henry 4b Flashcards
Explain why Wolsey rose to power and became known as the ‘alter rex’ by 1518
Used career within church to climb high in status: 1501, chaplain to Archbishop of Canterbury & used position to get to know important men. 1515, outranked Archbishop of Canterbury - Papal Legate. Royal Almoner in 1509, used position to get close to Henry & take on tasks king found boring. Automatic Royal Council member.
Skill & hard work: brilliant organiser, achieved success & made Henry happy. Well educated, gained degree from Oxford at 15. Organised war against France 1513, good job of organising army, equipment & transport. Rewarded by being made Bishop of Lincoln & Archbishop of York.
Opportunist: looked for openings to rise to power. Henry disliked many advisers he inherited from father, getting rid of Empson & Dudley. Gave Wolsey chance to fill gap & get promoted rapidly. Handled mundane financial tasks: 1513, Wolsey created new tax - subsidy: earned Henry < money than fifteenths and tenths.
Explain why Wolsey fell from power by 1530
Failure to get annulment: Henry - frustrated with Wolsey because of delays & Pope’s refusal to allow annulment. Clement VII - prisoner of Charles V after Rome invaded by his army 1529. Pope less likely to give annulment: Catherine related to Charles V. Catherine opposed to divorce. Gained < sympathy & support of powerful men: John Fisher, Thomas More (adviser to king), Charles V.
Enemies in court: low birth & high status resented by members of aristocracy e.g Duke of Norfolk. Attempted to control Royal Court: Eltham Ordinances 1526 - reducing Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber from 12 to 6 excluding Thomas & George Boleyn. Boleyn faction constantly undermining him - inability to get annulment.
High profile failures: Amicable Grant 1525. Henry desired to wage war with France; Wolsey took blame for failure of attempt to tax country directly without approval of parliament. Full-scale revolt in Suffolk May 1525. Failure to forge alliance against Charles V - 1529, Francis I & Charles V made peace at Treaty of Cambrai, left England isolated. When Charles V captured Francis I at Battle of Pavia 1525, failed to share success with Henry. 3 years of war cost $430,000 & showed Charles V did not see England as equal or valued ally.
Explain why the Amicable Grant was introduced in 1525
direct response to immediate need for funds to support military endeavors in France. capture of Francis I by Charles V at Battle of Pavia in 1525 presented Henry with opportunity to claim territory in France. To finance “Great Enterprise,” needed substantial funds quickly, leading to imposition of AG without Parliamentary approval, (demanded between one-sixth & one-tenth of the goods of laity & one-third of goods of clergy)
King Henry VIII’s deteriorating relations with Pope and other European powers. need to fortify against potential threats from Catholic nations like France and Spain. intended to raise funds to bolster England’s military capabilities, Henry require - additional £800,000 for campaigns.
financial strain - Henry’s extravagant spending e.g sum of £650,000 spent on French campaign 1511 to 1514, severely depleted royal treasury. AG = solution to alleviate financial pressures by providing source of revenue to support king’s lifestyle.
Explain why Wolsey made changes to the justice system in the years 1515-25
efficiency & effectiveness in legal system. Wolsey sought to streamline legal process, standardize laws, and improve functioning of courts so justice was delivered swiftly & fairly without unnecessary delays. e.g Court of Star Chamber (judge himself; increased dourt’s work rate from 12 to 120 a year).
increase royal and personal power. henry wanted to centralize power & reduce influence of nobility. wolsey - punish & attack wealthy (grudges) e.g sir amyus paulet (placed him in stocks) forced to come court everyday on made up charge or lose property.
to help poor. couldn’t afford going to court; suffered bad treatment while rich could bribe. reduce corruption - created 1516 reforms to stop rich having advantage (earl of northumberland imprisoned for not obeying court decision).(also enclosures)
Explain why Henry VIII launched his campaign against the Pope and the Catholic Church, 1529-33
Desire for annulment: not produced a male heir, wanted to marry Anne, (hope of male heir). Pope refused to grant - henry threatened to remove papal authority to pressure pope into agreeing (; was under charles’ control)
slightly influenced by protestant ideas (supported by cranmer, cromwell and boleyn). agreed with Tyndale’s book: Obedience of the Christian Man (said God always intended church to ruled by king>pope).
anti-clericalism - complaints about immorality, corruption, quality of church. henry agreed and wanted to take advantage - ban annates to rome to secure funding
Explain how Cromwell used Parliament to achieve the break with Rome
Pass the act of restraint in appeals 1534 - appeals would be made to king instead of pope (diminish power of rome in england). removing papal authority in legal matters (so henry can grant himself annulment)
Pass act of supremacy to completely cut off ties with rome. king = supreme head of church. legally confirmed break with rome (henry usurped pope) and led to eventual dissolution of monasteries (abolition of papal influence & redistribution of wealth so church less powerful)
Treasons Act of 1534, (treasonous to deny king’s supremacy over church). Oaths of succession & supremacy - loyalty to king.
Act of Ten Articles 1536 outlined foundation of new Church.
Explain why there was opposition to Henry VIII’s break with Rome
strong catholic beliefs - thomas more = devout catholic (protestantism threatened souls of english). banned protestant books, burned 6 people, refused oath of succession
support for catherine - john fisher saw her as lawful wife. unsuccessfully appealed to charles v to attack england; refused oath of succession (rejected anne as queen). charles v supported aunt.
superstitious beliefs - easily influenced by elizabeth barton (apparently cured by virgin mary). visions - english translations of bible had to be burned; god supported mass & pilgrimages. warned henry he would die. nun’s book (her prophecies) published by dr edward bocking.
