1. (c. 1475-1525) a man who pretended that he had the right to be the king of England during the Wars of the Roses. He was persuaded by supporters of the House of York to pretend to be the Earl of Warwick, whose uncle was Richard III. Simnel was crowned king in 1487 in Ireland, and then invaded England with a small army. It was defeated by the forces of Henry VII, who pardoned (= decided not to punish) Simnel and gave him a job in the royal kitchen.

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[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