When did Edward VI reign?
1547-1553. Aged 9 at accession, died aged 15 of tuberculosis. Never ruled personally — governed first by Somerset, then Northumberland.
What was the Western/Prayer Book Rebellion (1549)?
4,000 rebels besieged Exeter for 5 weeks. Caused by the new English Prayer Book replacing the Latin Mass. Demanded return of Catholic worship. Required Italian mercenaries to suppress.
What was Kett’s Rebellion (1549)?
16,000 rebels captured Norwich — the second largest city in England. 29 demands focused on enclosure, rents, and local governance. Social/economic, not religious.
When was Somerset overthrown?
October 1549 — coup by Northumberland and the Privy Council. Somerset had ruled autocratically, ignored the Council, and failed to deal with the rebellions.
What was the Lady Jane Grey crisis?
10-19 July 1553 — Northumberland manipulated dying Edward to alter succession. Jane Grey was queen for only 13 days. Mary rallied the nation as the legitimate heir — showed the strength of dynastic legitimacy.
When did Mary I reign?
1553-1558. First undisputed queen regnant of England. Restored Catholicism, married Philip II of Spain.
What was Wyatt’s Rebellion (1554)?
January 1554 — 3,000 Kentish rebels reached the gates of London. Motivated by opposition to the Spanish marriage and fear of Catholic restoration. Most serious Tudor rebellion since 1497 Cornish rising.
How many Protestants were burned under Mary I?
284 in 3.5 years (1555-58), including Archbishop Cranmer, Bishops Ridley and Latimer. Created martyrs. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (1563) ensured this was never forgotten.
When was Calais lost?
January 1558 — last English possession in France. Military humiliation under Mary. England would never again hold territory in continental France.
What was the First Act of Uniformity (1549)?
Introduced English Prayer Book replacing the Latin Mass under Edward VI. Moderate Protestant reform under Somerset. Provoked the Western Rebellion.
What was the Second Act of Uniformity (1552)?
More radical Protestant Prayer Book under Northumberland. Removed altars, introduced communion tables. Calvinist theology. Never fully implemented before Edward died.
How bad was mid-Tudor inflation?
Prices rose c.100% between 1540-1550 due to the Great Debasement and population growth. Real wages fell c.50% from 1500 levels. Population grew from c.2.3m (1500) to c.3m (1550).
What debt did Mary I inherit?
c.£185,000 from Edward’s reign. She also had to fund an expensive recoinage programme to fix the debased currency.
What did Whitney Jones argue (1973)?
Coined the term ‘mid-Tudor crisis.’ Argued there was systemic governmental weakness 1547-58. CHALLENGED by Loades (1992) who denied an overarching crisis — problems were not unique to this period.
