Elizabeth I: The Early Years and the Via Media · Summer Term

The Northern Earls' Rebellion

The last major feudal uprising and the first serious attempt to depose Elizabeth.

About This Topic

The Northern Earls' Rebellion (1569) was the first major domestic challenge to Elizabeth's rule. Led by the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland, the rebellion sought to restore the Catholic faith, remove 'evil advisors' like William Cecil, and secure the succession of Mary, Queen of Scots. This topic examines the 'feudal' nature of the uprising, its failure to gain support in the South, and Elizabeth's brutal response, which saw hundreds of commoners executed to send a message to the North.

For Year 12 students, this is a study in the 'decline of the North' and the consolidation of Tudor power. It connects to themes of rebellion and the 'Elizabethan Settlement'. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the patterns of 'regional loyalty', analyzing why the rebellion was confined to the North and why the 'great magnates' of the past were no longer able to topple the crown.

Learning Objectives

• Explain the primary motivations of the Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland for initiating the rebellion in 1569.
• Analyze the strategic and political connections between the Northern Earls' Rebellion and the proposed marriage of Mary, Queen of Scots, to the Duke of Norfolk.
• Evaluate the factors contributing to the limited geographical spread and ultimate failure of the rebellion.
• Compare the nature of feudal power in the North of England prior to the rebellion with the consolidating power of the Tudor monarchy.

Before You Start

The Elizabethan Religious Settlement

Why: Students need to understand the context of the religious divisions in England and the compromises of the Via Media to grasp the motivations behind a Catholic-backed rebellion.

Mary, Queen of Scots: Claim to the English Throne

Why: Understanding Mary's position as a Catholic claimant is crucial for analyzing her role as a potential successor and a rallying point for opposition to Elizabeth.

Key Vocabulary

Via Media	The 'middle way' policy of the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, attempting to reconcile Protestant and Catholic traditions. The rebellion challenged this balance.
Catholic Gentry	The landowning aristocratic class in the North of England who largely remained Catholic and were a key potential support base for the rebellion.
Feudal Levy	The military service owed by tenants to their lord, a traditional form of warfare that the rebellion attempted to mobilize but which was becoming outdated.
Succession Crisis	The uncertainty surrounding who would inherit the English throne, a major concern for both Catholics and Protestants during Elizabeth's reign, particularly regarding Mary, Queen of Scots.

Active Learning Ideas

Inquiry Circle: The Rebel Manifesto

In small groups, students analyze the declarations made by the Earls in 1569. They must identify the 'religious', 'political', and 'personal' motivations for the rebellion and discuss why they failed to attract the support of the more moderate English Catholics.

⏱ 45 min·Small Groups

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Simulation Game: The Council's Reaction

Students role-play a council meeting as the news of the rebellion reaches London. They must decide how to respond to the rebels' demand for a 'Catholic restoration' and debate whether to execute the Duke of Norfolk for his role in the plot.

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

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Think-Pair-Share: Why did it fail?

Students analyze the course of the rebellion. They discuss in pairs whether the failure was due to 'poor leadership', 'lack of foreign help', or the 'efficiency of the Tudor state' and share their findings with the class.

⏱ 30 min·Pairs

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Real-World Connections

Historians specializing in Tudor history, such as those at the National Archives, use primary source documents like letters and state papers to reconstruct the events and motivations behind the Northern Earls' Rebellion.

Local heritage sites in Northern England, such as castles associated with the Percy and Neville families, offer tangible links to the period and the powerful magnates who led the uprising.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The Northern Rebellion was a massive, popular uprising like the Pilgrimage of Grace.

What to Teach Instead

It was actually much smaller and more 'feudal'; it was mostly made up of the Earls' own tenants and servants. Active comparison of the 1536 and 1569 rebellions helps students see that the 'power of the North' was fading as the Tudor state became more centralized.

Common Misconception

Elizabeth was a 'merciful' queen who hated bloodshed.

What to Teach Instead

While she often hesitated to execute nobles, her response to the Northern Rebellion was incredibly brutal; she ordered the execution of over 700 commoners, far more than were killed in any other Tudor rebellion. Peer discussion of the 'punishment' helps students see the 'iron fist' beneath the 'Golden Age' image.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Was the Northern Earls' Rebellion primarily a religious uprising or a political power grab?' Ask students to support their arguments with specific evidence from the rebellion's aims and leadership.

Quick Check

Provide students with a map of England in 1569. Ask them to shade the areas where the rebellion had significant support, areas where it had limited support, and areas that remained loyal to Elizabeth. They should write one sentence justifying their shading for each category.

Exit Ticket

Students write two sentences explaining why the Earls rebelled and one sentence explaining why their rebellion ultimately failed to achieve its objectives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Northern Earls rebel in 1569?

The Earls of Northumberland and Westmorland felt 'marginalized' by Elizabeth's government, which favored 'new men' like Cecil. They also wanted to restore the Catholic Mass and they were involved in a plan to marry the Duke of Norfolk to Mary, Queen of Scots, which they hoped would secure the succession and restore their own influence at court.

What was the 'Durham Cathedral' incident?

At the start of the rebellion, the Earls marched into Durham Cathedral, tore up the English Bible and Prayer Book, and celebrated a traditional Latin Mass. This was a powerful symbolic act that signaled their rejection of the Elizabethan Settlement and their commitment to a full Catholic restoration.

How did the rebellion end?

The rebellion collapsed when the Earls heard that a large royal army was marching north. They fled to Scotland, leaving their followers to face the Queen's vengeance. The rebellion failed because it lacked a clear plan, it received no help from Spain, and the majority of English Catholics remained loyal to the Queen.

How can active learning help students understand the Northern Rebellion?

The Northern Rebellion is often seen as a 'minor' event. Active learning strategies, like the 'Rebel Manifesto' investigation, help students see the 'existential threat' it posed. By analyzing the Earls' motivations, students realize that the rebellion was a final, desperate attempt by the old feudal nobility to stop the growth of the modern, centralized Tudor state.