The Simnel Rebellion was a Yorkist uprising against Henry VII, aiming to install Lambert Simnel as the English monarch. Key figures like John de la Pole and Margaret of Burgundy supported the cause. Despite initial successes, the rebellion was crushed at the Battle of Stoke Field, leading to Henry VII's consolidation of power and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty's legitimacy.
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The Simnel Rebellion was rooted in the ongoing dynastic conflicts between the houses of York and Lancaster, known as the Wars of the Roses
Maternal Lineage to the Lancastrian Cause
Henry VII's claim to the throne was perceived as weak due to his maternal lineage to the Lancastrian cause
Lack of a Male Heir
Henry VII's vulnerability was further exacerbated by the absence of a male heir
The rebellion was fueled by the grievances of Yorkist loyalists who were dissatisfied with Henry VII's rule
Lambert Simnel was trained to impersonate the Earl of Warwick and served as the figurehead of the rebellion
The Earl of Lincoln, a former supporter of Henry VII, switched allegiances to support his own royal aspirations
Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare
The Earl of Kildare provided critical support for the rebellion
Margaret of Burgundy
Margaret of Burgundy, sister of former kings Edward IV and Richard III, funded foreign soldiers to reinforce the rebel army
The rebellion failed due to limited support and effective countermeasures by Henry VII
The decisive defeat of the rebels at the Battle of Stoke Field marked the end of the Simnel Rebellion
Henry VII's leniency towards the rebels and strategic actions helped to pacify remaining Yorkist factions and solidify his authority