OCR Specification focus:
‘the rebellions of 1549 (Western and Kett)’
The rebellions of 1549 reveal the serious socio-economic and religious tensions of Edward VI’s reign, highlighting widespread unrest and testing the Tudor monarchy’s stability.
Background to 1549 Unrest
The year 1549 is often described by historians as the “commotion time”, as rebellions and disturbances erupted across much of England. These risings were deeply influenced by:
Economic dislocation, particularly inflation, poverty and enclosure.
Religious changes, including the introduction of the first Prayer Book of 1549.
Political instability, with the Protectorate under Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, struggling to govern effectively.
These factors combined to produce two major popular risings: the Western Rebellion in Devon and Cornwall, and Kett’s Rebellion in Norfolk.
The Western Rebellion 1549
Causes
The Western Rebellion, also known as the Prayer Book Rebellion, was rooted primarily in religious conservatism.
The introduction of the Prayer Book (1549) in English offended strongly Catholic areas of Devon and Cornwall.
The rebels demanded a return to the Latin Mass, restoration of traditional rituals, and reinstatement of papal authority.
Economic grievances also played a role: rising prices, enclosure, and resentment of taxes on sheep.
Events
Rebellion began in Cornwall, spreading rapidly into Devon.
Rebels laid siege to Exeter, cutting off supplies to the city.
A nineteenth-century watercolour depicting Exeter’s West Gate during the siege of 1549 in the Western (Prayer Book) Rebellion. It illustrates the rebels’ blockade of a major urban stronghold and the defensive importance of the city walls. As an artwork, it shows architectural detail beyond the syllabus focus but accurately situates the event in place. Source
The government response was delayed due to multiple uprisings across the country.
Eventually, Lord Russell led royal forces, defeating the rebels at Clyst Heath and other battles in August 1549.
Consequences
Brutal suppression: thousands of rebels executed.
The rebellion revealed the depth of hostility to religious reform in conservative regions.
Somerset’s government was criticised for its slow and inadequate response.
Prayer Book (1549): The first official liturgy in English, replacing the Latin Mass and symbolising Protestant reform under Edward VI.
Kett’s Rebellion 1549
Causes
Unlike the Western Rebellion, Kett’s Rebellion was largely driven by social and economic grievances.
Anger at enclosure of common land, depriving peasants of grazing rights.
Frustration with rising rents, inflation and unemployment.
A belief that local landlords exploited the poor and ignored communal rights.
While religion was not central, the rebels did support moderate Protestant reforms.
Events
Originated in Norfolk under Robert Kett, a landowner sympathetic to the rebels’ grievances.
Around 16,000 rebels gathered, establishing camps on Mousehold Heath near Norwich.
Illustration of Robert Kett addressing followers beneath the Oak of Reformation on Mousehold Heath, the rebels’ base outside Norwich in 1549. It conveys the movement’s popular character and the role of camp assemblies in articulating demands. This historic image contains contextual artistic detail but aligns directly with the syllabus focus on Kett’s Rebellion. Source
The rebels issued a set of demands to the government, calling for:
The end of enclosure.
Fair rents.
Reform of local governance.
They captured Norwich, England’s second-largest city at the time.
Government forces under the Earl of Warwick eventually defeated the rebels at the Battle of Dussindale in late August.
Anonymous map of Mousehold Heath (1589) showing topographical features north-east of Norwich close to Dussindale. It supports spatial understanding of the rebels’ position relative to the city. The map includes some period toponyms (e.g., “Great Lumners Close”) that exceed the core syllabus but clarify the historical landscape. Source
Consequences
Over 3,000 rebels killed; Robert Kett executed.
Demonstrated the potential power of organised popular movements.
Showed the limits of Somerset’s leadership, undermining his political position.
Enclosure: The process of converting common land into private holdings, often fenced or hedged off, restricting peasant access and intensifying rural inequality.
Comparative Analysis of the Two Rebellions
Similarities
Both erupted in 1549, a year of widespread disorder.
