Wyatt's rebellion

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Wyatt's Rebellion (1554) is a popular rising named for Thomas Wyatt the younger (son of Sir Thomas Wyatt). After Mary I ascended the English Throne, she intended to bring the Kingdom of England back into the Roman Catholic Church and restrict the rights of Protestants in the kingdom. Wyatt, among others, greatly opposed re-entry into the Catholic fold and rose up against the Queen.

The exact reason for the uprising has been subject to much debate. Many historians, for example D.M. Loades, consider the rebellion to have been a politically motivated one, aiming to prevent the marriage of Mary to Prince Philip of Spain. The rebels explained that the reason for the rebellion was "to prevent us from over-running by strangers." Nevertheless, all the rebel leaders were committed Protestants, and it was convenient for Mary to blame the rebellion on religious issues as this allowed her to label the rebels as heretics.

There were four chief rebel leaders: Wyatt, who owned large areas of land in Kent and had great influence there; Sir James Croft, who came from an influential Herefordshire family; Sir Peter Carew, who was an MP for Devon; and the Duke of Suffolk, Henry Grey, who was based in Leicestershire.

Wyatt expected the others would join him in revolt — plans were made for a country wide rebellion. The plan was for the four leaders to raise rebellions in each of the four counties, and then converge on London. They would then replace Mary with her half-sister Elizabeth Tudor, who it was planned would marry Edward Courtenay. Meanwhile, a fleet of French ships would prevent Philip of Spain from reaching England.

Unfortunately for Courtenay, who was aware of the plot, the Imperial ambassador Simon Renard suspected a plot, and informed the Lord Chancellor, Stephen Gardiner. Gardiner questioned Courtenay, who revealed that there was indeed a rebellion planned. Realising that it would not be safe to rebel now, Croft gave up. Grey proved more determined, but only managed to raise a force of 140 rebels, many of whom were his own men. He was refused entry to Coventry, and gave himself up. He was tried and executed, along with Guilford Dudley and Lady Jane Grey, neither of whom was involved in the uprising. Carew attempted to raise support for the uprising in Devon, but the Protestant nobles there proved unwilling to commit treason, and the peasant class inhabitants were largely Catholic. Carew fled to Normandy, but was arrested soon after. By this time, the French ships found themselves unable to maintain their position and returned to France. Only Wyatt succeeded in raising a substantial force, gathering 2,000 followers. He was then confronted by the elderly Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard Jr., whose men betrayed him and sided with the rebels. Howard fled to London. The rebellion seized much of Kent, and Wyatt led his forces in a march on London. Significantly, Mary was able to rally London to her cause on the 1st of February 1554 by delivering a rousing speech at the Guildhall. When Wyatt arrived at Southwark, it was to find London Bridge blocked by Mary's supporters. Refusing to give up, the rebels marched to Kingston. The bridge there was also destroyed, but the rebels repaired it and crossed over. They met little resistance as they marched through the outskirts of London, but were barred from progress by the inhabitants of Ludgate. Wyatt was forced to surrender, and was tried and executed, along with approximately 90 rebels. Courtenay was exiled. Elizabeth, however, was spared execution because she had been unaware of the planned uprising. However, she was imprisoned as a precautionary measure.

The failure of Wyatt and other confessional rebellions has often been seen by historians as one of the reasons why Tudor monarchs were able to seesaw so effectively between the religious faiths during the 16th century. Personally the rebellion was a disaster for Wyatt; when he was executed Mary I took away Wyatt's title and lands, including the family home, Allington Castle.

When Queen Elizabeth I, a Protestant and distant relative of the Wyatt family, ascended the throne, she restored the family titles and lands.