Character and Aims of Henry VIII Flashcards
What action did Henry VIII take with the assistance of his inherited council to endear himself to his subjects? - Character and Aims
Henry immediately decided to arrest Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley, the heads of the Council Learned who had grown unpopular following their cruel exploitation of Henry VII’s prerogative rights.
What was Henry VIII’s attitude to overseeing governance? - Character and Aims
Henry was very lazy, with an intense dislike of administration, finding it tedious.
What action did Henry VIII tend to take with administrative matters? - Character and Aims
Henry tended to delegate any administration to his council in his early years, later delegating to Lord Chancellor Wolsey after 1515.
What caveat is there to the widely held opinion that Henry VIII delegated administrative duties? - Character and Aims
Henry has a track record of impulsively intervening in governance, contradicting or going against decisions which he had already made. This complicated matters for those tasked with fulfilling Henry’s demands.
What was Henry VIII’s attitude to court? - Character and Aims
Henry tended to enjoy the company of the nobility and the rich, spending most of his time indulging in leisurely activities such as sports, hunting, tournaments etc.
In what form did Henry VIII’s government operate immediately after his accession? - Character and Aims
Henry initially operated with a conciliar form of government, which he had inherited from his father following his death.
When did Wolsey become appointed as Papal Legate? Why was this significant? - Character and Aims
Wolsey became Papal Legate in 1518, which gave him precedence over the Archbishop of Canterbury in terms of Church rank, as well as that Wolsey was in control of England’s religious orders.
When was Wolsey appointed as Lord Chancellor? - Character and Aims
Wolsey was appointed by Henry VIII as Lord Chancellor in 1515.
What legacy did Henry VII leave for Henry VIII to inherit from his reign? - Character and Aims
Henry VII left his son vast sums of money, unpopular methods of extracting this money, a peaceful foreign policy and a conciliar government.
How did Henry VIII eradicate his father’s legacy of leaving wealth and a conciliar government respectively? - Character and Aims
Henry eradicated the wealth he inherited by reviving an aggressive foreign policy towards France.
Henry eradicated the Conciliar Government by delegating administration to a single minister (Wolsey, then Cromwell).
How did Henry VIII eradicate his father’s legacy of unpopular methods of extracting money and a peaceful foreign policy respectively? - Character and Aims
Henry arrested Empson and Dudley and branded them as responsible for the Council Learned. They were executed and the Council Learned later abolished in 1510.
Henry pursued a very aggressive foreign policy, especially towards France.
Why was the execution of Empson and Dudley important for Henry VIII in establishing his reign? - Character and Aims
Henry’s ordering of their execution, along with the cancellation of Bonds and Recognisances distanced Henry from his father’s regime, as well as ensured his popularity with the powerful nobility who had become estranged from his father.
When did Henry marry Catherine of Aragon? What were the initial and long-term permutations of the marriage? - Character and Aims
Henry married Catherine on the 11th June 1509.
Initially the marriage was personally and diplomatically successful, yet by the mid 1520s Henry regretted a marriage which would not produce a healthy male heir.
How did Henry VIII’s attitude to the nobility differ from his father’s? - Character and Aims
Henry VIII was appreciative and open to the nobility, whereas Henry VII perhaps feared their influence and power. Henry VIII shared the military cultures of the aristocracy.
What action did Henry take against the Duke of Buckingham? Why did he do this? - Character and Aims
Henry tried Buckingham for treason, finding him guilty and executing him. He did this because Buckingham allegedly discussed the succession, which can be seen as treason. Buckingham was, however a royal descendant, and Henry was suspicious of this, perhaps also fearful.
