Chapter 7: Character & aims of Henry VIII Flashcards
1
Q
How old was Henry VIII when he became king?
A
- 2 months before his 18th birthday
2
Q
How did Henry VIII’s upbringing prepare him for king?
A
- Was the spare heir
- Given proper tutoring after the death of Arthur - 7yrs before he became king
3
Q
Describe the personality of Henry VIII.
A
- Well educated and well read
- Little experience of government - also found it very boring
- Made decisions quickly and was impulsive
4
Q
How was Henry VIII seen compared to his father?
A
- As a breath of fresh air after the winter king
5
Q
What was the legacy of Henry VII?
(4 things)
A
- Money - around £300,000
- Unpopular ways of gaining money
- Peaceful foreign relations
- Conciliar approach to government
6
Q
How did Henry VIII go against his father’s legacy?
A
- Money was quickly spent over expensive wars with France
- Conciliar government changed for key councillors like Wolsey
7
Q
What were the key aims of Henry VIII?
(3 things)
A
- Establish his status in Europe through marriage
- Re-establish the roles of the nobility
- Establish himself as a warrior king through battle - idolised Henry V who had the last most significant win over France
8
Q
How was marriage achieved?
A
- Previously had an arranged marriage to Catherine of Aragon by his father - the widow of his older brother
- Wanted to marry quickly - 11 June 1509
- Later regretted it - she was 5 yrs older - healthy male heir less likely
9
Q
How were the nobility treated?
A
- Under Henry VII - left out of court, punished, peace meant they couldn’t be used in battle
- Brought back in by Henry and employed in wars
- Still little patronage to the nobles as instead people like Wolsey were favoured
10
Q
Who was the Duke of Buckingham and what happened to him?
A
- A descendant of Edward III - same as Henry
- Scared of shaky position and threat
- Arrested, tried and executed Buckingham - 1521
11
Q
What was Henry VIII’s foreign policy like?
A
- Wanted military glory - also boosted new noble roles
- A lot of unsuccessful and expensive wars on France
- More aggressive where Henry VIII had been defensive and peaceful
12
Q
What key actions did Henry VIII take at the start of his reign and when?
(3 things)
A
- 1509 - still uses father’s advisors (Warham and Fox), marriage
- 1510 - abolished council learned, cancelled bonds and recognisances, executed Empson and Dudley
- 1513 - executed Edmund de la Pole
13
Q
Who was Wolsey?
A
- Favoured for organisational skills
- 1514 - became cardinal and archbishop of York
- 1515 - became lord chancellor
- Well rewarded and very rich
- 1518 - Papal legate so outranked Warham (Archbishop of Canterbury)
- Was head of religious orders in England
14
Q
What continued from Henry VII?
A
- Both never meant to be king
- Used same advisors for a while
- Paranoid of threats - killed Edmund de la Pole and Buckingham
- Ensured succession quickly - marriage for security
15
Q
What was changed by Henry VIII?
A
- Changed from conciliar to key councillors
- Was much less interested and involved in government
- Aggressive foreign policy - wars with everyone
- Abolished council learned, killed E&D
- Reintroduced nobility
