Rebellions

• FOR THE  MOST PART, ELIZABETH'S REIGN WAS A PERIOD OF RELATIVE ORDER:

  • Significant Northern rebellion in 1569, little to do with social and economic factors.
  • Surprising due to 'perfect storm' of severe harvest failure, rising prices and plague.
  • Authorities feared vagabondage, severe treatment for undeserving poor.
  • Food riots in London.
  • Heavy handed response to Oxfordshire rising in 1596, minor scheme reflected fear of social dislocation.
• THE NORTHERN REBELLION 1569-1570

  • Headed by the leading northern nobility, Northumberland and Westmorland, passion for religion was a part.
  • Considered themselves dishonoured from displacement from traditional role of controlling Northern government.
  • Proposed that Norfolk should marry Mary Queen of Scots - triggered heavy response
• THE START OF THE REBELLION: - 1569

  • Began on the 9th of November.
  • Rebels seized Durham on November 14th.
  • Catholic character of the rebellion from mass in a Durham cathedral.
  • Rebels marched on York, no attempt to capture it.
  • Didn't march South to pressurise government, moved back to Durham and sieged Crown stronghold.
  • Fell to the rebels December 14th
  • Rebels heard of an incoming crown force, earls disbanded and fled to Scotland.
  • Northumberland's cousin restarted rebellion and was defeated.
• WHY DID IT FAIL?

  • Bad organisation, lack of rebel objective.
  • Poor leadership
  • Lack of foreign support.
  • Authority action.
  • Showed issues with managing localities and raising forces to deal with potential threats.
  • Showed ruthlessness of Elizabeth's government.
  • Mass rebel executions.
  • Geographically limited rebellion.
  • Rebel earls had no supportive from conservative nobility.
  • Little enthusiasm to get rid of Elizabeth.
  • DOES NOT MEAN THERE WAS WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR HER, JUST NO CONSENSUS ON WHO WOULD REPLACE HER.