Factionalism Flashcards
When did factions start to become an important feature at court?
1530 onwards. it was because no single person/group enjoyed the total confidence of the king. there was a rivalry of conservative and reform factions in the last years of H8’s reign.
What was the intrigue of factionalism (the 1540s)?
King fully aware of the manoeuvrings of his courtiers and encouraged them. it prevented one view of politics from dominating and encouraged discussion of important matters like religious change.
Which faction was dominant by the final year of Henry’s reign?
The reform faction.
Who led the conservative faction?
Duke of Norfolk (Thomas Howard) and Stephen Gardiner (Bishop of Winchester). it accepted break with Rome but was against the Protestant reform and changes to the church.
What was the conservative faction associated with?
1) Passing of Six Articles Act, 1529 = reinforced existing heresy laws and reasserted traditional Catholic doctrine as basis of faith for Church. enshrined in law their belief that religious innovations should be limited.
2) fall of Cromwell
3) Catherine Howard - led to increased access to Henry
4) Plot against Cranmer (1543) = suggested he was dabbling in Protestant heresy. king rejected this and put Cranmer in charge of the investigation
5) plot against Catherine Parr (1546) = accused members of her household of heresy but Henry supported his wife.
Who was Catherine Howard?
niece of Duke of Norfolk. Henry called her his ‘rose without a thorn’. 19 years old and had other admirers at court and in 1542, the king was presented with extensive evidence of unfaithfulness. men implicated were executed and she was executed for treason in Feb 1542.
Who led the reform faction?
Edward Seymour (Earl of Hertford + Duke of Somerset) and Archbishop Cranmer and Cromwell. accepted break with Rome and had the opportunity to introduce Protestant doctrines into the church.
What was the reform faction associated with?
1) foreign policy with success in Scotland
2) fall of Catherine Howard
3) Catherine Parr
4) plot against Gardiner (1544) = accused of suggesting that Pope should be reinstated as head of Church. his quick thinking helped him to avoid the tower.
5) arrest of Norfolk (1546) = charges of treason. escaped execution because Henry died on 28 Jan 1547 before giving the order.
6) succession act
What also led to the plot against Gardiner?
made miscalculations by becoming embroiled in plot against Queen Catherine Parr in 1546. refusal to give some of his lands to the king was enough to push him out of the inner circle of royal advisers.
What was the Succession act of 1544?
1) Henry took steps to ensure the succession of Ed VI.
2) executed members of the Pole family to rid of any rival claimants
3) Henry ensured that succession of Ed was secure in law
4) approved in 1543 but not given royal assent till Feb 1544. it would go to Edward, Mary, Elizabeth and after that succession would go to the Suffolk family.
What was the Dry Stamp?
a stamp which would leave an impression of the royal signature and it would be filled in with ink to create an almost perfect copy. used to legalise any document. Anthony Denny was the holder of this stamp. an altered version of H8’s will used this stamp. H too ill to approve
