Rebellion of the Northern Earls 1569 - 1570

• In was years was the Rebellion of the Northern Earls?

  1569 - 1570
• Who was involved in the Rebellion of the Northern Earls?

  Thomas Percy (Earl of Northumberland), Charles Nevill (Earl of Westwood) and Thomas Howard (Duke of Norfolk)
• What was the cause of the Rebellion of the Northern Earls?

  Thomas Percy and Charles Neville were angered that their families lost power and influence under Elizabeth as she was Protestant
• What was the aim of the Rebellion of the Northern Earls?


  1. replace Elizabeth with Mary QoS
  2. Mary then would marry Northumberland’s brother, Thomas Howard (Duke of Norfolk)
• What happened before the Rebellion of the Northern Earls?


  Elizabeth found out about the marriage and sent Howard to the Tower of London for a trial, she also demanded the two Earls to hand themselves in but they refused and started their rebellion anyway
• What actually happened during the Rebellion of the Northern Earls?

  • 4,600 rebels marched into Durham Cathedral, held a Catholic Mass and destroyed the Protestant prayer book.
  • Mary also had confirmation that Spain would send over troops to support, but they never sent any
• How did Elizabeth stop the Rebellion of the Northern Earls?


  she sent 14,000 troops which was much larger than what the rebels had
• What were the consequences of the Rebellion of the Northern Earls?

  • The Earl of Northumberland was arrested and executed for treason
  • The Earl of Westmoreland fled to France and later died of poverty
  • Thomas Howard was released in 1570
  • to demonstrate her Royal authority in the North, Elizabeth ordered 700 rebels to be executed and confiscate the land belonging to the Catholic families
• What are some reasons the Rebellion of the Northern Earls failed?

  • poor planning and leadership - the rebels ran away once they heard of Elizabeth’s army
  • popularity of Elizabeth - many had enjoyed a decade of peace and stability under the religious settlement
  • lack of foreign support - Spain promised to help, but never actually did
• What was the papal bull, 1570?


  issued by pope pius V that removed (excommunicate) Elizabeth from the catholic church as she was not the rightful queen it also released Catholics from the their oath of allegiance to Elizabeth, giving them permission to plot against her
• How did Elizabeth react to the Papal Bull?


  parliament passed the treason Act 1571 which:

  • made it treasonable to say that Elizabeth was not the rightful queen
  • made it treasonable to publish any papal bull
  • confiscated the land of Catholics that went abroad and did not return within 12 months
  • increased Elizabeth’s control over the North of England by creating a Council of the North, led by puritan earl of Huntington, which took away any control the nobles has over the peasants