Chapter 7 - The character and aims of Henry VIII Flashcards
when was Henry proclaimed King?
23rd April 1509, two days after his fathers death
when did Henry VIII marry Catherine of Aragon?
11 June 1509
when was Wolsey’s emergence as first minister?
1514
how was Henry educated?
after his brother’s death he was educated in how to be a king, his educated included some acquittance with the new learning of humanism
what was Henry VIII’s mind like according to John Guy?
his mind was able but second rate
was Henry well read?
yes
how does Eric Ives describe Henry at the beginning of his reign?
‘extrovert, affable and charming’
what was the early impression Henry created like?
very positive
how was Henry VIII’s succession welcomed?
as a breath of fresh air after the stultifying and rather sinister atmosphere associated with the influence of Empson and Dudley in the last years of his fathers reign.
how did Thomas More describe henry’s accession?
‘the end of our slavery, the fount of our liberty, the end of sadness, the beginning of joy.
How did Henry’s style of Kingship differ from his father?
he had a profound dislike for the business of government and found the writing and reading of state papers both tedious and painful. yet he could intervene suddenly in the business of government, in the process contradicting decisions or actions which had already been taken. he also lacked his father’s work ethic, preferring to pass the time with good company.
what was the impact of Henry’s dislike for the business of government and tendency to suddenly intervene?
it had considerable implications for the quality of decision making within Henry’s administration.
what did Henry VIII place emphasis on?
pageants, revelry, sports, hunting and tournaments.
how did the structure of government evolve differently in Henry’s reign compared to that of his father’s?
- in the short term there was a renewed emphasis on governing through council, which then made two comebacks in the later stages of his reign (1529-32, 1540-47).
- for two periods of his reign Henry relied on the work of a chief minister who shaped the structure of government to meet his own needs.
why did Wolsey come to Henry’s attention?
as a result of his organisational abilities
what was the significance of Wolsey’s appointment as papal legate in 1518?
he now outranked the ageing William warham, archbishop of canterbury, and also gave him control over the religious orders in england
what was the legacy of Henry VII that Henry VIII inherited?
- money - believed to be around £300,000
- unpopular mechanisms for extracting money
- a peaceful foreign policy
- a conciliar form of government
how did Henry change things after he came to the throne in order to deal with the legacy of his father?
- Empson and Dudley executed
- Council learned in law abolished by an act of parliament in January 1510
- ## cancellation of many of the bonds and recognisances that had been imposed by the council learned in the law.
what was the significance of the Council Learned in Law being abolished in January 1510?
around 7 months after his coronation, acted swiftly. this shows he wanted to distance himself from his fathers unpopular policies.
when was the coronation of Henry VIII?
24 June 1509
what were Henry’s key aims in the early years of his reign?
- to establish his status amongst European monarchs through marriage
- to re-establish the role of the nobility
- to establish himself as a warrior king through success in battle.
why did Henry’s swift marriage to Catherine of Aragon suit Henry’s councillors?
they took the view that marriage for Henry would deflect him from political matters and enable them to conduct conciliar business as usual
what was Catherine’s influence in the early years?
she had some influence over policy making
how did Henry’s accession benefit the nobility?
he shared their tastes and the dominant military culture of the aristocracy, it was largely the sons of the nobility who kept Henry company during his activities.
what did Wolsey’s influence mean for the aristocracy?
they couldn’t achieve the political domination they hoped for
what was Henry’s foreign policy like in the early years of his reign?
- pursuit of military glory
how did Henry’s reign leave an enduring mark on English history?
the broadening of the use of statute law, the growing importance of parliament, the destruction to the traditional religion and the plundering of the church’s wealth.
how did Henry exhibit ruthlessness and cynicism?
his treatment of Empson and Dudley and his resort to execution for treason, often on the flimsiest of charges (Buckingham) combined tyranny and insecurity which overshadowed his positive qualities.
how did Henry demonstrate his impulsiveness?
- speed of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon
- regret over the execution of Thomas Cromwell
