henry topics 1 - 3 <333 Flashcards
1
Q
treaty of london
A
- 1518
- Diplomatic triumph for Wolsey
- Promised universal peace
- Non-aggressive policy by not attacking each other
- All allies so would defend
- Signed by 20 European leaders + Pope
- Prevented war for 3 years
- Henry great peacemaker
- england started to be seen as a significant power
2
Q
the battle of the spurs
A
1514
The Battle of the Spurs was the final battle in the first French war that ultimately gave victory to Henry.
3
Q
the treaty of burges
A
Secret treaty between Emperor Charles V and Henry VIII providing for a joint invasion of France before March 1523.
4
Q
the treaty of cambrai
A
- In 1529, Francis I negotiated a peacedeal with Charles V after his defeat in the Treaty of Cambrai, only notifying Wolsey of the negotiations when it was too late. This was a snub to Wolsey and Henry and left them diplomatically isolated
- England was no longer seen as an equal
5
Q
the ‘field of the cloth of gold’
A
1520
- one of a series of meetings arranged by Wolsey to prevet war
- Francis I (france), and Henry, in Calais
- showed of prestige and granc occassion
- Henry at centre of European diplomacy
- nothing of substance achieved but increased sus that eng taking sides in spain
- no decisions to bring peace w France improved.
= brought honour = equal terms
6
Q
wolseys failures: 1522-25
A
1522-25
- French war and alliance with Charles V failed because Wolsey’s support for Charles V against France, in theTreaty of Bruges, was based on the idea that Charles would help him seize French territory and the French throne = This did not happen.
–> Charles gave Henry little military support. After the Battle of Pavia, Charles ignored Henry’s suggestion that France be divided between England and the Holy Roman Empire with Henry getting the French throne. –> Instead, Charles released Francis from captivity. The war was unpopular, cost £430000 and achieved little.
7
Q
wolseys failures: 1525 - 1529
A
1525-29:
- An alliance with France to fight Charles V failed because the French were again defeated by Charles and received little help from England, damaging Henry’s reputation as a reliable ally.
8
Q
what was a key factor of wolseys disatrous foreign policy?
A
the unreliability of Francis I and Charles V was a key factor in Wolsey’s disastrous foreign policy.
9
Q
henrys marriage to catherine
A
successful: Henry was a good husband
- Catherine was a popular queen - charity work
- Catherine supported Henry, regent when Henry fought with France
- strengthened Henry’s relationship with Spain and Holy Roman Empire, meant it would not be isolated in Europe
10
Q
why did henry want a male son?
A
- secure the tudor dynasty w a male heir
- succession would be threatened, posssible invasion and civil war under a female heir
11
Q
Catherine’s failure to provide
Henry with a son
A
- Catherine was pregnant at least six times , but only one child, Princess Mary, survived. Catherine’s failure to provide Henry with a male heir was a growing concern to him because:
= it reflected badly on Henry’s manhood and reputation + suggested that Henry was incapable of producing a male heir
= it threatened the succession - Catherine was six years older than Henry = making another pregnancy and a male heir unlikely.
