Henry VIII, 1509–1547 Flashcards
(34 cards)
Describe Henry VIII’s character when he became king in 1509.
Charismatic, confident, athletic, well-educated.
Loved chivalry, war, and honour.
Enjoyed courtly life: music, hunting, tournaments.
Wanted to be a warrior king like Henry V.
Very different from his father — less cautious.
What were Henry VIII’s main aims early in his reign?
Establish himself as a warrior king through military glory.
Secure the Tudor dynasty (especially by having a male heir).
Distance himself from Henry VII’s unpopular policies.
Be seen as a Renaissance prince — cultured, powerful, European figure.
Achieve England’s greatness in Europe.
How did Henry VIII deal with Henry VII’s unpopular financial legacy?
Executed Empson and Dudley (Henry VII’s tax collectors) in 1510.
Abolished the Council Learned in Law, which had enforced harsh taxes.
Gained popularity for reversing “financial oppression” of his father
How did Henry VIII’s character influence his style of government?
Impulsive and disliked day-to-day admin.
Relied heavily on chief ministers (e.g., Wolsey, Cromwell).
Valued personal glory and honour over careful financial planning.
Preferred war, tournaments, and status to boring government business.
What aspects of Henry VII’s legacy did Henry VIII keep?
Kept a stable monarchy and secure dynasty.
Benefitted from strong finances left by Henry VII.
Used royal propaganda and Tudor imagery to promote his rule.
Maintained tight control over the nobility, but used different methods.
Why was having a male heir so important to Henry VIII?
To secure the Tudor succession and avoid civil war (like the Wars of the Roses).
Female rulers were considered weak and unstable.
Wanted to be remembered as the founder of a great royal line
How did Henry VIII use Parliament before the 1530s?
Rarely — only used for raising taxes (e.g. for war).
Between 1509–1529, Parliament met only 4 times.
Most power held by the King and his ministers (e.g. Wolsey)
What was the impact of the Reformation Parliament (1529–1536)?
Parliament became central to major change.
Passed laws to establish Royal Supremacy.
Created a legal break with Rome.
Increased Parliament’s importance in government
Who were Henry VIII’s key ministers and what were they known for?
Cardinal Wolsey (1514–1529) – Domestic reform, failed to secure annulment.
Thomas Cromwell (1532–1540) – Engineered Royal Supremacy, dissolved monasteries.
Thomas More (Lord Chancellor) – Resigned over supremacy, executed in 1535
What were Wolsey’s key domestic policies?
Legal reform: Championed poor in Star Chamber.
Finance: Subsidy tax system; failed Amicable Grant (1525).
Enclosure investigations (but made enemies).
Failed with the Eltham Ordinances to reduce royal spending
What was the Royal Supremacy?
The idea that Henry VIII was the Supreme Head of the Church of England, not the Pope.
Gave Henry control over doctrine, church land, and appointments.
Established legally by the Act of Supremacy (1534
What acts helped establish the Royal Supremacy?
Act in Restraint of Appeals (1533) – Prevented legal appeals to Rome.
Act of Supremacy (1534) – Made Henry head of the Church.
Treason Act (1534) – Made it treason to deny Royal Supremacy.
Dissolution Acts (1536–1540) – Closed monasteries and seized land
How did Cromwell change government during the 1530s?
Created a more bureaucratic, structured government.
Used Parliament to pass key legislation.
Increased power of the Privy Council.
Centralised control through new departments (e.g. Court of Augmentations)
who was cromwell?
Henry VIII’s chief minister (1532–1540).
He led the Break with Rome, created the Church of England, and modernised government.
Executed in 1540 after arranging Henry’s failed marriage to Anne of Cleves
What were Henry VIII’s aims in foreign policy?
Military glory (especially against France).
Be seen as a European power.
Secure the Tudor dynasty.
Win land or prestige through war/diplomacy.
What was Henry VIII’s relationship with Scotland like
Often hostile — Battle of Flodden (1513): English victory, King James IV of Scotland killed.
Later tried to marry his son Edward to Mary, Queen of Scots – failed (“Rough Wooing”).
Scotland often allied with France – part of the Auld Alliance.
How did Henry VIII try to secure the succession?
Married six times to have a male heir.
Act of Succession (1534): Made Elizabeth heir, excluded Mary.
Third Act of Succession (1543): Restored Mary & Elizabeth to the line, but Edward stayed first.
Edward (VI) was born in 1537 — finally gave Henry his male heir
Who were the elites and how did Henry VIII manage them?
Nobles and gentry = key landowners and power holders.
Henry kept them loyal through patronage and court positions.
Executed those who betrayed him (e.g. Buckingham, Darcy, Percy).
Created new men like Cromwell from lower ranks
What social changes did the Reformation cause?
Monasteries dissolved – affected the poor (loss of charity & hospitals).
Shift in religious practices (no Latin Mass, shrines destroyed).
Rise in anti-government feeling, especially in the North
What regional issues existed under Henry VIII?
North = more Catholic and conservative.
Wales brought under control via Acts of Union (1536, 1543).
Council of the North strengthened after the Pilgrimage of Grace.
Tension between central power and local loyalties
What was the Pilgrimage of Grace (1536)?
A major rebellion in the North against religious change and the dissolution of monasteries.
Led by Robert Aske; around 30,000 rebels.
Rebels wanted to restore Catholic practices and protect monasteries.
Henry promised pardons, then suppressed it brutally in 1537
What were the main industries in Tudor England under Henry VIII?
Wool and cloth trade = biggest export, especially to Antwerp.
Also: tin, lead, leather, and coal.
Growing cloth industry in East Anglia and Yorkshire.
How important was trade during Henry VIII’s reign?
Trade with Europe (especially the Netherlands) remained strong.
London dominated exports, but other ports (Bristol, Hull, Boston) declined.
Some growth in coastal trade and internal markets
Was there any exploration under Henry VIII?
Very limited — Henry showed little interest in exploration.
No major voyages like under Henry VII (e.g. Cabot).
England fell behind Spain and Portugal in overseas discovery.
