Key figures

Question 1

Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1443-1524)

Answer 1

Came from a distinguished Yorkist family and fought for Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth, after which he was imprisoned and attainted for treason. Restored to his title in 1489 when he suppressed the Yorkshire rebellion and led the English army at the Battle of Flodden (1513) with Scotland; after this he was promoted to the Duchy of Norfolk. Served both Henry VII and Henry VIII as soldier and administrator

Question 2

William Warham (c1450-1532)

Answer 2

Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503 and a councillor under Henry VII. He lost political influence under Henry VIII

Question 3

Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556)

Answer 3

A Cambridge academic who came to Henry VIII’s attention through the Collectanea Satis Copiosa, which supplied the ideology behind the Royal Supremacy. Later became Archbishop of Canterbury and enjoyed Henry VIII’s personal confidence. Burnt for heresy under the Catholic Queen Mary I

Question 4

Jane Seymour (c1509-37)

Answer 4

Lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn; her demure personality appealed to Henry VIII. They were married on 30 May 1536 and she gave birth to Prince Edward on 12 September 1537, but died the following month from complications after childbirth

Question 5

Stephen Gardiner (c1495-1555)

Answer 5

Became principal secretary to Henry VIII and then bishop of Winchester, after having initially progressed in Wolsey’s service. Supported the break with Rome but was imprisoned under Edward VI because he retained conservative Catholic views. He returned to favour under Mary I

Question 6

Thomas Wriothesley (1505-50)

Answer 6

Advanced as a result of Cromwell’s patronage, and was appointed joint principal secretary in 1540. Surviving Cromwell’s downfall, he attached himself to the conservative Gardiner but then once more switched sides when involved in Norfolk’s downfall in 1546. He was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1544

Question 7

Edward Seymour (c1500-52)

Answer 7

Brother to Jane Seymour and thus uncle to Edward I. Marquis of Hertford and later Duke of Somerset, he was a soldier who became very politically influential towards the end of Henry VIII’s reign. Appointed Lord Protector to Edward before his downfall in 1549

Question 8

Francis I (1494-1547)

Answer 8

King of France, reigning from 1515 until his death. Intense personal rival to Henry VIII, but at times they were willing to ally due to their shared suspicion of Emperor Charles V

Question 9

Charles V (1500-58)

Answer 9

Was successively Duke of Burgundy, then King of Spain (1516-56) and Holy Roman Emperor (1519-56); the dominant ruler in western Europe. Catherine of Aragon’s nephew

Question 10

John, Baron Russell and Earl of Bedford (c1485-1555)

Answer 10

Had a long career as a courtier, serving Henry VIII as a diplomat and soldier; became councillor in 1536. Following Exeter’s fall, Russell was granted a huge amount of monastic land in Devon to bolster royal support in the SW

Question 11

Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter (c1498-1538)

Answer 11

Grandson of Edward IV who was dominant in the SW. He had had a close relationship with Henry VIII, but his identification with the Aragonese faction and his enmity towards Cromwell strained their relationship

Question 12

Robert Aske (c1500-37)

Answer 12

Leader of the Pilgrimage of Grace, turning varied movements of the rebels into a cohesive whole. After being captured he tried to negotiate a settlement with Henry VIII but was executed after the outbreak of renewed rebellion in January 1537

Question 13

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Answer 13

German monk who challenged the Catholic Church’s teaching on salvation in 1517, this broadened into an attack on papal supremacy. Luther gained support from many secular rulers in Germany, who withdrew their territories from allegiance to Catholicism