Charles V but failed as into submission so England viewed as
both weak. Treaty of Greenwich 1543 - powerful
peace between England and Scotland and Failures - Auld Alliance renewed 1547
marriage alliance MQS and Edward - when Henry II succeeds to French throne
renewed conflict between England and who was keen to assert himself through
France and Scotland rejected marriage franco-scottish alliance - made foreign
proposal - triggering invasion on Scotland. policy harder.
Battle of Ancrum Moor 1545 - England Battle of Pinkie 1547 (Henry II sends 4k
defeated made Henry VIII come across as troops and warships to Scotland to
weak leader threaten Engand) - so Somerset invades
Successes - secures Break from Rome with 16k soldiers, 4k cavalry and 30
1532 - made it easier to secure annulment warships - failure at cost 600k, marriage
from Catherine. Battle of Solway Moss 1542 alliance never secured, MQS sent to
England defeat Scotland - left vulnerable as France to marry French heir, cemented
James V dies leaving 1 week old Mary as auld alliance, poor relations with France
heir. Anglo imperial alliance with Charles V so prospect of War likely at a time when
against France, shows key player, marches England vulnerable to rebellions
48k men to France and captures Bolounge Successes - Battle of Pinkie defeated
1544. Scots who had larger army, gave
Link - Henry VIII couldn’t take advantage of Somerset control of border regions below
Scotland weak position due to financial Edinburgh
constraints, henry VIII and Charles attack Inherited very risky foreign policy however
failed and he was abandoned when Charles
signs treaty with France as didn’t want
conflict, so all fp failed as other major
powers didn’t treat him like a key player.
Edward (Northumberland) Mary I
Aim - concentrate on England, form Aims - restore papal supremacy, marry
alliances, willing to sacrifice Scotland to do Phillip to form Anglo-Spanish alliance and
so produce catholic heir
Failures - poor relations with Charles V Failures - marriage treaty April 1554 failed
(against move to Protestantism) so seeks in its most basic requirement (didn’t
alliance with France - Treaty of Bolounge produce an heir so Elizabeth would
1550 (Bolounge returned to France for succeed) also led to England involved in
£133,333, England remove garrisons, war with France - also problem made as
border restored to what it was before Henry England effectively at war with the papacy
VIII campaign) - problems trying to restore its supremacy
Successes - Treaty of Bolounge made as anti-Spanish pope paul IV renewed
future marriage alliance between Edwaed Franco-Spanish tensions
VI and Elizabeth (Henry II daughter) which Marriage treaty led to Wyatt’s rebellion
would unite the 2 crowns 1554 - showed how foreign policy and
Mid-Tudor 3