12
Q
reasons for the annulment - henry questioning their marriage
A
1 - Henry blamed Catherine for not giving him a healthy son - he had had an illegitimate son by his mistress, Bessie Blount, so it couldn’t have been his fault
2 - Henry had lost interest in Catherine and had turned his interest to younger women like Anne Boleyn
3 - By marrying his dead brothers wife, Henry thought God was punishing him by not giving him a male heir, as in the Old Testament it states “ If a man shall take his brother’s wife it is an impurity… they shall be childless”
13
Q
henrys attempt to gain an annulment
A
1 - !527, Henry instructed Wolsey to persuade Pope Clement VII to grant an annulment on the grounds that the marriage was ungodly
2 - The Pope was reluctant to grant the annulment as he didn’t want to offend Charles V whose troops were close to Rome
3 - 1528, Wolsey proposed that as Papal Legate, he would rule on the case along with the Popes representative, Cardinal Campeggio. This failed because, under the Pope’s instructions, Campeggio dragged out proceedings . 1529, the case was adjourned without a decision being reached
14
Q
pressure on catherine
A
Tremendous pressure was placed on Catherine to renounce her marriage to Henry:
- it was suggested that she give up the crown and become a nun
- she was accused of hating the king. - Henry also threatened to ignore their daughter, Princess Mary, excluding her from the succession
15
Q
the court case and opposition to the annulment
A
Catherine had the support of Thomas More, adviser to the King
- Catherine was popular with ordinary people due to her charitable work
- Catherine had support of John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester
- Cardinal Campeggio engaged in delaying tactics, frustrating Henry and Wolsey by refusing to come to a decision on the issue
- Catherine herself opposed it, even publicly begging the King to not cast her aside, making it hard for Henry to make a convincing case for annulment
16
Q
Reasons for Wolsey’s fall from power 1929
A
- Amicable Grant
- Annulment
- Foreign Policy
- Eltham ordinances
- The Boleyns
- Wolsey’s reforms
17
Q
Wolsey’s failure with the Amicable Grant
A
Wolsey’s decision to introduce the Amicable Grant tax without approval of parliament in 1525 damaged his reputation as it led to a rebellion and the failure to collect the tax. Henry was forced to distance himself from Wolsey’s actions, undermining his power and influence over the King
18
Q
Wolsey’s failure to get an annulment
A
Wolsey’s failure to secure an annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine angered Henry. He became increasingly impatient with Wolsey and began to believe he was working with the Pope to prevent an annulment from happening
19
Q
Wolsey’s foreign policy (fall from power)
A
Wolsey’s failure to build an alliance against Charles V was frustrated by the Treaty of Cambrai, leaving England isolated and vulnerable in Europe. Henry was prepared to get rid of Wolsey because he no longer had confidence in his skills as a diplomat
20
Q
Wolsey and the Boleyns
A
Henry’s infatuation with Anne Boleyn gave the Boleyn family (especially Thomas Boleyn) increasing influence at court.
- Wolsey’s failure to secure an annulment led them to plot against him by suggesting that he was siding with the Pope + disrupting proceedings
- Anne hated Wolsey and together with her brother and other nobles who were unhappy with Wolsey, - Persuaded Henry to get rid of him = attacks on him increased
21
Q
Wolsey’s reforms (fall from power)
A
Wolsey’s reforms to the
- justice system
- his opposition to enclosure
- his willingness to reclaim land held by nobility had made him many enemies at court = These people were more than happy to conspire with the Boleyns to undermine Wolsey
22
Q
Wolsey’s dismissal
A
- October 1529, Wolsey was stripped of most of his powers and possessions and exiled to York
- July 1530, Wolsey was summoned to London on charges of praemunire (working in the interests of the pope and not the king) but died on his way to London of natural causes
23
Q
Thomas Cromwell
A
Was not a member of the nobility, rose from humble beginnings to become a member of the Privy council in 1531
+ become the King’s chief minister by 1534
24
Q
Cromwell’s personality
A
- Often seen as a ruthless and unprincipled figure who was prepared to do the King’s “dirty work”, such as organising the execution of members of the nobility and dissolving the monasteries
- In reality, Cromwell was capable of great loyalty
- He had a vibrant personality and could be witty, charming and persuasive when he wanted or needed to be
25
Reasons for Cromwell's rise to power
- Loyalty
- Wit and Charm
- Ruthlessness
- Efficiency
26
Cromwell's Loyalty
Cromwell remained loyal to Wolsey, defending him in audiences and even in audiences with the King. This loyalty impressed Henry who was prepared to promote him on the grounds that he would be equally loyal to Henry, as a servant of the King
27
Cromwell's Wit and Charm
Cromwell's wit and charm won him many supporters at court, including the King
28
Cromwell's Ruthlessness
Cromwell's ruthlessness meant that the king was prepared to rely on him to manage violent and controversial acts and discouraged rivals and opponents from challenging his power
29
Cromwell's efficiency to the king
As Henry began to involve himself more in day-to-day government after 1530, Cromwell was there to carry out his instructions quickly and efficiently and as the King's loyal servant
30
How Cromwell got the annulment
1 - Cromwell realised that Pope Clement VII wasn't willing to annul Henry's marriage to Catherine as he didn't want to upset Charles V
2 - Cromwell changed tactic, arguing that the power to grant an annulment should be taken from the pope and given to Henry instead
3 - Henry & Anne were secretly married by Archbishop Cramner in 1533, Anne was already pregnant and there was a need for the child to be a legitimate heir to the throne = wasn’t legal.
