Northern Rebellion, 1569

What was the Northern Rebellion?

Major Catholic uprising against Queen Liz in Northern England

What was it the most?

Serious domestic threat she faced during the early part of her reign

Causes

• Religious tension

• Political exclusion and declining noble influence

• MQOS

• Resentment of Protestant clergy and reforms

Why was there religious tension?

England had undergone major religious upheaval in earlier reigns, Liz restored Protestantism via the Religious Settlement 1559, and the north remained largely Catholic

Examples of traditional northern nobles

Thomas Percy (Earl of Northumberland) and Charles Neville (Earl of Westmoreland)

What did trad northern nobles feel under Liz rule and why?

Marginalised as Liz had centralised authority and promoted new men, limiting the influence of the old Catholic nobility. Also given land in north to southern Protestants

What happened to MQOS after feeling Scotland?

Placed under house arrest in England

What did many Catholics view Mary as?

The legitimate heir to the English throne

What did some rebels aim to do with Mary?

Replace Liz with Mary, potentially through marriage to Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk

What did Catholic gentry resent in rural areas?

Imposition of Protestant clergy, loss of Catholic rituals, and seizure of church wealth

What was under threat in North?

Strong local Catholic traditions

When does the uprising beging?

November 1569

Who raise their banners at Brancepeth Castle?

Percy and Neville

How many men do they gather in an army and where from?

5000-6000 mainly from Durham and Yorkshire

What did they restore?

Catholic rituals

Where did the rebels occupy?

Durham Cathedral

Why did they hold a Catholic mass in Durham Cathedral?

Symbolic defiance of Liz’s Church Settlement

What did they aim to do and not succeed?

Rally wider Catholic support, though few nobles joined

Why did the rebels plan to march south to Tutbury?

Where Mary was held, possibly to free her and instigate a wider Catholic coup

How did this march south fail?

Liz moved Mary before they arrived and no significant reinforcements joined them

When did the royal army advance north and who commanded it?

December 1569 and Earl of Sussex

Why did the rebels disband quickly?

Lacking coordination and broader support

Examples of Liz responded with brutal force

• Over 800 rebels executed and many hanged as a warning

• Nobles like Northumberland were captured and executed- Westmoreland fled abroad

How did Liz gain stronger royal control in the North?

Restructured northern government

How did Liz restructure royal government?

• Council of the North strengthened under Protestant leadership

• Lord Hunsdon and other loyal figures promoted

• New protestant bishops were installed in key northern dioceses

Why did nobles become more cautious?

Fearing land loss or execution

What did Liz become more paranoid about?

Plots, especially involving MQOS

How did the rebels fail to gain foreign support?

Catholic powers like Spain and the Pope were sympathetic but gave no immediate support

What did the lack of foreign aid reveal?

Catholic isolation in the wider European context

What did the rebellion mark the start of?

A series of Catholic conspirators tied to MQOS- Ridolfi, Throckmorton, and Babington Plots

Why did the rebellion fail?

• Poor leadership

• No clear military or political strategy

• Limited support- most of England remained loyal or neutral

• No foreign aid

• Underestimated Liz’s strength- response swift and effective