Kings Great Matter and the Fall of Wolsey Flashcards
why did Henry want the divorce
Only one surviving heir, Mary
Anne Boleyn refused to become a mistress
Catherine was too old to have any more children
fear of returning to turmoil (war of roses) without a male heir
Spell Anne’s last name
Boleyn
What was the situation in Rome
Emperor Charles V had captured both Rome and the Pope which meant that the Pope was at the whim of Charles who was Catherine’s nephew and did not want to see her disgraced
What problems could Henry’s biblical evidence create
People, like the King, began to interpret the bible differently to how they had been taught and new views were created
What was the first step in trying to get an annulment
Campeggio held a court in which Catherine of Aragon gave her speech and asked for permission to appeal to the Pope which she was given
Who was Campeggio
Another Papal legate, he was imperial (working for Charles V) as Anne Boleyn had expected
He arrived in England with powers to annul the marriage
what were Henry’s arguments for the annulment
Pope was wrong to allow papal dispensation (after Arthur)
bible verse from Leviticus arguing that it is a sin to marry your brothers wife and that it would result in a childless marriage
Details of the trial
Pope escapes as a gardener and tells Campeggio to go to England and preside over the trail (secretly tells him just to buy time)
trail takes ages to start, Campeggio was ill
Arrived in later 1528 but the court only started in May 1529
court was adjourned for summer and Henry had gain nothing (Catherine was still “winning”) but the court was never put back in session
Fall of Wolsey
Charged with Praemunire
Parliament is called in November to debate reformation
Wolsey has no English or Papal power anymore
What is Praemunire
essentially Henry is saying that Wolsey was pretending to work/speak for the Pope and this deception is committing a crime against the crown
Why does Anne B not like Wolsey
Eltham ordinance removed her brother from court
Both have the kings ear
Wolsey broke Boleyn’s engagement to Henry Percy
Anne took all his furniture after her was arrested
Why do the nobility not like Wolsey
envy (ear of King)
Wolsey is of low birth
ordinances reduced the scale of parties and people lost places in court
people like the Dukes of Suffolk and Norfolk could sway the Kings opinion of Wolsey they just needed a good reason (annulment!) opportunistic
End of Wolsey
died on his way to execution, this power being striped was symbolic of the start of the reformation along with anti-clerical acts and Anne Boleyn’s increasing influence
when did Henry set his mind on divorce
1527- told Wolsey to get papal dispensation
How did Henry annul his marriage
Thomas Cranmer officially annulled it in 1533 after Henry separated from Catherine in 1531
