Hey, this is Heather from the Renaissance English History Podcast, and this is your Tudor Minute for April 11.
Today in 1554 Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger was beheaded for having led Wyatt’s Rebellion against Mary I. Wyatt had already found himself on the wrong side of Mary when he supported Lady Jane Grey. He managed to avoid any kind of punishment then, but after Mary made it clear that she would marry Philip of Spain, Wyatt organized a series of rebellions again. His plan was to depose Mary and replace her with Elizabeth. The plan failed miserably, and Mary had time to rally her troops, giving a moving speech at the Guildhall in London that would be echoed 30 years later when Elizabeth gave her own speech to the troops with the approach of the Spanish Armada. The most unfortunate unintended result was for Lady Jane Grey, who was executed after Mary had wanted to be lenient with her after the first rebellion.
That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com.