The Tudors - The Western Rising, 1549

About this Course

About the Course

In this course, Professor Mark Stoyle (University of Southampton) gives an account of the Western Rising of 1549, surveying its causes, events and consequences. In the first module, we provide an introduction to the Western Rising, before in the second module turning to establish the background to the rebellion. In the third module, we then look at the start of the rebellion, exploring its roots in the Devonshire town of Sampford Courtenay. In the fourth module, we make our way towards the peak of rebellion, following the spread of disturbance from Devon into the neighbouring area of Cornwall. In the fifth and sixth modules, we then survey the defeat of rebellion and its aftermath, looking at the consequences of the rising for the people of Devon and Cornwall and how its legacy has survived to the present day.

About the Lecturer

Professor Mark Stoyle is a Professor of History at the University of Southampton. His research focuses on the English Civil War, Witchcraft, and Tudor Rebellions, as is the topic of this lecture series. His most recent publication, and the major monograph on which this lecture series is based, is his new book A Murderous Midsummer: The Western Rising of 1549 (2022). Some of his other publications include Remembering the English Civil Wars (2021) and Witchcraft in Exeter, 1558-1660 (2017).