Was there a mid-Tudor crisis?

Edward VI

Mary I

Was there a mid-Tudor crisis?

No Crisis

Crisis

No Crisis

Crisis

Rebellion

Marriage

Somerset

Rebellion

Marriage

The Government

Navy

• Reorganised and improved
• A Naval Treasurer was appointed
• The number of ships available for active duty increased from 3 in 1555 to 21 in 1557

Somerset

The Dry Stamp

• Allowed Somerset to pass laws, policies and proclamations without consultation
• Showed he did not believe his ideas would be supported
• Showed weaknesses in government

Western Rebellion

• Pre-occupied, Somerset handed responsibility to Lord Russell
• Russell avoided confrontation due to a lack of troops

Northumberland

Wyatt's

• Only 1 of the 4 counties rebelled
• The rebellion was rushed as the court were made aware of the plotting through the Imperial Ambassador and an examination of Courtenay led to most of the story being revealed
• Wyatt was unable to attract support from the nobility and had to rely on leadership from social groups below the highest ranks
• The lack of nationally known men among the leadership prevented an increase in support
• Hesitation proved fatal as it allowed Mary to fortify and rally support
• Mary acted quickly, rallying the city of London with flattery and refusing to leave strengthened the capital and fortifying London Bridge and Ludgate prevented rebel entry
• The people of London attacked Wyatt's men as they retreated

Army

• Improvements in recruitment
• Old system of lords and gentlemen individually raising the troops abolished
• Replaced with militia, under which Lords Lieutenant and JPs in each county given the responsibility
• Militia system had been evolving through 1540s and 1550s but was pulled together in 1558 and was o last for 300 years

Unpopular

• Xenophobia
• Spanish control
• Many feared that the marriage would lead to the Spanish taking control of the government
• Nobles feared losing their positions in parliament, especially after the factional struggle following Mary's succession
• Spanish use of money
• Fears that the Spanish would use English money to fund their wars, resulting in increased taxes
• Putting Spain first
• English felt Mary was putting her religious aims and the well being of Spain before her own country due to her Spanish roots and the marriage to Philip - used as a Spanish pawn
• Foreign policy led to England becoming battleground in the Habsburg-Valois War

Wyatt's

• Raised men quickly due to high standing withing society
• Assembled force of 2,500 to 3,000 men from various regions across the country
• Kent situated close to London
• Fast paced actions allowed him to gain land quickly - within 2 days a headquarters at Rochester established
• Government forces fled at Charing Cross
• Reached Ludgate before the advance was halted
• Many of Mary's troops deserted - Duke of Norfolk

Kett's Rebellion

• Northumberland called in troops from the border

Vagrancy Act

• Unpopular as considered extreme

Structure

• Re-organised the government and the council, allowing the King to be more involved as he grew up

War with France

Enclosure Act

• Prevented free choice in farming

17 rebellion occurred in 1549 alone, showing that the government and its policies faced much opposition

Rebellions

• All major rebellions were dealt with
• The rebels never aimed to overthrow the government

War with France

Northumberland

Foreign Affairs

• Withdrew troops from Boulogne and formed an alliance with the natural enemy (France) in the Treaty of Boulogne

Calais

• Trading
• The importance of the staple merchants had already been brought to an end by the long-term decline in the traditional markets
• Morale
• The loss was made to seem worse by Protestant propaganda
• Status
• Despite its status, little could be achieved by maintaining Calais and it would only be a matter of time before the French reclaimed it
• Military
• It was difficult and expensive to maintain a permanent garrison there and it had become a burden as another frontier to be defended

Financial cost

• War was expensive and was usually avoided unless completely necessary

Calais

• Trading
• Loss of trading that came through the port
• Morale
• The kings of England had claimed the land since 1347
• Status
• It was the only French mainland territory still controlled by England
• Diplomatic
• Seen as a result of failed Anglo-Habsburg alliance
• Mary's dependence on Spanish advisers and her slavish pursuit of Spanish Habsburg policy were seen as a betrayal
• Philip allowed France to keep Calais in the Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis
• Military
• It has been used as a springboard to launch Henry VIII's attacks in the 1520s and 1540s

The Succession Crisis

• Removing Mary from the order of succession was not popular
• Jane Grey was an unwilling queen, weakening the cause
• Lord Chief Justice Montague refused to legally change the succession as Edward was a minor
• Mary was significantly underestimated and gained a vast amount of support from various regions (East Anglia, nobles and gentry included), biding her time until she marched on London
• The support of the people was never consistently strong and the troops started to desert when rumours of Mary's 30,000 spread