Lambert Simnel Rebellion 1486-7

Key events timeline:
1. 1486 - John de la Pole rumoured to have been involved in earlier plots with Lovell and Stafford
  1. November 1486 - Rumours that Lambert Simnel is claiming to be the Earl of Warwick
    1. February 1487 - Henry parades real Earl in streets of London. John de la Pole attends Royal Council meeting to discuss measures against the plot
      1. April 1487 - De la Pole escapes to Burgundy and backs Simnel
        May 1487 - De la POle and Lovell land in Ireland to crown Simnel King in Dublin
        June 1487 - Rebel army lands in Furness but Henry's army defeats the rebels at Battle of Stoke
Funded/supported by...
1. Margaret of Burgundy
  1. RIchard III's sister
    1. Was a Yorkist and so wanted to weaken Henry's claim and avenge Richard's death
  2. Powerful and rich
    1. Helped to fund an army and increase in resources
2. 2,000 German mercenaries
  1. Fought purely for money
3. Irish army
  1. Wanted to see a weaker England
    1. Could be achieved through disruption of the crown
Henry's Response:
1. Henry gathered an army and moved Northwards. He confronted the army at the head of the army, at Stoke
  1. Battle of Stoke
    1. The Irish lacked any armour and their leader was killed
      1. Lord Lovell fled and was never seen again
      2. Simnel was captured, was eventually pardoned and worked in king's kitchens and became the kings falconer
How serious was the threat?
1. SERIOUS:
  1. Multiple enemies
    1. Yorkist nobility
    2. Foreign support
    3. John de la Pole was far more legitimate as heir
  2. Margaret of Burgundy
    1. Able to raise an army
    2. Funding resources
  3. Henry's inexperience
    1. Failed to recognise threat of John de la Pole
  4. Loyalty
    1. Lack of loyalty from The North (Henry Percy did not stop the rebels
2. NOT SERIOUS:
  1. Did not receive much support
    1. Especially in the North of England
  2. Army comfortably defeated
  3. Real Earl of Warwick was in Henry's captivity
Main reason Henry VII was able to overcome the challenge?
1. REBEL'S MISTAKES:
  1. Poor decision to claim Simnel as the Earl as it was easy to disprove
  2. Majority of nobility remained reluctant to support Simnel as they preferred stability
  3. Rebellion so poorly equipped beyond foreign mercenaries and was rushed
2. HENRY'S POWER AND LEADERSHIP:
  1. No real support for the rebels - no one from the North flocked to the army once it landed
  2. Henry's system of reward and reconciliation enabled him to retain support from the vast majority of the nobility
    1. Henry's marriage to Elizabeth had satisfied the Yorkists
  3. Henry took swift action after he failed to spot De La Pole's treachery
    1. He lead the army himself and confronted the rebels early before they gathered more support
3. Consequences of Henry's victory?
  1. May have strengthened his claim
    1. He won through divine right and so is therefore the rightful king
  2. May cause/encourage more rebellion
    1. Shows how easy it was to get Henry into battles
    2. If a more believable pretender was used it may have worked
  3. Two serious Yorkist threats were removed
    1. John De La Pole and Lord Lovell
  4. Henry called second parliament of his reign
    1. Passed 28 acts of Attainment against rebels
      1. Encouraged loyalty
    2. Kings council strengthened through use of the court of the Star Chamber

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Lambert Simnel Rebellion 1486-7

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	Created by Lolly Littlefair almost 10 years ago