Henry Glossary Flashcards
Abbess
A woman who is the head or superior of certain communities of nuns
Abbot
A man who is the head or superior, usually elected, of a monastery.
Act of Succession 1534
This law made it clear that King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn were the King and Queen and their children would inherit the throne. This act, effectively, set Princess Elizabeth first in line for the throne, declaring Princess Mary a bastard.
Alter Rex
Alter-nate King (Rex). The title given to Wolsey because he had so much power and money.
Amicable Grant
An attempt to raise money to fund a war against France in 1525. It did not have parliamentary authority and was a huge failure.
Anne of Cleves
Queen consort of England from 6 January to 9 July 1540 as the fourth wife of King Henry VIII.
Annulment
An annulment legally declares that no true marriage existed. In Henry’s time, this could be because the marriage was never consumated - therefore it never really happened as a marriage.
Archbishop
A bishop of the highest rank in the Catholic church. In England, there were two Archbishops: York and Canterbury
Bigod’s Rebellion
The last of the three uprisings that made up the Pilgrimage of Grace. This was brutally put down by Henry VIII in January 1537.
Bishop
A senior member of the clergy, usually in charge of a diocese and empowered to confer holy orders
Blue blood
The blood that which flows in the veins of old and aristocratic families. In other words, to have ‘blue blood’ means you were in the nobility.
Cardinal
A leading dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church. Cardinals are nominated by the Pope, and form the Sacred College which elects succeeding popes (now invariably from among their own number).
Catherine of Aragon
The daughter of the King and Queen of Spain. She married Henry’s older brother Arthur. Arthur died as a child and she was then married to Henry VIII.
Catholic
The only religion in Europe until the Reformation introduced Protestantism.
Chief Minister
The most important adviser to the King. Under Henry, it was first Wosley and then Cromwell.
Consumated
This means the married couple have had sexual intercourse and the marriage is therefore seen as valid.
Convent
A religious house for nuns.
Cromwell’s commissioners
These men were given the job of travelling around the country to evaluate two things: How moral the monasteries were and the wealth of the Church in England
Defender of the faith
This was the title given to Henry by the Pope at the start of his reign. It meant he was the defender of the Catholic religion.
Dissolution of the monasteries
When Cromwell completely dissolved, or got rid of, the monasteries. Starting with the smaller ones and moving on to the larger ones.
Divorce
When a marriage is declared over.
Duke of Norfolk
The second most powerful member of the nobility after King Henry VIII. His name was Thomas Howard.
Elizabeth Barton
Known as “The Nun of Kent”, “The Holy Maid of London”, “The Holy Maid of Kent” and later “The Mad Maid of Kent”, was an English Catholic nun. She was executed as a result of her prophecies against the marriage of King Henry VIII of England to Anne Boleyn.
Eltham Ordinances
An attempt by Thomas Cromwell in 1526 to control the Privy Chamber. Cromwell wanted to clean it up, reduce spending and also control the men eho had access to the ‘King’s ear’.
Enclosure
When powerful men (nobility) enclose common land (with fences) for their own private purposes. Common land was supposed to be there for all people to use.
Fall from power
Lose power and authority
Field of the Cloth of Gold (1520)
A meeting between Henry VIII and Francis I of France. The meeting was a huge advert for each king, with massive feasts and wrestling. It made Henry look strog and powerful.
France
The ‘Old Enemy’ across the channel. England had ruled over large parts of France for hundreds of years but steadily lost control until, under Henry, England only had the ports of Boulogne and Calais left.
