Rebellions

For the most part Elizabeth’s reign was one of…

social order

The Northern Rebellion had little to do with…

the social & economic aspirations of the poor

even in the mid-1590s during harvest failure, rising food prices & plague creating desperate situations…

social stability broadly held up

even …social stability broadly held up.

in the mid-1590s during harvest failure, rising food prices & plague creating desperate situations

The authorities…

feared vagabondage & treated the undeserving poor harshly but the reality of such a threat was minimal

Food riots took place in…

London, Kent, Hampshire & Norfolk

food riots didn’t…

lead to any real rising

where was the Northern rebellion geographically located?

 in Durham & the North Riding of Yorkshire linked to a rising in the Cumberland in 1570

when was the Northern rebellion?

1569-1570

what were the causes of the Northern rebellion?

• Angry at Elizabeth’s appointment of James Pilkington, a committed Protestant, as Bishop of Durham in 1561; he attempted to impose Protestantism in the north which led to people turning against him & the Religious Settlement.

• The Earls of Northumberland & Westmorland were angry at the rise of ‘new men’  (e.g. William Cecil & Robert Dudely) that did not come from ancient noble families (they were from the gentry) who were now powerful and had influence over Elizabeth I/they considered themselves dishonoured by having been displaced from their traditional aristocratic role of controlling northern government.

• The rebellion may have also been tied to courtly conspiracy at the centre of which was Westmoreland's brother-in-law, the Duke of Norfolk; it was proposed that Norfolk should marry MQoS who could be restored to the Scottish throne.

what indicated the Catholic character of the rebellion?

The rebels marched on Durham & seized the city in November 1569 & held Mass in the Cathedral

why did the rebellion fail?

• The rebels were disorganised with a lack of clarity concerning objectives

• Poor leadership

• Lack of expected foreign support

• Decisive action taken by authorities

why was the rebellion not threatening?

The rebellion was geographically limited & there were few rebels from outside Durham or the North Riding of Yorkshire. The rebel earls gained no support from the equally conservative nobility of other parts of the north & there appeared to be little enthusiasm to get rid of Elizabeth. 

why did the Essex rebellion happen?

Essex was discredited after his failure in Ireland. He was deprived of his office and placed under house arrest. Due to his loss of position/power/influence at court he turned against the politics and supporters of Robert Cecil. He was not allowed to return to Court & in his monopoly on sweet wine was not renewed. This placed him in financial danger. So he plotted to overthrow Elizabeth

why did the Essex rebellion fail?

Essex & his supporters planned to surprise the court - this failed. He then hastily tried to organise an uprising and marched on the City of London. Cecil sent the mayor of London a warning about Essex’s treason, leading Essex’s support to abandon him. Two weeks after the attempted rebellion, Essex was executed