Simnel Rebellion

What two crucial assets did the Yorkists realise they needed to challenge Henry VII?

A figurehead and a financial backer.

Who was chosen as the Yorkist figurehead and who was he impersonating?

Lambert Simnel. He was passed off as the Earl of Warwick.

Where and by whom was Lambert Simnel crowned King?

In Dublin, Ireland, by the Earl of Kildare.

Who was the main mastermind behind the planning of the rebellion?

John de la Pole, the Earl of Lincoln.

How did Margaret of Burgundy support the conspiracy?

• Backed Simnel's claim

• Provided 2,000 German mercenaries for the invasion

What was Henry VII's immediate counter-move in London to expose the fraud?

• Called the Great Council.

• Paraded the real Earl of Warwick through London

How did Henry try to secure the traditional Yorkist power base in the North?

Reinstated the untrustworthy Earl of Northumberland to power

What were the troop numbers for both sides at the Battle of Stoke?

• Simnel had 8,000 men.

• Henry had 12,000 men

Why did the English Yorkist gentry hesitate to join Simnel's forces?

Refused to commit wholeheartedly. Waited to see which side would win.

Why was Henry VII anxious and unconfident before the battle?

• Remembered how Richard III was double-crossed

• Feared his own men would betray him

Who successfully led Henry's army and what happened to the rebel leader?

• The Earl of Oxford led the army

• John de la Pole was killed

Why did Henry treat the surviving rebels mildly after his victory?

• Avoided offending Yorkist nobility

• Highlighted that his throne was still insecure

What long-term political policy did Henry develop for the defeated gentry?

• Bonds for good behaviour

• Forced opponents to earn his favour

What fate did Henry decide for Lambert Simnel?

• Spared his life

• Made him a cook in the Royal kitchens