7 - The Character and Aims of Henry VIII

Question 1

What was Henry VIII’s education and what was this like compared to Henry VII’s?

Answer 1

VIII = educated from the age of 5, learnt arts and music
VII = learnt to think like a fugitive while in exile

Question 2

What was Henry VIII’s hobbies as a child and what was this like compared to Henry VII’s?

Answer 2

VIII = enjoyed a comfortable childhood and enjoyed music
VII = was in exile

Question 3

Was Henry VIII brought up near his family and what was this like compared to Henry VII?

Answer 3

VIII = lived with his mother and sister for most of his childhood, brother brought up 240km away. After Arthur died he moved to Richmond to like with his father
VII = family died and lived abroad since 14

Question 4

Was Henry VIII exposed to court and politics and what was this like compared to Henry VII?

Answer 4

VIII = had a suite next to his father and joined his father’s Richmond court
VII = exposed to French politics in exile

Question 5

Was Henry VIII prepared to be king from a young age and what was this like compared to Henry VII?

Answer 5

VIII = was given little responsibility as a child
VII = grew up logical and clear minded, but did not have a mindset of a leader

Question 6

What were Henry VIII’s aims from 1509-14?

Answer 6

1 = dismantle the unpopular elements of his father’s reign
2 = to establish status amongst other European monarchs
3 = to re-establish the role of the nobility
4 = establish himself as a warrior king through success in battle

Question 7

What was Henry VII’s legacy?

Answer 7

• stability / personal security
• conciliar government
• financial security
• peace in foreign policy
• undermining the nobility

Question 8

How did Henry VIII destroy/preserve Henry VII’s legacy of security?

Answer 8

Preserve:
- Executed Edmund de la Pole in 1513, deals with a pretender from his father’s reign
- marries Catherine of Aragon June 1509, secures Tudor Dynasty and tries to get an heir

Destroy:
- began to assert power within the council regarding foreign policy, opposing decisions to the council
- replaces the role of the council with Wolsey and no longer relies on the conciliar government

Question 9

How did Henry VIII destroy/preserve Henry VII’s legacy of financial stability?

Answer 9

Preserve:
- renews TofEt in 1510, provides French pension

Destroy:
- Henry’s wars in 1513 were expensive, he had to liquidate his father’s estates to pay for it as he spent the £300,000 he had been left

Question 10

How did Henry VIII destroy/preserve Henry VII’s legacy of peace in foreign policy?

Answer 10

Preserve:
- renews treaty of Etaples in 1510, but destroyed 1512

Destroy:
- 1513, Battle of the Spurs, takes Therouanne and Tournai
- Sept 1513, Anglo- Scottish conflict where James IV was killed
1510, tries to persuade Pope into an alliance against France

Question 11

How did Henry VIII destroy/preserve Henry VII’s legacy of undermining the nobility?

Answer 11

Preserve:
- Earl of Surrey used to defeat the 1513 Anglo-Scottish conflict (defence)
- cancels some bonds, but most weren’t cancelled until 1520s

Destory:
- Marquis of Dorset used to take over French territory in 1512
- Captures Empson and Dudley 2 days into his reign, executes 16 months later
- Council Learned disbanded in 1510

Question 12

When did Henry marry Catherine of Aragon?

Answer 12

11th June 1509