L5 - the rivalry of somerset and northumberland

what faction did edward seymour belong to?

reformist

what titles did edward seymour hold?

• earl of hertford

• duke of somerset

• lord protector

what were edward seymour’s key actions under henry viii?

• uncle of edward vi & eldest brother of jane seymour

• powerful position as uncle to heir of the throne

• became leader of reform faction at court in 1540s

• worked with denny to alter henry’s will

what were edward seymour’s key actions under edward vi?

• 1547: made himself lord protector, after death of henry and marriage of brother thomas to the queen dowager (katherine parr)

• 1547-1549: controlled the council and mainly ruled via proclamation

• forced to execute own brother (thomas seymour) for plotting against him

• 1549: removed from power

what were the titles of john dudley?

• lord great chamberlain (1547)

• viscount lisle

• earl of warwick

• duke of northumberland

• lord president of the regency council (feb 1550)

what faction did john dudley belong to?

protestant reformist

what were john dudley’s key actions under henry viii?

• son of edmund dudley (key advisor of henry vii, member of council learned in the law and executed aug 1510)

• participated in 1544 campaigns in scotland and france

• close to henry viii in last years of his rule

• sided w/ reformist faction

what were john dudley’s key actions under edward vi?

• initially member of reformist faction

• plotted with conservatives to remove somerset (inc. wriothesley)

• betrayed conservative and removed them from positions, once in charge of regency council

• 1550-1552: key figure in government

• leader of lady jane grey plot → married his son guildford dudley

• executed for treason by mary

what title did thomas cranmer hold?

archbishop of canterbury 1533-1555

what were the religious views of thomas cranmer?

• strongly lutheran reformist

  • did have to be cautious in henry viii’s reign

what were the key actions of thomas cranmer under henry viii?

• previously chaplain to anne boleyn and her father

• seen as key influence on henry during break from rome

• defeated a plot by conservative faction to arrest him for heresy in 1540s

what were the key actions of thomas cranmer under edward vi?

• key figure in edward’s protestant reforms e.g. issuing of book of homilies (1547) and the 1st and 2nd books of common prayer

• supporter of the lady jane grey plot

• imprisoned by mary 1555

• executed 1556

  • (see religion notes for more detail)

what were the titles of william paget?

• 1529: MP

• 1540: privy council member

• 1544: knighted

what were the religious views of william paget?

reformer

what were the key actions of william paget under henry viii?

• could be considered a ‘new man’

• ally of stephen gardiner

• 1540 - appointed to privy council

• sent on diplomatic missions by henry → responsible for negotiating alliance w/ CVHRE in 1544

• may have participated in plot to alter henry’s will

what were the key actions of william paget under edward vi?

• 1547: appointed comptroller of king’s household by somerset, intially worked closely together but disagreed on some areas of policy

• lost government posts after fall of somerset, but pardoned in 1552

• appointed to mary’s privy council in 1553

what were the 6 key stages of somerset and northumberland’s grappling for control?

1. somerset in charge

2. brother against brother

3. fall of somerset in october 1549

4. 2nd coup and beginning of northumberland’s rise to power

5. northumberland in charge

6. death of somerset

what position was edward seymour in when he was initially in charge?

• january 1547 - edward seymour declared himself lord protector

• ruled by himself with support from reform faction from likes of thomas cranmer

• controlled privy chamber primarily through michael stanhope

why was there growing resentment towards somerset whilst he was in power?

maintained an arrogant and dictatorial style of government that made many enemies

• nobility and new men felt snubbed by own self-interest

• only consulted council sporadically, which alienated supporters and stoked conservative hatred

how did the rivalry between the two seymour brothers play out?

• thomas seymour and thomas wriothesley (earl of southampton) unsuccessfully attempted to plot against somerset

• thomas seymour was arrested and executed

• wriothesley betrayed seymour and was readmitted into privy council

how did the fall of Somerset proceed?

• position weakened by popular rebellions in 1549

• john dudley and thomas wriothesley conspired with other conservative noblemen to remove him from power

• somerset fled london w/ edward vi

• forced to surrender in october 1549 when edward’s lack of support for him was made abundantly clear

• arrested

• after being released, he returned to council in april 1550

how did john dudley (northumberland) begin his rise to power?

• power vacuum in central government persisted after fall of Somerset

• dudley in position of power within the council

• purged many of remaining conservatives from council including wriothesley

• council becomes even more radically protestant

• promoted to lord president of the council in february 1550

what developments were made with dudley in charge from 1550?

• 15511: dudley was awarded title of duke of northumberland’s

• northumberland developed close relationship with edward vi and involved him more in government e.g. invited to council meetings

  • had not been seen often previously in central government, so power vacuum persisted

how did the death of somerset occur?

• somerset accused of plotting to regain power and get rid of northumberland

• october 1551: arrested

• january 1552: executed

what was the consequence of the death of somerset?

• northhumberland remained firmly in power, retained ultimate control of government

• initiated a 5-10 year plan for england that could never come into fruition due to the untimely death of edward

• time in power was short-lived due to faction riddled government → continuation from henry viii’s 1540s government