Mary F

• Wyatt’s rebellion 1554

  • The result of anti Spanish sentiments - they believed English interests would become subservient to those of Spain
  • Some rebels did not wish to see a catholic restoration
  • Started in Kent
  • Other greivances included economic hardship and a decline in the cloth trade
• Events of Wyatt’s rebellion

  • some gentry at court, some of whom were MPs, discussed the possibility of engineering a Protestant succession
  • plans were made for co-ordinated uprisings in Kent, Herefordshire, devon and Leicestershire
  • the marriage proclamation was issued
  • Wyatt raised 2,500 men
• How many rebels were executed for the Wyatt rebellion

  90
• outcome of the Wyatt rebellion

  • Wyatt became like a martyr, people dipped their handkerchiefs in his blood after his execution
  • Lady Jane Grey and her husband were executed
  • Princess Elizabeth was spared as she had not been directly involved
• Events had moved too fast for the Wyatt rebels, they planned their rising for two months prior
• Guildhall 1 February 1554


  • Mary stood firm in her cause
  • stated she loved the country as a ‘mother doth love a child’
• Mary decided against the help of imperial troops which would have fuelled the rebels xenophobia
• Mary was Queen, and Phillip was king in name only
• The marriage treaty

  • Limited Phillips power in government
  • he did have some influence, it was him who helped to negotiate Cardinal Pole’s return to England as papal legate in 1554
• Mary’s foreign policy aims

  • reconciliation with Rome
  • To ally England to the Spanish Habsburgs
• the diplomatic situation in 1556- 57

  • Truce broke between France and the Habsburgs
  • the Treaty of Vaucelles ended in September 1556 when Phillip attacked the anti-Spanish pope, who was allied to the French
• The loss of Calais

  • 7th June 1557 - England declared War on France
  • 7,000 troops were sent to aid the 70,000 Spanish and Imperial troops fighting the French
  • At the Battle of St Quentin, Phillip defeated Henry II with minimal support from the english
  • the french sought easy compensation, and the obvious target was Calais
  • they launched a surprise attack in mid winter]
  • the 2,000 English troops stood no chance against the 27,000 french
  • they captured the Calais fortress and the whole of the Calais Pale within three weeks
  • In 1558, peace negotiations opened up on Phillip’s terms - he did not attempt to recover Calais for England
• What was the economic impact of the loss of Calais?

  Significant loss of trade through the port
• How had the trade through Calais been trending before its loss?

  It had been declining for decades
• What was the image and morale impact of losing Calais?

  Seen as a humiliating abandonment of territory
• Since when had the Kings of England claimed Calais?

  Since 1347
• How did Protestant propagandists react to the loss of Calais?


  They capitalized on the national humiliation
• What was the territorial significance of Calais for England?

  It was the last territory on French mainland
• How was Calais used militarily by Henry VIII?

  As a springboard for attacks
• What challenges were associated with maintaining a garrison in Calais?


  It was difficult and expensive to maintain
• How was Mary I's diplomatic stance perceived regarding Spain?

  Seen as betraying England’s interests
• Who did Mary I depend on for advice?

  Spanish advisors
• What was the outcome of Phillip's actions regarding Calais?

  He allowed France to keep Calais
• What facilitated Phillip's abandonment of England regarding Calais?

  The death of Mary before the treaty signing
• What treaty allowed France to keep Calais?

  Treaty of Cateau-Cambresis
• • Mary had resisted involvement for as long as she could
  • she had only sent 7,000 troops
  • The French attack and subsequent loss of Calais was unpredictable
  • The English Garrison should have been resupplied
• Military developments under Mary

  • armed forces were substantially strengthened
  • With the encouragement of Phillip, the navy was reorganised and improved
  • A Naval Treasurer was appointed and the number of ships available for active duty increased from from 3 in 1555 to 21 in 1557
  • significant improvement took place in Army recruits, the old system of getting individual lords and gentlemen to raise troops was abandoned and replaced with that of the militia - where Lords Lieutenant and JPs were given responsibility to raise troops - this lasted 300 years