WHY DID WOLSEY RISE TO POWER?

Question 1

1. INTELLIGENCE

Answer 1

• Gained a degree in Theology from Oxford at 15 years old (1497), getting him the name “The Boy Bachelor”
• EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE when he became Royal Almoner in 1509, s he charmed Henry with his wit and flattery
• Despite being the son of an Ipswich butcher, still proved his intelligence

Question 1

2. PERSONALITY/WORK ETHIC

Answer 1

• In 1512, Henry needed people to organise an army for war against France
  II
  V
• Nobody was interested as it required immense hard work and effort, and had an exceedingly high potential for failure
  II
  V
• Wolsey was ruthless, and set up an army of 11,000 to go fight THE BATTLE OF SPURS, in Calais between Henry and Maximilian I (fought in 1513)
  II
  V
• This made Henry trust him, and in return give him Lord Chancellor in 1515

ALSO BUILT CARDINAL COLLEGE IN OXFORD IN 1525

Question 2

3. POOR COMPETITION

Answer 2

• Henry disliked his current advisors, as he wanted to be different from his father, and wanted newer ministers
• Wolsey was at the right place at the right time, as many of the ministers would be dead, arrested (Dudley and Empson, 1509 –> Executed on 17 Aug 1510) or on the verge of retiring form 1509-1514
• He labelled the advisors as “old, boring and cautious”
• Wolsey, as a result, was also named the “Alter Rex” by the public, which means Second King, as a demonstration of power
• Wolsey also made £3,000 a year (£1m+ now), causing envy

Question 3

4. POWER IN CHURCH

Answer 3

• By 1515, he was a CARDINAL, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK and BISHOP OF LINCOLN
• Became Papal Legate in 1518, and was now the Pope’s esteemed delegate
• Outranked ALL the clergy and had lots of power