The character and aims of Henry VIII Flashcards
(8 cards)
What was Henry VIII’s character like?
John Guy — “Self-interest ruled at the accession of Henry VIII”
Showed his ruthlessness upon coming to the throne: Empson and Dudley were executed which enabled Henry VIII’s new regime to profit from the stability his father had created without the stigma attached to it
His accession was welcomed as a breath of fresh air after the sinister and stifling atmosphere associated with Empson and Dudley’s influence
Came to the throne aged 17; he had spent the last 7 years of his life since Arthur’s death preparing for his new role as future King of England. However he had no experience of government or public affairs
Eric Ives — “extrovert, affable and charming” at this time
Henry VIII had a profound dislike for the business of government, found writing and reading State papers tedious
He would intervene suddenly in government business, contradicting decisions or actions which had already been made or taken; this approach implicated the quality of decision-making within Henry VIII’s administration — especially important given the nature of personal monarchy
Lacked work ethic and preferred to spend his time leisurely: emphasis on pageants, revelry, sports, hunting and tournaments within the court after his accession.
Structure of government evolved differently compared to his father’s reign because Henry VIII rarely engaged directly with its affairs:
Renewed emphasis on governing through council in the short-term. This made comebacks in 1529-32 and 1540-47
Henry VIII relied upon the work of a chief minister who shaped the structures of government to meet his own needs: Thomas Wolsey (1515-29) and Thomas Cromwell (1534-40)
What legacy did Henry VII leave to his son?
Henry VIII had essentially a fourfold legacy left from his father:
1) Believed that Henry VIII left around £300,000 upon his death
2) Unpopular mechanisms for extracting money, especially in terms of gaining extraordinary revenue
3) Peaceful foreign policy
4) Conciliar form of government
Start of Henry VIII’s reign was marked by changes in Council members and council structure:
1) Richard Fox secured the arrest of Empson and Dudley, assisted by Sir Thomas Lovell and Richard Weston
2) January 1510 — an Act of Parliament abolished the Council Learned in Law, further distancing Henry VIII from his father’s regime
The abolishment of the Council Learned in Law cancelled many of the bonds and recognisances that it had imposed; this ensured Henry VIII’s own popularity amongst the nobility and propertied classes, who had considered themselves victims of Henry VII’s taxation approach
What were Henry VIII’s early aims?
1) To establish his status amongst European monarchs through marriage
2) To re-establish the role of the nobility
3) To establish himself as a warrior king through success in battle
Why did Henry VIII marry Catherine of Aragon and what was their marriage like?
Henry VIII believed that Catherine had been unfairly treated and was anxious to conclude a marriage as quickly as possible
This suited his councillors, as they viewed that this would deflect Henry VIII from political matters and enable them to conduct conciliar business as usual
They were married on 11 June 1509, and their union was initially successful on a personal level; Catherine also exercised some influence over policy making in the first few years
By the mid-1520s Henry VIII began to repent the rapidity of his marriage to a woman six years his senior, especially once it became certain that she couldn’t give birth to a healthy male heir
To what extent did Henry VIII reestablish the role of the nobility?
Under Henry VII, the nobility had been largely frozen out of direct political influence, and few had spent much time at court. The former king’s largely peaceable foreign policy had also denied them their traditional outlet of the pursuit of military glory
However Henry VIII shared the tastes and dominant military culture of the aristocracy
Sons of the nobles were generally young men slightly older than the king himself; they partnered him in sports and revels, accompanied him to war in N France or Scotland
However the nobility didn’t achieve the political domination they had hoped for because Henry instead promoted the interests of Thomas Wolsey, the churchman who had organised war in France on his behalf
Why was the Duke of Buckingham executed in 1521?
However Henry VIII was still ruthless towards the nobility early in his reign, indicated in his dealings with the Duke of Buckingham
Buckingham was a descendant of Edward III and the only English duke at the start of the reign; Henry VIII regarded him with suspicion
Buckingham was prone to muttering about issues such as the succession, Wolsey had even warned him to be more cautious. Technically any discussion of what might happen after the king’s death could have been regarded as treasonable; he was tried by a court of his peers (headed by Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk) on this basis
Buckingham was found guilty and executed, though the exact reason for the proceedings against him remains obscure
What characterised Henry VIII’s foreign policy?
War with France recurred regularly throughout his reign, usually with the same results: vast amounts of money and resources were spent to achieve very minor gains that had little to no strategic significance
Bouts of aggression were mixed with occasional alliances against Spain and the HRE
Henry VIII was never foolish enough to go to war with the powerful Charles V
What were Henry VIII’s later aims?
Henry VIII did not have a consistent approach to his aims in government; the pursuit of glory and his need to secure the succession to the throne was constant, but he was mostly uninterested in government affairs, except on an occasional and impulsive basis
However his reign left an enduring mark on English history — broadening use of statute law and resulting growing importance of Parliament; destruction of much traditional religion; plundering of much of the Church’s wealth
He exhibited ruthlessness and cynicism, resorting to execution for treason, often on flimsy grounds
Also demonstrated impulsiveness — marital relationships, naive approach to foreign policy, regretted his decision to execute Cromwell
