Character and aims of H8

Question 1

What did a foreign observer describe Henry as?

Answer 1

“best-dressed sovereign in the world”

Question 2

How long was H8 king for?

Answer 2

37 years

Question 3

What did he think of himself?

Answer 3

a true Renaissance man

Question 4

What sport did he most enjoy?

Answer 4

Tennis, from a young age. Described as the “prettiest thing in the world to see him play.

Question 5

How long did Henry joust for?

Answer 5

25 years. 1536, became permanently brain damaged after a jousting accident

Question 6

What was Henry told if people wanted to associate with him?

Answer 6

that he was clever

Question 7

If there was a man who could function on his intellectual level what did Henry do?

Answer 7

he would grant them favours. e.g More, Wolsey and Cromwell

Question 8

What were his intellectual abilities described as?

Answer 8

“Exceptional and almost more than human talents” and that H8 was “the most academically able monarch in English history.”

Question 9

Was Henry a conformist?

Answer 9

Yes, he adopted most of the values and attitudes of his sex, class and type. he believed that women were inferior to men.

Question 10

Was Henry religious?

Answer 10

Yes, he didn’t doubt the existence of a Christian God and thought God was a super-man sitting on a throne somewhere in the sky who could punish and reward those who disobeyed/obeyed his command.

Question 11

What did he believe a true knight was to do?

Answer 11

Perform valiantly on the battlefield in order to have worthwhile trophies to lay at the feet of his fair lady. He also believed that he was destined to perform similar deeds of valour on far side of Channel

Question 12

What did he present Catherine of Aragon with in 1513?

Answer 12

he presented her with the symbols of his victorious campaign in France.

Question 13

What did his daughter Mary refuse to accept?

Answer 13

bastardy that resulted from the annulment of her parents’ marriage.

Question 14

What code did Henry stick by?

Answer 14

the code of chivalry. brought up to believe that his role in life was to be a knight.

Question 15

What was the fourfold legacy from H7?

Answer 15

1) money (H8 inherited £300,000 from his father)
2) unpopular mechanisms for extraction of money (bonds etc)
3) peaceful foreign policy
4) conciliar form of govt

Question 16

What did the £300,000 pay for?

Answer 16

A revival of an agressive foreign policy towards France

Question 17

How did Henry distance himself from his father’s reign?

Answer 17

1) cancelled bonds and recognisances
2) arrested and executed Empson and Dudley
3) increased influence of Wolsey and dismantled conciliar form of govt
4) abolished Council Learned in Jan 1510 through an Act of Parliament.

Question 18

When did Henry marry C of A?

Answer 18

11 June 1509

Question 19

Was Henry keen to agree to the marriage of C of A?

Answer 19

Yes, he believed that she was unfairly treated and the marriage was initially successful on a personal level.

Question 20

What did Henry’s councillors think of this marriage?

Answer 20

It would provide suitable diversion from political matters and enable them to conduct conciliar govt.

Question 21

What happened in the mid 1520s?

Answer 21

henry resented the rapidity of the marriage to C of A as she couldn’t give him a healthy male heir.

Question 22

During H8’s reign, what was the punishment for treason?

Answer 22

Execution. this paired with his tyranny and insecurity overshadowed his positive qualities.

Question 23

What was included in H7’s foreign policy that H8 set out to change?

Answer 23

The denial of the traditional outlet of pursuit of military glory of the nobles as H8 shared the the tastes and military culture of the nobility.

Question 24

How did H8’s govt differ from that of his fathers?

Answer 24

He left governing to others and operated through the Privy Council, to begin with.

Question 25

How many ships did the navy have during H8’s reign?

Answer 25

53, increased from 5.

Question 26

What did Henry spend the £300,000 on?

Answer 26

Parties, alcohol and buildings, military action (costly war with France) and expenses with the war.

Question 27

Why did H8 abolish the Council Learned?

Answer 27

Appease and reassure the nobility, gain their strength for military action. the execution of Empson and Dudley emphasised a huge change with asserting power.

Question 28

What was H8’s foreign policy like?

Answer 28

Agressive. It was designed to demonstrate strengths and win glorious images and establish his image as a warrior king.

Question 29

In 1512, where did H8 lead an army?

Answer 29

To France as part of an international alliance. he achieved little.

Question 30

Who did H8 turn to after the failure in France?

Answer 30

Wolsey and he organised a 2nd expedition which went to France in 1513 and was a success.

Question 31

What was the Battle of Spurs?

Answer 31

It was when the English drove off the French and captured the Fortress of Therouanne and Tournai. Occurred in 1513.

Question 32

When was the Treaty of St Germaine-en-laye signed?

Answer 32

1514, was negotiated by Wolsey and left England in possession of Tournai and Therouanne. Left Henry with big annual payment for agreeing to give up claims for French throne.

Question 33

Where did James IV of Scotland invade?

Answer 33

The North East of England and intending on diverting English troops from going to France.

Question 34

Who was given the title of Lieutenant-General of the North?

Answer 34

Earl of Surrey. He was instructed to take an army up north to repel the invasion. this was known as the Battle of Flodden

Question 35

When was the Battle of Flodden?

Answer 35

September 1513. was known last large-scale medieval style battle in England. English lost 1500 men and the Scots 10,000 men. 9 earls, 13 barons, 3 bishops and James IV died.

Question 36

How did the marriage to C of A come about?

Answer 36

1) Cathy was kept at court by H7 after the death of Arthur in 1502 to carry out the negotiations needed to secure approval from both her parents and Pope for marriage to H8.
2) H8 had sympathy towards the way she was treated so honour the promise to marry her. This showed the concept of knightly valour.
3) Meant that there was an opportunity to maintain an alliance with Spain.

Question 37

What did H8 think of the nobles?

Answer 37

As their friends and associates. He could share his sporting and artistic pleasures with them. it enhanced the prestige of his court.

Question 38

Who did H8 execute in 1513?

Answer 38

Edmund de la Pole (Earl of Suffolk) for treason, Richard de la Pole remained free and in French service till his death till his death at the Battle of Pavia in 1525.

Question 39

How did Henry adopt his father’s tactics?

Answer 39

He continued to use Justices of the Peace to carry out his wished in the local govt.
Encouraged talented advisers and administratord from outside the nobility.

Question 40

How many men were in H8s Privy Chamber?

Answer 40

20 who gave advice on matters of the state. His privy chamber became more important and only the most intimate advisers and courtiers had access to Henry.

Question 41

Who was Sir William Paget?

Answer 41

Comptroller of the king’s household, took charge of the meetings and sought advice or approval from the king on matters being discussed. From 1532-1540 it was Cromwell.

Question 42

Who dominated the latter part of Henry’s reign?

Answer 42

Cromwell (1532-1540) and Wolsey (1515-1529)

Question 43

What did H8 encourage that his father avoided?

Answer 43

Factionalism at court.