7 - The Character + Aims Of Henry VIII

Question 1

What legacy did Henry VII leave for Henry VIII?

Answer 1

A STABLE COUNTRY

• Financial stability: solvent treasury with approx £10,000 cash + £300,000 plate and jewels
• Peaceful foreign policy: only slight issues were cautious relationship with Ferdinand (Spain) + exclusion from League of Cambrai (1508)
• Strong internal system of gov: conciliar gov + limited use of parliament
• Control stamped over nobility
• Good religious status: good relations with Pope + little opposition to Catholicism (BUT opposition growing)

Question 2

When did Henry VII die?

Answer 2

21st April 1509

Question 3

How long was Henry VII’s death kept secret for?

Answer 3

2 days

Question 4

When was Henry VII proclaimed King?

Answer 4

23rd April 1509

Question 5

When was Henry VIII’s coronation?

Answer 5

24th June 1509

Question 6

What was the general reaction to Henry VIII’s accession?

Answer 6

Welcomed

• Seen as dawn of new age under Renaissance Prince, “the end of our slavery, the fount of our liberty, the end of sadness, the beginning of joy”(T.More)
• Seen as leaving behind the harsh “Winter King”(T.Penn)

Question 7

What did Henry VIII look like?

Answer 7

GAVE OFF IMAGE OF A STRONG KING (despite youth)

• Tall (6ft2”)
• Athletically built
• Took pride in his image, as acted as symbol of power (e.g. wore jewellery to look impressive - 1547 inventory listed over 3000 gemstones)(e.g. Venetian ambassador said he was among the “best dressed sovereign[s]”)

Question 8

How old was Henry VIII when he became King?

Answer 8

17

Question 9

Was Henry VIII prepared for Kingship?

Answer 9

Initially not

• Not sent to Ludlow Castle as custom for Prince of Wales
• Raised in family nursery at Eltham Palace with the girls

Since brother died he had received more education on kingship

Question 10

What were Henry VIII’s physical attributes when he became King?

Answer 10

• Skilled sportsman, hunter + warrior (“capital sportsman + fine jouster”)
• Musical (played many instruments + good voice)
• Dancer

Question 11

What were Henry VIII’s mental attributes when he became King?

Answer 11

• Well educated
• Skilled linguist (proficient in French + Latin)
• Studied maths, astronomy, theology
• Read widely (despite calling it “a chore”)

Question 12

How was Henry VIII educated?

Answer 12

• Received a humanist education
• Embraced ideas of Renaissance (reviving classical learning)
• Education overseen by Margaret Beaufort who employed talented Cambridge scholars (e.g. poet John Skelton) as his tutors

Question 13

Was Henry VIII clever?

Answer 13

Yes

- Described by Erasmus as a “universal genius” (likely exaggeration but he was one of the cleverest monarchs)

Question 14

What was Henry VIII’s initial personality like?

Answer 14

SPOKEN OF POSITIVELY

• “affable + gracious”(Venetian ambassador)
• “extrovert, affable + charming”(Ives)
• BUT did have some deep rooted arrogance, being attention seeking + believing everything he did had God’s approval

Question 15

What was Henry VIII’s later personality like?

Answer 15

SPOKEN OF NEGATIVELY

• Increasingly cruel + violent (executions)
• Volatile mood swings (“different opinions in the morning than after dinner”)

Question 16

When did Henry VIII’s personality shift?

Answer 16

• Debated

- Suzannah Lipscomb says 1536 - “annus horribilis” (I agree)

Question 17

Why might Henry VIII’s personality have shifted after 1536?

Answer 17

Up to this point health declining, which stopped him doing the physical activities he had loved
- Immobile (varicose ulcer on left leg from 1527 jousting accident)
- Fat (waist 54” by 1541)
In 1536 lots of bad events happened to push him over the edge
- Near fatal horse fall
- Anne Boleyn miscarriage then execution for adultery
- No legitimate heir (Mary: made illegitimate in 1533 + Henry Fitzroy)
- Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion

Question 18

What were Henry VIII’s initial aims?

