Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Tudor control of the country: the Marcher Council and the Council of the…
Full specification wording
State control and popular resistance, 1509–88: Tudor control of the country: the Marcher Council and the Council of the North; the role of the nobility in maintaining control; the growing power of the justices of the peace; the lords lieutenant under Elizabeth.
Tudor monarchs ruled without a standing army or police, so they relied on regional councils, nobles, JPs and lords lieutenant.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 3
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Tudor monarchs ruled without a standing army or police, so they relied on regional councils, nobles, JPs and lords lieutenant. The Council in the Marches of Wales, formalised in the 1530s, and the Council of the North, strengthened after the Pilgrimage of Grace, brought law and order to remote areas. Nobles maintained control by raising tenants, enforcing local justice and acting as intermediaries, but could also threaten the crown. JPs grew in power as they gained responsibilities for poor relief, roads and licensing. Under Elizabeth, lords lieutenant became key coordinators of the militia and local government. Together these institutions allowed the crown to project authority across England and Wales.
What earns the marks
- Explains how the Council in the Marches of Wales and the Council of the North extended royal authority into peripheral regions.
- Assesses the role of the nobility in maintaining control, including their military, judicial and social influence, and the risks they posed.
- Analyses the growing power of the justices of the peace in local administration and law enforcement.
- Evaluates the significance of lords lieutenant under Elizabeth in coordinating local government and the militia.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating the Council of the North as a Tudor invention.
Put it right: It existed earlier but was reorganised and strengthened by Henry VIII after 1536.
Assuming nobles always obeyed the crown.
Put it right: Nobles could rebel or build independent power bases, so control was negotiated.
Describing JPs as minor officials.
Put it right: Elizabeth's reign they were central to local government, handling poor relief, roads and licensing.
Exam tips
- Use specific examples, such as the Council of the North's role after the Pilgrimage of Grace, to show how control worked in practice.
- Compare the effectiveness of different institutions rather than listing them separately.
- Link each institution to the broader theme of state control and popular resistance.
Try the lesson
The start of the State control and popular resistance, 1509–88: Tudor control of the country: the Marcher Council and the Council of the North; the role of the nobility in maintaining control; the growing power of the justices of the peace; the lords lieutenant under Elizabeth. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
How was the Council of the North reorganised to strengthen Tudor control following the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536?
Listen
Tudor monarchs ruled without a standing army or police, so they relied on regional councils, nobles, JPs and lords lieutenant. The Council in the Marches of Wales, formalised in the 1530s, and the Council of the North, strengthened after the Pilgrimage of Grace, brought law and order to remote areas. Nobles maintained control by raising tenants, enforcing local justice and acting as intermediaries, but could also threaten the crown. JPs grew in power as they gained responsibilities for poor relief, roads and licensing. Under Elizabeth, lords lieutenant became key coordinators of the militia and local government. Together these institutions allowed the crown to project authority across England and Wales. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how the Council in the Marches of Wales and the Council of the North extended royal authority into peripheral regions. Assesses the role of the nobility in maintaining control, including their military, judicial and social influence, and the risks they posed. Analyses the growing power of the justices of the peace in local administration and law enforcement. Evaluates the significance of lords lieutenant under Elizabeth in coordinating local government and the militia. A common slip: treating the Council of the North as a Tudor invention. Instead, it existed earlier but was reorganised and strengthened by Henry VIII after 1536. Exam tip: Use specific examples, such as the Council of the North's role after the Pilgrimage of Grace, to show how control worked in practice.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Central versus local authority
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Coercion and consent in Tudor rule
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The changing role of the nobility
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See every definition
- Central versus local authority
- Tudor monarchs ruled without a standing army or police, so they relied on regional councils, nobles, JPs and lords lieutenant to project authority across England and Wales.
- Coercion and consent in Tudor rule
- Control was negotiated, because nobles could rebel or build independent power bases, while institutions such as regional councils brought law and order to remote areas.
- The changing role of the nobility
- Nobles maintained control by raising tenants, enforcing local justice and acting as intermediaries, but could also threaten the crown.
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