Both were directed against the policies of Somerset’s Protectorate.
Both demonstrated how local grievances could escalate into large-scale uprisings.
Both were met with severe repression by government forces.
Differences
Western Rebellion: religiously conservative, demanding Catholic restoration.
Kett’s Rebellion: primarily socio-economic, focusing on enclosure and rents.
Leadership differed: Western rebels were local parishioners and clergy; Kett was a landowner siding with the common people.
Geographical base: rural south-west vs. urban and rural Norfolk.
Government Response and Wider Impact
Somerset’s Role
Protector Somerset was perceived as weak and indecisive, unable to manage multiple crises.
His initial sympathy towards the grievances of the poor — especially on enclosure — alienated the landed elite.
Failure to restore order quickly in 1549 eroded confidence in his rule and contributed to his downfall.
Impact on the Tudor Monarchy
Exposed the fragility of Edward VI’s government during his minority.
Showed how religious reform divided the kingdom, with deep regional variation.
Highlighted how economic hardship could provoke organised resistance.
The violence of suppression reinforced the authoritarian character of Tudor rule.
Significance for the Period
The risings of 1549 demonstrate how a convergence of religion, economy and politics destabilised England under Edward VI. They were not isolated incidents, but rather symptomatic of wider discontent across the kingdom. The Western and Kett’s rebellions illustrate both the strength of local grievances and the inability of Somerset’s Protectorate to maintain order, shaping perceptions of Tudor authority in the mid-sixteenth century.
FAQ
The rebellion was unusual because its leader, Robert Kett, was a landowner rather than a peasant.
Kett’s decision to side with rebels after they attacked his own enclosures gave legitimacy to the movement.
His leadership created discipline within the camp, with rebels maintaining order and issuing structured demands under his guidance.
Exeter faced siege, and its citizens showed resilience by defending the city.
They stockpiled food and resources in anticipation of attack.
Wealthier residents provided loans and supplies to strengthen the city’s defences.
The population resisted rebel attempts to starve them out, maintaining loyalty to the Crown despite hardships.
The government faced serious financial pressures due to war with Scotland and France.
To suppress the risings:
It relied on noble levies and foreign mercenaries, which were costly.
Loans and increased taxation were used to raise funds, worsening economic resentment.
The expense highlighted Somerset’s financial weakness and dependence on unpopular measures.
Landowners became increasingly wary of enclosure policies, recognising their potential to spark violent unrest.
Many reduced or slowed the process, at least temporarily, to avoid provoking communities.
The rebellions also reinforced their expectation that the Crown must protect their interests, influencing Somerset’s fall and the shift in power to Northumberland.
Devon and Cornwall were linguistically and culturally conservative regions, where many still spoke Cornish and had strong Catholic traditions.
The imposition of the 1549 Prayer Book in English felt alien and threatening to their religious identity.
Geographic isolation also made the population less receptive to reformist ideas spreading from London, reinforcing resistance to Protestant changes.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
Name one religious and one economic grievance that contributed to the Western Rebellion of 1549.
Mark scheme:
1 mark for identifying a religious grievance, e.g. opposition to the 1549 Prayer Book / desire to restore the Latin Mass / return to Catholic practices.
1 mark for identifying an economic grievance, e.g. enclosure / rising prices / taxation on sheep.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two reasons why Kett’s Rebellion in 1549 posed a serious challenge to the government.
Mark scheme:
Up to 3 marks for each developed explanation.
Candidates may receive marks for:
The large scale of the rising (around 16,000 rebels gathered), showing its potential to overwhelm local authorities.
The rebels’ capture of Norwich, England’s second-largest city, which demonstrated their strength and the government’s weakness.
The well-organised nature of the movement under Robert Kett, including the Oak of Reformation meetings and the rebels’ demands.
The delay and difficulty faced by government forces before Warwick’s decisive intervention at Dussindale.
Maximum marks awarded for clear explanation rather than simple description (e.g. why these factors increased the threat to Tudor authority).
