Tudor Rebellions: Rebellion and riot under King Henry VII

Aims:

1. The early life of Henry Tudor 2. Henry Tudor’s seizure of the English Crown 3. The Lambert Simnel affair 4. The Northern rising, 1489 5. The Cornish rising and the battle of Blackheath 6. Perkin Warbeck’s rebellion 7. The final years

1. The early life of Henry Tudor  born in Pembroke Castle, Wales, on January 28th, 1457 o The only child of Edmund Tudor (Earl of Richmond) and Margaret Beaufort o Father died three months before his birth fighting the Duke f York for control of West Wales o His mother was only fourteen at his birth  Spent the majority of his childhood living in Pembroke Castle o When the castle was seized by Lord Herbert in 1461 after the defeat of Henry VI o A year later Edward IV sold his guardianship to Lord Herbert – during this time he saw little of his mother and she remarried in 1464  Henry VI retook the throne  When the king and his only heir died suddenly his situation changed, now Henry Tudor was the only Lancastrian claimant to the throne o His uncle, Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke, sent him to France for his safety  He consequently spent 14 years in exile in Brittany with Francis II as his dutiful host, despite offers of reward for his handing the Tudor to the English King, the Yorkist Edward IV o He stopped all efforts when Henry and Jasper were taken to a sanctuary for a fever 2. Henry Tudor’s seizure of the English Crown  Richard III now sat on the throne – many of his enemies now wanted Henry Tudor on the throne – including his brothers’ widow, Elizabeth Woodville o By marrying her eldest daughter, Elizabeth to Henry he would gain the support of both Lancastrian and Yorkist supporters – this would also keep her and her husband’s heirs on the throne of England o To gain more support he declared that if he took the throne from Richard, he would marry Elizabeth of York (provide an end to the War of the Roses)  Henry was informed that the now elderly Francis was planning to send him into Richard’s hands so disguised, he escaped to Paris  Gathered a group who were discontent with the state of English rule and agreed to support his claim to the throne o Richard had announced his intention to also marry his niece, Elizabeth of York in an attempt to halt his efforts  Soon travelled to Milford Haven, Wales on August 7th 1485 o Support had grown in Wales for the Tudor throughout the reign of Richard III o Popular belief that he was the direct descendent of King Arthur  His victory at the Battle of Bosworth was largely due to both Welsh and French support o Support from several English nobles ‘loyal’ to Richard III

Was Henry Tudor a ‘Welsh pretender’ of the throne?

 The son of Margaret Beaufort and nephew of Jasper Tudor  Accused of not having a true claim to the throne  Married Elizabeth of York (Richard III’s niece) to seal the divide  ‘Uneasy lies the head which wears the crown’

3. The Lambert Simnel affair

Lambert was a young boy who Yorkist supporters claimed was the lost prince, the Earl of Warwick.

 Crowned in Dublin as King Edward VI o Support of Ireland worried the king  His enemy force landed in England and took York (the regional Capital) o Hugely worrying considering Richard III was a Yorkist King.  Simnel was defeated by Henry Tudor and spared (an innocent/ child?) – put to work in the kitchens

4. The Northern rising, 1489

Again, Yorkist supporters gathered to harness the dislike of Henry’s new subsidiary to aid his allies in Brittany.

 Gathered in Cleveland  Sir John Earemont took control of York  Orchestrated by old dynastic rivals?  Leader known to be a Yorkist sympathiser  Henry’s forces marched North o Easily defeated – tightened grip of control, especially in the North o Led to relative peace (despite a riot against German merchants – this was not a rebellion against Henry

5. The Cornish rising and the battle of Blackheath

June 1497

 Resentment grew against new military tax to fight the Scots. o Separate to England – Celtic origin, cousins to the Welsh o Fear and resentment – explosion of popular anger  Captain of Cornwall  Mob travelled to Exeter – but were unsuccessful in gaining more support  However; discontent English nobles joined the rebel army from Taunton  Marched to Blackheath to meet allies o None came, fear of Henry suddenly surged – several deserters, those who remained were hugely defeated  Leaders were taken to the tower o 2 chief leaders – hanged, drawn and quartered (PUBLIC DISPLAY) o Lord Orderly – Beheaded in a Mock Suit of armour  Rebellion stirring again

6. Perkin Warbeck’s rebellion  The son of a Merchant, when working as a male model PW was told he resembled a Prince – pretending to be the prince gave him a stronger claim than that of Henry VII  Given substantial financial backing – many truly believed he was the prince of York  Landed at Whitesand bay in Cornwall and marched to Bodmin – but missed the Cornish rebellion. o Despite his strong forces he was defeated at Exeter and fled, seeking sanctuary in an Abbey  Henry didn’t (immediately) execute Warbeck – he became a living curiosity at the Tower, o Became involved with further rebellion and was eventually hanged.

7. The final years

Henry became suspicious and reclusive in his final decade as King of England – following the death of Arthur, the Prince of Wales he sheltered Henry (VIII) from any harm.

‘A decade of perpetual winter’

Not a single king had reigned of peacefully – died at the age of 52.