Open AccessThe 1553 succession crisis reconsidered
Author(s) -
Kewes Paulina
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
historical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.203
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1468-2281
pISSN - 0950-3471
DOI - 10.1111/1468-2281.12178
Subject(s) - victory , ecological succession , context (archaeology) , protestantism , history , settlement (finance) , sister , constitutional crisis , law , political science , constitution , politics , archaeology , ecology , world wide web , computer science , payment , biology
Abstract This article offers a new perspective on the context and significance of the 1553 succession crisis precipitated by the Protestant Edward VI's abortive bid to exclude his Catholic sister Mary in favour of his evangelical cousin Jane. Challenging the view of Jane's coup as an evangelical crusade, and of Mary's victory as the only successful Tudor rebellion, it analyses the constitutional principles behind the new settlement of succession, demonstrates how it was justified to the public and uncovers its Elizabethan legacy. By closely reading a series of key texts, it reshapes our understanding of this seminal event in Tudor history.