Simnel Rebellion

• Causes for the Rebellion; Short and Long-term

  • Desire for a Yorkist on the throne
  • War of the Roses
  • Margaret of Burgundy funding of 2000 mercenaries
• Governments response to Simnel


  • The earl of Warwick was paraded through the streets of London
  • In December 1486 a great council was summoned to join in February, to take action against political conspirators
  • Troops were sent upon hearing that Edward IV’s forces had landed on June 4th 1487, 2000 Burgundian troops, no further support
  • Rebels defeated at the battle of stoke in 1487
• Results of the Simnel Rebellion

  • John De la pole was killed during the fighting at Stoke alongside Schwartz
  • only 28 men were attainted, less land available to award supporters
  • Lambert simnel was captured and worked as turnspit in the royal kitchens, later became the kings falconer
  • Henry retained Kildare as lord deputy in Ireland.
• The Events of the Simnel Rebellion

  • Nov, 1489 Rumours spread that Lambert Simnel was the earl of Warwick; one of the princes in the tower.
  • M of Burgundy sheltered Lovell and the Earl of Liconcl and acknowledged Simnel as her nephew, 2000 mercenaries raised under Martin Schwartz
  • Jan 1487 - Simnel, Symonds & Lincoln land at Dublin and Kildare and some Yorkists accept the EoW as Simnel
  • May 1487, Simnel crowned as Edward VI in Dublin Cathedral.
• Who was Kildare; Simnel.

  • Irish Lord deputy since 1479
  • strongly supported Lambert Simnel
  • most influential man in Ireland
• How did the Simnel Rebellion show weaknesses in the patronage system and Henry VII’s control of the north?

  Henry percy, the Earl of Northumberland did nothing to stop the rebellion and allowed the Rebels to proceed when the Rebels passed through.
• Overall, how effective was the Simnel Rebellion?

  • Rebels lacked support
  • Henry VII acted decisively
  • Simnel was a poor claim as the Earl of Warwick
  • There was little northern support, the north was a traditionalist yorkist stronghold