SIMNEL

KEY PLAYERS

- Sir Francis Lovell
- John de la Pole
- Lambert Simnel
- Richard Simmons (educated Simnel)
- Margaret of Burgundy
- Martin Schwartz + 2000 German mercs.
- Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare
- Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland

STAGE 1 FOR SIMNEL

- Plotters (de la Pole, Lovell, Simons) made Simnel (10 year old son of a joiner) impersonate the Earl of Warwick.

STAGE 2 FOR SIMNEL

- in 1486; de la Pole joined Lovell in Burgundy and with Margaret's help raised the support of 2,000 German mercenaries.

STAGE 3 FOR SIMNEL

- The rebels sailed to Ireland (a traditional Yorkist power base) where Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, and other sympathetic Irish nobles, crowned Simnel as king in Dublin, then launched an invasion of England.
- The rebel army arrived in the North in early June 1487 and marched South.

STAGE 4 FOR SIMNEL

- Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland (who had watched Bosworth from the sidelines) did not stop the rebel army (as local lord, he should have been the first line of defence).

STAGE 5 FOR SIMNEL

- Meanwhile, when Henry received intelligence of the rebels' imminent arrival from Ireland, he gradually moved northwards and westwards, gathering men and supplies as he went.

STAGE 6 FOR SIMNEL

- In the Battle of Stoke that followed, the rebels were defeated; John de la Pole and Martin Schwartz (mercenary leader) was killed, Lovell went AWOL, NTBSA, Simnel was captured, but taken pity on by Henry and put to work in the king's kitchens.

HENRY IN 1487 PARLIAMENT

- 28 Acts of Attainder against the rebels - using an Act of Parliament to declare someone was guilty without having to put them on trial (all estates could
be confiscated but this could be reversed for good behaviour).
- Members of the Kings Council were given authority to deal with local disorder and the problem of OMS amongst the nobility and gentry through the use
of the Court of Star Chamber.

REBEL MISTAKES

- The fighting force raised by de la Pole and Lovell was made up of mercenaries, not Yorkist loyalists.
- The decision to claim that Simnel was the Earl of Warwick was a poor one as Henry was able to produce the real one.
- Although the rebels didn't face resistance from the Earl of Northumberland as they marched through the North, neither did supporters flock to support the rebel army.

HENRY'S STRENGTHS

- Henry's relatively easy victory at the Battle of Stoke meant he was able to reinforce his position as the rightful king of England, anointed by God.
- Henry was prepared to lead an army himself. He reacted swiftly to news of the rebel army and made sure he was well-placed in the middle of England to make a military strike at the rebels, wherever they appeared.
- Henry was able to gather enough loyal support to defeat the rebels in a pitched battle.

THE POWER + EFFECTIVENESS OF REBEL LEADERSHIP

- made the rebellion fairly dangerous
- Attracted foreign support.
- Fate of Tudors decided in battle (Stoke).
- But failed to recruit large number of gentry/nobility.
- Limited in numbers & power.

THE AIMS OF THE REBELS

- made the rebellion very dangerous
- Dynastic rebellion aiming to replace Henry as King with a stronger claimant: Warwick/de le Pole.
- Attracted backing for this.

EXTENT OF SUPPORT IN ENGLAND

- made the rebellion fairly dangerous
- Die hard Yorkists willing to support Simnel were a minority in 1487.
- Lack of support for rebels in the North.
- Lack of support from the gentry & nobility within England.

CHANCE OF THE REBELS' PLANS SUCCEEDING

- made the rebellion very dangerous
- They had raised an army & secured foreign support. Faced the King at Stoke. Henry faced de la Pole who had a stronger claim to the throne.
- Henry could have lost his life & throne.
He had been on the throne less than 2 years.
- HOWEVER
- Rebels lacked support of the gentry & nobility within England
- Key errors made.
Henry had the superior army & support.

IMPACT OF FOREIGN SUPPORT

- made the rebellion very dangerous
- foreign support had given the rebels an armed force (Burgundy) 2,000 German mercenaries.
- Irish support-able to have a base and launch an attack.
Henry forced to defend his crown in a pitched battle at Stoke.

REACTION OF HENRY + HIS GOVERNMENT

- made the rebellion fairly dangerous
- Failure/naivety of seeing John de la Pole as a threat.
Offering pardon and parading the Earl of Warwick = ineffective.
- Good tactical decisions made. Henry had the superior army & greater support.
BUT... victory at Stoke not guaranteed.