BattlefieldsNorthern Rising — Failed Relief of Mary at Tutbury 1569
Tudor

Northern Rising — Failed Relief of Mary at Tutbury 1569

1569
Staffordshire, England
Also known as: Attempt to free Mary Queen of Scots 1569 · Tutbury relief march 1569
Era
Tudor
Battle Type
Skirmish
Location
Staffordshire, England
Status
Unregistered
The Combatants

Who Fought

Defeated
Northern rebels
Forces
Crown garrison moved Mary safely
VS
Victor
Crown (Elizabeth I)
Forces
Rebel host c.4,000-6,000 on march
Outcome
Mary Queen of Scots moved from Tutbury to Coventry before rebel host could reach her; rebel march abandoned
The Battle

History & Significance

The core objective of the Northern Rising was to free Mary Queen of Scots from captivity at Tutbury and use her as the figurehead of a Catholic restoration. Elizabeth I pre-empted this by moving Mary swiftly to Coventry when the rising began. Without Mary the rising lost its political purpose. The failure to reach Tutbury was the moment the rebellion effectively collapsed as a coherent strategy.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Aubrey Research

Explore the landscape around Staffordshire

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any location in Britain — drawing on Domesday records, scheduled monuments, Victorian OS maps, geological data and archaeological archives to tell the full story of a place.

Research a location near Staffordshire