Answer 18

Preserve the positive aspects of his father’s legacy, but distance himself from the negative aspects

• Distance himself from the oppression under Henry VII
• Re-establish the role of the nobility whilst keeping a strong gov
• Secure his succession
• Assert his dominance as a warrior king internationally

Question 19

What were Henry VIII’s later aims?

Answer 19

Became more selfish, wanting to get his own way in every case, despite this sometimes jeopardising the protection of his father’s successful legacy

Question 20

What actions did Henry VIII take to complete the aim of: distancing himself from the oppression under Henry VII?

Answer 20

• Show trials + executions of Empson + Dudley
• Abolished the Council Learned + cancelled many existing bonds
• Set up the Commissions of Oyer + Terminer

Question 21

What actions did Henry VIII take to complete the aim of: re-establishing the role of the nobility whilst keeping a strong gov?

Answer 21

• Stopped treating them so harshly (e.g. removal of Council Learned + many existing bonds that had acted as ‘stick’ under Henry VII to keep nobles loyal)

Question 22

What actions did Henry VIII take to complete the aim of: securing his succession?

Answer 22

• Married Catherine of Aragon quickly

Question 23

What actions did Henry VIII take to complete the aim of: asserting his dominance as a warrior king internationally?

Answer 23

• Made clear from the outset that he aimed to reconquer lands in France (inspired by Henry V’s heroic victory at Agincourt in 1415)
• Led 3 campaigns in France (despite warnings from his father’s old councillors, e.g. Fox + Warham)

Question 24

When were the show trials of Empson + Dudley? Who arranged them?

Answer 24

• 24th April 1509

- Arranged by advisers of Henry VIII: Fox, Lovell, Weston

Question 25

What were Empson + Dudley charged with?

Answer 25

Treason

Question 26

When were Empson + Dudley executed?

Answer 26

August 1510

Question 27

When was the Council Learned abolished?

Answer 27

Jan 1510

Many existing bonds + recognisances also cancelled

Question 28

What were the Commissions of Oyer + Terminer?

Answer 28

Organisation that allowed people to seek out any grievances against past King’s (Henry VII) agents

• Wasn’t used much
• Acted more as symbol that Henry VIII was on the side of the people + shouldn’t be associated by the harsh aspects of his father’s rule

Question 29

What was Henry VII’s view on nobles?

Answer 29

Mistrusting (due to threatening power + influence) unless they had proven their personal loyalty

Question 30

What was Henry VIII’s view on nobles?

Answer 30

• Much more trusting than his father (had grown up with them as his peers, in sport etc + felt throne less threatened, as rightful heir)
• Some mistrust remained (inherited from his father)

Question 31

Give 2 examples of Henry VIII still not completely trusting the nobility

Answer 31

• Chief minister never a noble
• Duke of Buckingham’s execution in May 1521 (charged with treason after King wrote to Wolsey about concern for lack of loyalty from Buckingham + 4 other nobles)

Question 32

When did Henry VIII announce his plan to marry Catherine of Aragon?

Answer 32

27th April 1509 (6 days after Henry VII’s death)

Question 33

When did Henry VIII marry Catherine of Aragon?

Answer 33

11th June 1509

Question 34

When was Catherine of Aragon’s coronation as queen?

Answer 34

24th June 1509 (shared Henry’s coronation)

Question 35

Why did Henry VIII choose to marry Catherine of Aragon?

Answer 35

Accessible (allowing for quick marriage)
- Had been held in English court after 1502 death of Arthur

Strategic
- Would strengthen English alliance with Spain after some negative feelings between Ferdinand + England when Henry VII didn’t support his claim to Castile

Question 36

What were the issues with marriage to Catherine of Aragon?

Answer 36

• Needed papal dispensation (to marry brother’s widow)
• She was 5yrs older
• She would hinder his search for an heir (6 miscarriages - 1 female heir Mary)

Question 37

How was Henry VIII’s foreign policy different to his father’s? Why?

Answer 37

• Didn’t just want peace with other countries, wanted POWER
• Felt more able to strive for dominance, because felt more stable on the throne (he was rightful heir in a fairly secure state)

Question 38

When were Henry VIII’s French campaigns?

Answer 38

1512-14
1523-5
1543-6

Question 39

Who was Henry Fitzroy?

Answer 39

Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, that he had with Elizabeth Blount