4 - Parliament passed the Act in Restraint of Appeals in March 1533, asserting that England was an empire and not subject to any form of foreign rule. Henry was now supreme head of England and the church and only he, not the pope, could annul his marriage to Catherine
5 - A divorce began in May 1533, led by Cramner, the court announced that:
- Henry's marriage to Catherine was invalid
- Henry and Catherine had never legally been married
- Henry's secret marriage to Anne was valid because he had been a bachelor at the time
6 - Anne was crowned Queen in September 1533
31
Cromwells responsibilities after 1534
- In charge of the church = He became vicar-general in 1535, with power to institute Church reform
- Influential role in law = He had become Master of the Rolls in 1533
- In charge of Henry's household = He became Lord Great Chamberlain in 1540
- In charge of finances = He had become Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1533 = He became Lord Privy Seal in 1536, a senior position in the Privy council with unlimited access to Henry's documents
- In charge of King's personal seal =
32
reasons for the fall of anne boleyn
1 - Early 1936, Henry was becoming infatuated with Jane Seymour and saw her as his Queen, Anne would have to be removed to make way for Jane
2 - Henry was becoming increasingly exasperated with Anne, she had failed to provide him with a male heir, her assertive personality and flirtatious behaviour in court may have been an embarrassment
3 - Anne had strong opinions about foreign policy and religion that were not considered seemly and this increasingly irritated Henry
4 - There were allegations of adultery against her which Henry was more than happy to believe
33
cromwells role in annes fall
- Cromwell was aware of Anne's role in the downfall of Wolsey and did not want to share his fate
- Anne & Cromwell had differences of opinion on foreign policy and how the income from the dissolution of the monasteries should be spent
- Cromwell built the case of adultery against Anne, interviewing and torturing witnesses and using spies to unearth any evidence of adultery, he used this to persuade Henry and the court that Anne was guilty
However, others believe it was unlikely that Cromwell conspired to end Anne's time as Queen and he was only building a case against Anne as he was carrying out Henry's wishes
34
Jane Seymour
Married Henry and became Queen on 30 May 1536, 11 days after Anne Boleyn's death. She gave birth to a male heir, but died shortly after
35
Henry's marriage to Jane Seymour
Henry was keen to marry Jane as quickly as possible because he needed a son to become the legitimate heir to the throne. Without this, if Henry died, the succession would go to someone outside the family
36
Why was there no longer an heir to the throne? 1536
- Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth had been declared illegitimate
- Henry Fitzroy, Henry's illegitimate son had died soon after the Act of Succession had been passed in 1534, this allowed Henry to appoint any successor he liked which could have been Henry Fitzroy
37
The heir (Henry's legitimate son)
- On 12 October 1537, Jane gave birth to a son, Edward
- This strengthened the succession and meant there was less chance of competing claims for the throne on Henry's death
- Strengthened Henry's authority as it suggested God had blessed Henry with a son implying his marriage to Jane and the events preceding this were acceptable by God
38
Jane's death
Less than 2 weeks after giving birth to Edward, Jane died. Henry went into a state of mourning and refused to marry again for 2 years
Henry still began searching for a new wife as he needed to produce more male heirs
39
Cromwell's reform of the Royal Council
Cromwell argued the Royal council was too big with up to 100 members
- Replaced it with a new simpler, Privy Council made up of 20 permanent advisers
- Composed of lawyers and professional administrators rather than noblemen
- Cromwell hoped this would stop 1 person dominating, as all would have equal status
40
Cromwell's reform of the Council of the North
- Had existed since 1472 and aimed to improve how the North of England was governed, contained members of nobility and churchmen
- Cromwell made it into a permanent institution, which from 1537 was responsible for maintaining law and order in the North
- It was important as it kept rebellion from happening and maintained the Government's authority
41
Cromwell's Financial reforms
Traditionally, the King's Chamber was used to record income(taxes, rents, etc) and expenditure. With an increase in income from the dissolution of the monasteries, Cromwell decided the chamber couldn't cope with the increased work so he created 6 departments.
