To what extent was good leadership an important factor in

successful rebellions?

Key questions

• Did a good leader increase the threat level of a rebellion?

• Did it make the rebellion more likely to succeed?

Royal Claimants

• Ideally dynastic rebellions needed to be led by a prince of the blood or royal claimant

• Simnel/Warbeck more threatening because Henry VII’s own claim was shaky

• Northumberland LJG affair unlikely to ever succeed in toppling Mary the legitimate heir to Henry VIII

Nobility and Gentry

• Natural leaders in society so played key role in rebellions

• Some put themselves at the Head of a rebellion

• Audley 1497 • Lumley/Latimer in 1536• Dacre 1570• Essex 1601

• Other were more reluctant• Northumberland and Westmoreland 1570

• Nobility inspired authority and legitimacy and was essential for any serious revolt.

• As period progressed less willing to lead rebellion and instead we see increased involvement from clergy and gentry

• No nobles in Norfolk 1549• Sir Thomas Wyatt 1554 had been sheriff

Nobility and Gentry

Clergy• Rarely led a revolt• Rebellion against a divinely anointed ruler was a

sin as well as an act of treason.

• Catholics though especially in areas where the catholic faith was deeply entrenched did appear willing to rebel.

• 1536 Abbots of Kirstead, Furness and Barlins supported the rebels

• Vicars visited the rebels in Exeter in 1549

Lawyers

• Since the main objective was to bring local grievances to the attention of the local authorities a man who knew the law was a sensible choice.

• Several were prominent in rebellions including 1497 and 1536

• Most famous was Robert Aske 1536

Commoners• With the exception of the 1549 revolts few rebellions were

led by commoners• 1549 Kett was a tanner by trade• 1549 Devon Tailor is believed to have started disturbances• 1596 Oxford was organised by local servants and

tradesmen –millers, masons, weavers and bakers and headed by a carpenter.

• However 1525 Amicable Grant was also led by artisans, weavers and rural peasants. It owed its success to its size and sympathy it received from members of the King’s council.

What made a good Tudor rebel leader?

• Age – Simnel was too young and the earls 1569 were too old.

• Legitimacy and Social Standing• Good organisational skills• Military exerpience – Arundell 1549 fought for Henry

VIII in France Wyatt had been a military stategist for the King

• Aske and Kett seen as outstanding rebel leaders because of their ability to unite disparate factions, command thousands of troops and keep the authorities on tenterhooks for a considerable period of time

Poorly organised rebellions• 1569 not enough time allowed to march from Durham to

Tutbury to release MQOS. Did not have enough money to pay troops.

• 1487 Inviting 2000 German mercenaries and 40 wild Irish nobles and their army did little to gain them support.

• 1549 Western – tensions between the three groups within the rebel camp made them disorganised and fractious.

• 1596 Oxford- Not secretive enough and the cat got let out the bag!

• 1601 - Essex too advertised the fact he was going to have a rebellion even hiring a troupe of actors to perform Shakespeare’s Richard II ( a play about the usurpation of a monarch) on the eve of the rebellion

Well Organised Rebellions• 1536 – Aske massive army from across the region. So ho

did he do it?• Recruits but into regional armies so people from the same

area were together.• Captains met at least once a day with Aske. • Each recruit was given a badge, some food and some wages

and took an oath.

• 1549 – Kett- ran the camp like a small model government. Each county represented by rebels elected 2 people to sit on a council. They issued proclamations and administered justice. Significantly despite seizing Norwich no one was killed until the royal force arrived.