The Yorkshire Rebellion

1. The Yorkshire
Rebellion

2. Aims
•To understand what
caused the Yorkshire
rebellion
•To examine the attitudes
of those involved
•To consider how
threatening this
rebellion was compared
to those of the
pretenders.

3. Causes
•In 1489 Henry decided to assist Brittany in its
efforts to maintain it’s independence from
France.
•The reason for this was that if successful
Brittany would owe England for the
continuation of it’s independence and would
therefore be England’s ally and would act as a
foothold in France.

4. •In 1489 Parliament voted that Henry could
spend £100,000 on his quest to support
Brittany.
•However, this had to be raised through
taxation.
•This tax was like an early form of income tax
and unlike previous taxes could only be paid
using cash.

5. So why did this spark rebellion in
Yorkshire?
•Yorkist regime had only just been overthrown
•Yorkshire had been badly hit by a poor harvest
and this tax was the final straw for many who
were already struggling.
•Other northern counties were exempted from
the tax because they were expected to
finance the defence against the
Scots…..Yorkshire did not see why they were
different.

6. What are the attitudes of these three
groups involved in this rebellion?
Henry VII
Henry Percy
The Yorkshire
Folk

7. So what happened I hear you cry?!
I must not
appear
weak
This money is
necessary to
insure us for
the future!
I support the tax
My county
is about to
rebel
I must
maintain a
positive
relationship
with Henry
We need
help after
poor
harvests
Why should
we pay
when other
counties
don’t!
Where’s
Brittany
dear?
Henry is a
murderer
and a
usurper

8. So what actually happened….
•Henry Percy returned to Yorkshire with nothing and
was rewarded by being murdered most probably by
the leader of the rebels Sir John Egremont.
•A rebel force was amassed but was defeated by a royal
army outside York.
•The Earl of Surrey was sent to Yorkshire and put down
the rebellion. Egremont fled to Flanders.
•The Earl of Surrey stayed in the North to act as
lieutenant following Percy’s death as he left behind
only a minor.
•Henry travelled North and gave out some pardons and
although he face no further issues he failed to collect
the full tax.

9. Henry VII
•Lambert Simnel
•Perkin Warbeck
•Yorkshire rebellion
•Cornish rebellion
•To what extent did these rebellions threaten
authority?