Henry VIII Flashcards
(14 cards)
What were Henry’s strengths as a renaissance prince?
- Married to Catherine who had Spanish connections.
- Had a team of experienced advisers to help run the country.
- Knew multiple languages and played instruments.
- Handsome, athletic and loved by the people.
What were Henry’s weaknesses as a renaissance prince?
- He had little desire to get involved in governing England and preferred to pursue leisure activities.
- Large ego that was often difficult to manage.
- Always wanted to look heroic and go to war, but would result in England looking weak and they would lose money if they lost.
What was the rise of Wolsey?
1473- Born son of a butcher in Ipswich.
1509- Appointed Royal Almoner which made him part of the Royal Council.
1512- Organised an army for war with France and was his ‘big break’ and showed his organisational skills.
1514- Appointed Archbishop of York which appealed to Henry as it would allow him to have power in the church.
Was Wolsey and ‘alter rex’?
- He had positions such as: Cardinal, Archbishop of York and Papal Legate.
- As Archbishop of York he earned £3,000 (£1,000,000 in today’s money).
- Had a household of 500 servants which is equal to that of the King’s.
- Built Hampton Court Palace with his wealth.
What were each of Wolsey’s Domestic Reforms?
Eltham Ordinances- The King’s Royal Household was lessened and rules were created (they were 79 chapters long).
Justice- Made the legal system fair so richer people weren’t more favoured.
Enclosures- Investigated why land was closed off by landowners resulting in farmers having no land and living in poverty.
Finance- Wolsey introduced subsidies to pay for wars abroad.
Amicable Grant- Henry wanted to invade France after the king was defeated so a tax was raised where priests pay 1/3 of their income and everyone else 1/10.
What were the advantages and disadvantages of Wolsey’s Domestic Reforms?
Eltham Ordinances:
+ Reduced expenditure.
- Weren’t strictly enforced.
- Made to reduce Henry’s influences as it was reduced from 12 to 6.
Justice:
+ Increased court appearances (12-120).
- Use it to get back on rich, summoned Sir Amyas Paulet to Star Chamber every day and if he missed a day for 5 years he would lose his property.
Enclosures:
+ 260 court cases against landowners.
- Made him more disliked.
- Investigations had to stop.
Finance:
+ Helped pay for war in France.
+ £322,000 was raised.
- Heavy tax was unpopular.
Amicable Grant:
- People refused to pay saying they had no money.
- Revolt took place of 10,000 men.
- Raised without parliament approval.
- Downfall of Wolsey.
What was Wolsey’s foreign policy?
- To become an internationally respected leader.
- Achieve military glory.
- Not to be isolated in Europe.
- Did this by creating peace agreements and siding with different nations during war.
What were the Romantic reasons for why Henry wanted an annulment?
- Anne looked better as Catherine lost her looks with age.
- He wrote love letters.
What were the Political reasons for why Henry wanted an annulment?
- He needed an heir to keep the Tudor dynasty and having a female heir encourages others to challenge the throne.
- Sir Thomas Boleyn would gain power over the King if his daughter married the King.
- Henry took steps so his illegitimate son would succeed him and was made Duke of Richmond.
What were the Religious reasons for why Henry wanted an annulment?
- Thinks God didn’t approve as children kept dying, as he married his brothers’ widow and was being punished.
- In the Book of Leviticus it stated it was a sin for a man to marry his brothers’ widow.
How did Wolsey attempt to get an annulment for Henry?
- Finding biblical support in the Book of Leviticus.
- Finding a technical fault in the original Papal decision.
- Pressuring Catherine to become a nun.
- Persuading the Pope to allow the case to be decided in England.
Why did Wolsey fail to get an annulment for Henry?
Biblical support:
- Catherine’s supporters found a passage in Deuteronomy suggesting a man could marry his brother’s widow.
- Leviticus only worked if the marriage wasn’t consummated.
- Embarrassing for the Pope to admit the original dispensation was wrong.
Technical fault:
- Catherine’s supporters found a correctly worded Spanish version.
Pressuring Catherine:
- Catherine had been a loyal wife for 20 years.
- She stood up for Mary so she also didn’t lose her status.
- Denied Henry’s claims against her.
Persuading the Pope:
- Cardinal Carpeggio was given instructions from the Pope to not reach a final decision.
- Carpeggio used delaying tactics.
- Broke up court without a final decision.
What are some features of Catherine’s relationship with Henry?
- By 1518 Catherine conceived 6 children but one survived.
- In 1524 Henry stopped sleeping with Catherine as she was 39.
Who were Catherine’s supporters?
Thomas Moore
Bishop Fisher
