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Mid Tudor Crisis - Stability of the Monarchy (Somerset's coup (Lord…
Mid Tudor Crisis - Stability of the Monarchy
Edward's minority
Third Succession Act - if Edward died without heirs Mary would be queen, and then Elizabeth
Political stability - Regency Council supposed to be balanced but reformist-dominated due to Henry's last year
Minor on the throne - belief it would create instability as couldn't lead troops into war
Threats abroad and threat of civil war from factional struggles
Coins showed Edward on horseback as an adult indicating issue
Belief he would reach adulthood,marry and have an heir
Somerset uncle of king and successful soldier during wars in Scotland, also realistic arguments against council of 16 equal members
Somerset's coup
Lord Protector - used to increase wealth and power
Unrest in 1549 - Western Rebellion and Kett's Rebellion significantly, ruling elite concerned by disorder
Anti-Somerset faction - Warwick (wanted power), Paget (had wanted him to report to him, no law or religion implemented), Wriothesley (opposed to religious changes)
Retreated to Hampton Court then Windsor Castle with the king who claimed he was a prisoner, Somerset arrested
Council contained majority of religious conservatives - did not trust Warwick
Warwick brought in his own allies and removed opponents so he had Protestant majority
December 1549 - rumours of a Catholic plot to remove Warwick, he used to remove leading Catholic members - Earls of Arundel and Southampton
Warwick made Lord President of the Council and placed his supporters in important positions around Edward
However forced to ally with more religiously radical members of the Council - impact on religious developments
Somerset continued to plot against Northumberland, executed as risk of raising rebellions
Alterations to the succession
Edward's health began to deteriorate in 1553
Plot to exclude Mary from the succession as she was Catholic
Northumberland - to preserve power, son Guildford Dudley married to Jane Grey
Edward - Guildford Dudley married to Jane Grey before the Devise, would only have been father of kings, Edward playing greater role in government, committed Protestant, poorly managed plot as few forces and Mary not captured and no propaganda campaign
Devise for the Succession (letters patent for the limitation of the crown), May 1553 to heirs of Frances Grey, June 1553 to Lady Jane Grey
Death kept quiet, prominent members signed the devise and forces raised
Mary proclaimed herself queen, sent letters to Privy Council and towns informing them making it clear that those who opposed her were opposing rightful ruler
10 July, Jane queen, Mary proclaimed queen in east Anglia, asked Charles V for help, Northumberland left London to confront challenge, Privy Council members reconsidered and many deserted Northumberland
Mary released Gardiner and Norfolk, lenient towards opposition such as Paget, Northumberland, Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley arrested and later executed
A female ruler
Unable to control faction
Unable to lead an army into battle
Expected to marry which caused problem of who she should marry and how she would maintain power over them
If she married an Englishman it would increase their power and would dominate court
If she married foreigner the country would be dominated by foreigners
Divisions over marriage but limited factional disputes, large Council met rarely met
1554 Mary established committees to exclude the casual Councillors, 1555 created 'Inner Council' and 1555 Philip's departure and death of Gardiner allowed Paget to dominate
Mary's marriage to Philip
Factions - Edward Courtenay who was supported by Gardiner and Philip of Spain who was supported by Paget
Courtenay descended from royal blood - strengthen Tudor dynasty
Philip - bring Englad closer to the Habsburgs, powerful and able to protect marry but threat of England being dragged into Habsburg wars
Wyatt's Rebellion January 1554 - unrest caused by female rule, involved political elite who feared would lose their influence
Mary presented marriage treaty, approved January 1554, maintained rights of England and Mary
Wyatt committed Protestant, rebels planned to marry Princess Elizabeth to Courtenay, raised 3000 men, Mary refused to leave city and rebellion failed
Executed less than 100 commoners - not serious threat of cautious in response for fear of further unrest
Hoped to secure a catholic succession but Mary's age and Philip's little time in England meant unsuccessful
How stable was the monarchy?
Political Crisis
Somerset only able to seize power through manipulating Henry's will
Nature of government changed under Somerset so it was run through his household
1549 rebellions resulted in political elite abandoning their support of the government
Somerset's overthrow in 1549 created instability
Struggle for power between Northumberland and Catholic factions
Lady Jane Grey affair resulted in the raising of armed forces
Wyatt came close to toppling Mary
Not a crisis
Legitimate monarch always triumphed
Crown passed peacefully from Henry to Edward and from Mary to Elizabeth
Even during factional struggles, government continued
Henry VIII's will was upheld
Somerset's attempted coup was short lived
Lady Jane Grey was only queen for 9 days
The ruling elite supported the rightful monarch, even in 1553 they supported Mary once Northumberland had left London