Succession Disputes

Mary I's Succession to the Throne

Mary I’s legitimacy was in doubt because of her father’s actions. There was a plot to replace her with Lady Jane Grey – however, it was put down and Mary was welcomed by the people of London. Her marriage, and the need for her to produce an heir, met with less success.

Northumberland's plot

Most think Northumberland was behind the plan to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne in place of Mary.
Edward agreed, or maybe was behind it. He wrote the ‘Devise’, which altered Henry’s will to bypass Mary and Elizabeth. Instead the throne would pass to Lady Jane Grey and her ‘heirs male.’
Lady Jane Grey married Northumberland’s son, Guildford Dudley, six weeks before Edward died. Northumberland reassured Edward that he could ensure the continuation of the Protestant faith in England.

Queen for Nine Days

Only London, Kings Lyn and Berwick backed Lady Jane Grey for queen.
Mary was in East Anglia as event unfolded. Most people backed her as the rightful heir. For most, the law was more important than religion.
Seeing this change Northumberland surrendered to Mary near Cambridge. He, his son Guildford and Lady Jane Grey.
The Duke of Northumberland was executed. Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley were spared.

Queen regnant: the marriage issue

Mary wanted to marry and produce a Roman Catholic heir.
She favoured her second cousin, Philip II of Spain, son of Charles V.
In 16th century marriages, the wife was subordinate to her husband. If this were so, Philip II would become the effective king of England.
Also, if Philip II were king of England it was feared that he would subordinate England’s interests to Spain’s.

The marriage treaty, 1554

Under the marriage treaty Philip II would have the title ‘King of England’ and would be joint sovereign but would have no sovereign authority in his own right.
Any heir born would inherit England and the Netherlands but not Spain.
Philip II could not:
- Promote foreigner to offices in hold office in England.
- Take the queen or any children they might have out of England without the agreement of the nobility.
- Have any claim to the English throne if Mary died without children.

An unpopular marriage

Mary was apparently besotted with Philip II. Philip did not return these feelings. He spent as little time with her in England as possible.
In 1554 Parliament rejected a proposed law that would have included him alongside Mary with regard to treason.
In 1554 there was a rebellion against the marriage led by Sir Thomas Wyatt.
The marriage was unpopular with Londoners. There were riots in 1555.
In 1555, parliament prevented Philip’s coronation as king.

Elizabeth I's Succession to the Throne

Elizabeth did not face a disputed succession in the way that Mary I had. There were, however, potential problems when it came to her legitimacy not least because of Mary, Queen of Scots. As for marriage, Elizabeth was expected to marry and produce an heir, but had no intention of doing so.

Legitimacy

Catholics especially did not accept Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon, nor his marriage to Anne Boleyn.
Henry declared Elizabeth illegitimate and barred from the succession, although he restored her in 1544.
There was a Catholic rival with no legitimacy issues and a very strong claim to the throne: Mary, Queen of Scots.

Marriage

Elizabeth needed to produce an heir to secure a Protestant succession.
Elizabeth faced the same concerns that Mary had done regarding marriage.
Mary’s marriage to Philip II had been very unpopular.
Marrying an Englishman would lead to problems of factional court rivalry; there was also no-one of suitable status.
Elizabeth I banned parliament from discussing her marriage or the succession.

1Monarch & Government

1.1Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII

1.1.2Henry VIII

1.1.3Edward VI

1.1.4Mary I

1.1.5Elizabeth I

1.1.6Succession Disputes

1.2Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII

1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII

1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation

1.3Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown

2Religious Changes

2.1Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation

2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII

2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI

2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I

2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement

2.2Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism

2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII

2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I

2.2.4Catholic Nobility

2.3Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences

2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI

2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I

3State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils

3.1.2Role of Nobility

3.1.3Justices of the Peace

3.1.4Lord Lieutenant

3.2The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty

3.2.2Punishments for Paupers

3.2.3Role of Charities

3.3Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies

3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII

3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI

3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I

3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth

4.1.2Exploration & Trade

4.2Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population

4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries

4.2.3Enclosure

4.3Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature

4.3.2Impact of Religious Change

4.3.3Patronage

4.3.4The Arts

4.3.5Cult of Gloriana

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain

5.1.2The Spanish Armada

5.1.3Ireland

5.2Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions

5.2.2Essex's Rebellion

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

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