OCR Specification focus:
‘faction and its impact during the rule of Somerset and Northumberland; factional conflict between Paget and Gardiner under Mary’
The mid-Tudor period was defined by political instability and the emergence of powerful court factions, with noble rivalry shaping government policies, succession crises, and religious conflict.
Court Faction in the Mid-Tudor Period
Court faction refers to the division and rivalry among leading nobles and councillors who sought to influence royal decision-making. In the absence of strong monarchic authority, such as during the minority of Edward VI or the contentious rule of Mary I, factional politics became a dominant feature of government.
Court faction: Rival groups of nobles or ministers competing for influence at court, often attempting to control policy and access to the monarch.
Factional struggles were not merely personal disputes; they carried national consequences, influencing religious legislation, rebellions, and the survival of the Tudor dynasty.
The Protectorate of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset
Rise of Somerset
Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (c.1500–1552), Lord Protector 1547–49. His formal portrait highlights the dominance he exercised at court during Edward VI’s minority. Source
His power was founded on:
Kinship ties as the King’s maternal uncle.
Support from reformist councillors favouring Protestant policies.
Control over the regency council after Henry VIII’s death.
Somerset’s Leadership and Factional Challenges
Somerset faced criticism for his authoritarian style, sidelining other councillors by ruling through proclamations. His emphasis on military campaigns in Scotland and limited success against enclosure unrest provoked discontent.
Opposed by conservatives like Stephen Gardiner (though imprisoned for much of the early reign).
Even reformers began to doubt Somerset’s judgment, particularly after the failures of 1549.
Impact of Faction under Somerset
The Western Rebellion and Kett’s Rebellion exposed divisions in government responses.
His failure to build consensus eroded his legitimacy.
In 1549, John Dudley, Earl of Warwick (later Northumberland), exploited factional discontent to orchestrate Somerset’s downfall.
The Ascendancy of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland
Northumberland’s Seizure of Power
Warwick initially aligned with conservatives to remove Somerset.
By 1550, he consolidated power, taking the title Duke of Northumberland and positioning himself as Edward’s chief minister.
Consolidating Authority
Northumberland managed faction more effectively than Somerset:
Balanced religious reform with political pragmatism.
Reinstated moderate conservatives while favouring Protestant reformers loyal to him.
Avoided excessive military expenditure to stabilise finances.
Religious and Succession Policies
Advanced Edward VI’s Protestant reforms through the 1552 Prayer Book and the Second Act of Uniformity.
Attempted to control succession through the Devise for the Succession (1553), promoting Lady Jane Grey, his daughter-in-law, over Mary Tudor.
Factional Consequences
Northumberland’s policies deepened divisions:
His manipulation of succession alienated many nobles and ensured Mary I’s rapid mobilisation of support in 1553.
His failure to reconcile conservative and reformist factions contributed to his downfall and execution.
Factional Conflict under Mary I: Paget and Gardiner
Mary’s Factional Dilemma
Mary’s reign (1553–1558) was also characterised by factional rivalry, particularly between William Paget, a moderate councillor, and Stephen Gardiner, a staunch conservative.
Stephen Gardiner (1483–1555), Bishop of Winchester. His clerical dress in this portrait reflects his role as a leading Catholic conservative during Mary I’s reign. Source
Stephen Gardiner
Lord Chancellor and leading Catholic, Gardiner advocated for:
The restoration of papal authority.
Strongly conservative religious reforms.
Suppression of Protestantism through persecution.
William Paget
A moderate administrator, Paget prioritised political stability over religious zeal.
He argued for:
Gradual reform to avoid unrest.
A pragmatic approach to relations with Parliament.
Resistance to excessive persecution which risked alienating subjects.
Key Areas of Dispute
Religious Policy: Gardiner sought a full return to Rome, while Paget favoured moderation to prevent rebellion.
Marriage Alliance: Paget supported Mary’s marriage to Philip of Spain as a means of securing dynastic security, while Gardiner feared excessive Spanish influence.
Persecution of Protestants: Gardiner endorsed harsh measures, while Paget worried about public backlash.
Impact of the Paget–Gardiner Rivalry
Created instability in policy direction, weakening Mary’s government.
Intensified public discontent during the Marian persecutions, undermining support for Catholic restoration.
Demonstrated how factionalism undermined consensus at the highest levels of Tudor government.
Broader Implications of Court Faction
Effects on Government Stability
Somerset’s fall (1549) revealed the vulnerability of a minority regime.
Northumberland’s dominance (1550–1553) showed the importance of balancing factions, yet his gamble on succession led to crisis.
Mary’s reign exposed how factional rivalry between Paget and Gardiner weakened cohesive governance and fuelled public opposition.
Long-Term Consequences
The experience of factional conflict during Edward’s and Mary’s reigns highlighted the dangers of personal rivalries overshadowing collective governance.
It reinforced the importance of monarchical authority in containing noble competition.
Elizabeth I would later learn from these mid-Tudor experiences, carefully managing faction through patronage and balancing rival groups.
FAQ
Somerset was accused of indecisiveness and poor judgement during the Western and Kett’s Rebellions.
He relied heavily on military force, which was costly and slow to act.
His enclosure commissions were seen as encouraging unrest by raising false hopes.
Critics argued he failed to consult the Privy Council adequately, heightening factional tensions that ultimately led to his downfall.
Northumberland initially allied with conservatives to remove Somerset, but quickly shifted to favour Protestant reformers.
He reinstated some conservative councillors to avoid alienating them.
At the same time, he advanced Protestant reforms through loyal allies such as Cranmer.
This pragmatic balancing act allowed him to dominate the Privy Council until Edward’s declining health made succession the defining issue.
Paget strongly supported the marriage between Mary and Philip of Spain, seeing it as a way to strengthen England’s international standing.
He believed it would secure the Catholic succession and prevent instability.
His moderate stance meant he was less concerned with fears of Spanish dominance than Gardiner.
The marriage became a point of factional dispute, reflecting the wider divisions at court.
Although Gardiner was a staunch Catholic, he recognised that an abrupt return to Rome risked political backlash.
Many nobles had profited from monastic lands and opposed their restitution.
Gardiner sought to restore Catholicism but also to preserve political unity.
His approach clashed with Mary’s determination for full papal reconciliation, contributing to tensions with moderates like Paget.
Factional rivalry created an impression of disunity and indecision at the heart of Mary’s regime.
The disputes between Gardiner and Paget over policy and persecution undermined confidence in consistent leadership.
These tensions contributed to public discontent, especially when harsh religious measures seemed driven more by factional victory than national consensus.
As a result, factionalism weakened Mary’s ability to present her government as strong and unified.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Who replaced Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, as the leading councillor during Edward VI’s reign?
Mark Scheme:
1 mark for identifying John Dudley.
1 additional mark for stating his later title, Duke of Northumberland.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain how factional conflict affected the government of Edward VI and Mary I.
Mark Scheme:
Up to 2 marks for Edward VI’s reign:
Reference to Somerset’s authoritarian style and loss of support (1 mark).
Reference to Northumberland’s management of factions but destabilisation through the Devise for the Succession (1553) (1 mark).
Up to 2 marks for Mary I’s reign:
Mention of the rivalry between Paget (moderate) and Gardiner (conservative) (1 mark).
Explanation of their disputes over religious policy, marriage to Philip, or persecution of Protestants (1 mark).
Up to 2 additional marks for overall analysis:
Clear explanation of how these rivalries weakened consensus and stability in government (1–2 marks depending on detail and clarity).
(Maximum 6 marks)
