Mary's marraige

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Mary's duty to provide an heir

Heightened importance for Mary as she was Catholic and needed someone to continue the Catholic faith

Determined to bear children despite gynaecological problems and her age

Principal contenders for Mary were Phillip of Spain and Sir Edward Courtenay

Mary was keen on Phillip II as marraige to him would enhance her Spanish inheritance

Phillip was eleven years younger than Mary but Charles V thought he'd be an ideal husband

Phillip himself not enthusiastic about marrying Mary

Dynastic interests of Phillip II superseded his personal ones

Marriage treaty

Charles ambassador Simon Renard presented official proposal of marriage to Mary on 10 October 1553

Council consented to terms of the treaty on 7th December 1553 and approved by parliament in April 1554

Phillip had no direct involvement in the negotiations however his father agreed to majority of terms favourable to England

The terms of the marriage treaty included:

Son of marriage would inherit England

Only surviving child a daughter, same provisions would apply

If Mary died before Phillip, him or his heirs no claim to the throne

Phillip receive title of King and rule as joint sovereign, with no powers of sovereign

Couldn't promote foreigners to hold office in England

Had to uphold laws of England

Not allowed to take Queen out of the country

England to uphold treaties of 1543 and 1546 with the Netherlands

Factors which caused difficulties for marriage initially

-Hardly knew each other

-Met for the first time on 23th July 1554,two days before their wedding

-Ring given to Mary from Charles V not Phillip

-Phillip could only speak a few words of English- causing a language barrier

-Phillip lacked social skills

Mary- liked Phillip, had feelings,

Phillip- did it for dynastical reasons

Mary believed she was pregnant on two occasions

First occurred towards end of 1554 and second occurred on beginning of 1558

Phillip tried ingratiate himself in court, where he drank beer and gave out pensions and gifts from his own private resources

Tensions always present for Phillip

Formed joint household with Spanish entourage and English personnel - caused tensions as there was friction between the nationalities

Phillips followers disgusted by lack of defence for him, believing Mary throne higher than his at the wedding

Anti Spanish feeling at the wedding

Anti-Englsih feelings high in Spain

How serious of a threat was the Wyatt Rebellion?

Wyatt Rebellion in Spring 1554 followed the announcement of Mary marriage treaty to Phillip

Led by Thomas Wyatt, didn't want Mary to marry a foreigner, with the fear being that English government would be taken over by a foreigner and interests became subservient of Spain

Widespread xenophobia present

Different as Mary was a woman, previously marriage alliances okay

Some rebels involvement was due to the dislike of catholic restoration - shouldn't be overplayed

Kent, which were the rebellion started, there has been a decline in cloth industry, and economic hardships make people less tolerant to change

Politically unstable in Kent caused by shake up in office

Events of Wyatt Rebellion

In Autumn 1553 some of the gentry at court began to discuss the possibility of engineering a protestant succession- putting Elizabeth on the throne

December- plans for co-ordinated risings in Kent, Herefordshire, Devon and Leicestershire to happen on 18th March 1554

1554

Marriage treaty terms announced, provoking earlier action

Renard, Spanish ambassador realised what was going on, only Wyatt raised men, where he raised 2,500 armed men

29th January- Duke of Norfolk, had to return to government as his forces had persuaded to join those of Wyatt

3 February Wyatt reached Thames at Southwark

12 February- led troops about 20 km west of Kingston before stopping at Ludgate - Forced to surrender and ask for mercy

Ninety rebels were executed, including Wyatt himself

Lady Jane Grey executed despite being innocent

Elizabeth spared as she wasn't involved

How serious??

Got extremely close to Mary

Norfolks army joined Wyatt's 2,500 men

Easily surrendered when stopped at Ludgate

Wyatt said he didn't want a change of monarch, however gentry original plans did discuss Princess Elizabeth becoming queen. Wyatt could have lied, however he died a martyr so wouldn't be a point

Impact of Phillip on English affairs between 1553 and 1558

His impact needs to be discussed in context where Phillip spent more time abroad than in England

No children came from the marriage - leaving no guarantee of Catholic legacy

England was drawn into war alongside Spain against France in 1557

Phillip encouraged navy to build new ships and repair others

Phillip helped to negotiate Cardinal Pole to return as papal legate In 1554

Phillip tried to establish working relaitionship with as many councillors as possible

Best- Provided Mary with an intermittent and distant confidant

Worst- involved England in a war with France