1. Changes in governance at the centre
❖ Government and administration 1485-1603
❖Crown, church and parliament 1485-1603
The Divine Rights of Kings→ The concept was that God appointed their positions and should
be obeyed. If you rebel against the crime or monarch, you're rebelling against God and it is seen
as a sin against God. The monarch was the most important agent in stability and had ultimate
authority.
The monarch’s authority increased after the Reformation (England broke away from the Roman
Catholic Church so that Henry VIII is the supreme head of the church). So people didn’t have to
be obedient to the pope. But to God and the King.
The Great Chain of Being → Tudor England was hierarchical. Everyone was born into a set
place in society and that order cannot be changed. Everyone was expected to know their place
and respect those above them
How did Tudor monarchs reinforce their authority?
➔ Propaganda was used
➔ Office holders swore oaths of allegiance
Government and administration 1485-1603
Role of the monarchy, nobility and gentry in Tudor England
1. God
2. Monarchy
3. Nobility: dukes, earls, lords, barons, viscounts
4. Gentry: knights, esquires
5. Yeomen and artisans
6. Peasants
7. Vagrants and beggars
Monarch
Ultimate authority. Protects citizens and defends the country. They can decide on laws because
they have royal prerogative. They can decide on certain things such as foreign issues, raising
taxes etc.
The Nobility
➔ These groups helped the monarch to govern. Between 40-60 of them held these titles.
They saw themselves as natural friends, advisers of the monarch and relied on him to
, protect their lands and property, the monarch in return relied on them to carry out
government locally.
➔ They acted as landowners, such as the Percys etc. They held influence at court and
Parliament and had an important role on the Privy Council. They acted as local
governors and both the upholders of law and order.
➔ They also had the power to undermine royal authority by challenging the monarch.
➔ Many rebellions were led or supported by nobles as they had large households, they
could also form private armies.
The Gentry
➔ Esquires were a slightly lower rank than knights, and did not have a title like knights
being called ‘Sir’
➔ The gentry has a military role
➔ Most important role was JPs. Appointed for each country, unpaid and served for a year.
It was their job to make sure laws were obeyed. JPs has 2 main roles: Judicial
(dispensed justice at local level, jailing those who disturbed peace and preventing local
disturbances from developing into rebellions) and Administrative (Ensured laws were
enforced and controlling price of grain during food shortages and overseeing welfare of
the poor)
➔ They could sometimes move up the system, as some became MPs
Yeoman and Artisans
➔ Yeomen were farmers who tended to own their own land
➔ Artisans were skilled craftsmen who often lived in towns and became prosperous in the
wool or cloth industry
➔ They were ‘leaders of the communities’ and could increase their status too within their
communities as they were governors of the royal castle
Peasants
➔ They worked on the land and they didn’t own any land. They were the most vulnerable to
social and economic changes such as poor harvests
➔ 40% of the population and they could form mass riots because of how many there are
Vagrants and beggars
➔ People without masters roamed around. They were feared because everyone was
supposed to be under the control of their social superiors
➔ Homeless/unemployed and seen as a crime
❖ Government and administration 1485-1603
❖Crown, church and parliament 1485-1603
The Divine Rights of Kings→ The concept was that God appointed their positions and should
be obeyed. If you rebel against the crime or monarch, you're rebelling against God and it is seen
as a sin against God. The monarch was the most important agent in stability and had ultimate
authority.
The monarch’s authority increased after the Reformation (England broke away from the Roman
Catholic Church so that Henry VIII is the supreme head of the church). So people didn’t have to
be obedient to the pope. But to God and the King.
The Great Chain of Being → Tudor England was hierarchical. Everyone was born into a set
place in society and that order cannot be changed. Everyone was expected to know their place
and respect those above them
How did Tudor monarchs reinforce their authority?
➔ Propaganda was used
➔ Office holders swore oaths of allegiance
Government and administration 1485-1603
Role of the monarchy, nobility and gentry in Tudor England
1. God
2. Monarchy
3. Nobility: dukes, earls, lords, barons, viscounts
4. Gentry: knights, esquires
5. Yeomen and artisans
6. Peasants
7. Vagrants and beggars
Monarch
Ultimate authority. Protects citizens and defends the country. They can decide on laws because
they have royal prerogative. They can decide on certain things such as foreign issues, raising
taxes etc.
The Nobility
➔ These groups helped the monarch to govern. Between 40-60 of them held these titles.
They saw themselves as natural friends, advisers of the monarch and relied on him to
, protect their lands and property, the monarch in return relied on them to carry out
government locally.
➔ They acted as landowners, such as the Percys etc. They held influence at court and
Parliament and had an important role on the Privy Council. They acted as local
governors and both the upholders of law and order.
➔ They also had the power to undermine royal authority by challenging the monarch.
➔ Many rebellions were led or supported by nobles as they had large households, they
could also form private armies.
The Gentry
➔ Esquires were a slightly lower rank than knights, and did not have a title like knights
being called ‘Sir’
➔ The gentry has a military role
➔ Most important role was JPs. Appointed for each country, unpaid and served for a year.
It was their job to make sure laws were obeyed. JPs has 2 main roles: Judicial
(dispensed justice at local level, jailing those who disturbed peace and preventing local
disturbances from developing into rebellions) and Administrative (Ensured laws were
enforced and controlling price of grain during food shortages and overseeing welfare of
the poor)
➔ They could sometimes move up the system, as some became MPs
Yeoman and Artisans
➔ Yeomen were farmers who tended to own their own land
➔ Artisans were skilled craftsmen who often lived in towns and became prosperous in the
wool or cloth industry
➔ They were ‘leaders of the communities’ and could increase their status too within their
communities as they were governors of the royal castle
Peasants
➔ They worked on the land and they didn’t own any land. They were the most vulnerable to
social and economic changes such as poor harvests
➔ 40% of the population and they could form mass riots because of how many there are
Vagrants and beggars
➔ People without masters roamed around. They were feared because everyone was
supposed to be under the control of their social superiors
➔ Homeless/unemployed and seen as a crime