4 dealt with the king's traditional income and 2 dealt with the dissolution
- The Court of Augmentations
- The Court of First Fruits and Tenths
42
The Court of Augmentations
Dealt with property and income from the dissolution of the monasteries
43
The Court of First Fruits and Tenths
Collected taxes from the clergy previously sent to the pope in Rome
44
Parliament at the start of Henry's reign
- Parliament had existed since the 13th century
- Contained 2 chambers The House of Commons and The House of Lords
- Its role was limited to approving taxation
- It did not meet very often
45
The development of the role of parliament by Cromwell
- Cromwell used parliament more regularly
- Key changes in the Church and the State were made by Acts of Parliament
- The King and Cromwell used parliament to gain support from people who were significant (nobility, churchmen). This strengthened the King's authority as it suggested that these people approved of his ideas and policies
46
Cromwell's effectiveness in managing parliament
- Controlled parliamentary business, ensuring that ideas were debated and discussed and laws were properly drafted
- Sat as an MP, enabled him to guide debates and ensure that there was support for laws he wanted to pass
- Used threats and intimidation to undermine any opposition
47
The significance of the increased use of parliament
- Parliament was at the centre of government (had legislative power and could pass laws on all aspects of daily life)
- Parliament could not be ignored and had to be consulted on all major laws that the King wanted to pass
48
anne of cleves
The second daughter of the Duke of Cleves, a small state in the north of the Holy Roman Empire. She was 24 years old when she came to England and spoke very little English.
Henry found her unattractive when he first saw her and took an immediate dislike to her, referring to her as a "Flanders mare"
49
Reasons for/significance of Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves
- By 1539, there seemed a real threat of a Catholic crusade against England from Charles V and Francis I. The marriage would provide Henry with a valuable European ally, who might persuade other German states to help him if England was attacked
- The Duke of Cleves seemed happy to marry Anne off to Henry as he and other reformist states needed allies against Charles V.(In spite of Henry's reputation as someone who had killed his wife)
- Henry had only 1 male heir, the risk of Edward dying young required a further marriage to produce more male heirs
- The Duke of Cleves had also broken from Rome, so this suggested that Henry had no intention to back out of his decision to break from Rome too
50
Cromwell's role in Anne of Cleves marriage
He encouraged Henry as he believed by them marrying, the Protestant cause would be strengthened in court
1 - Henry gave permission for marriage negotiations to begin and a marriage treaty was signed in October 1539
2 - However, Henry disliked Anne when he first saw her
3 - Despite being postponed, the marriage went ahead on 6 January 1540 after persuasion from Cromwell
51
The failure of the marriage (Anne of Cleves)
By the summer of 1540, the threat of an invasion had declined so Henry no longer needed an alliance with the Duke of Cleves, he had also become attracted to Catherine Howard, one of the queens ladies-in-waiting
The marriage was annulled on the grounds of non-consummation after only 4 months
Henry blamed Cromwell for the failure of the marriage. This made Cromwell vulnerable to rivals in court, such as the Duke of Norfolk who wished to remove Cromwell from power
52
The Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, the 3rd Duke of Norfolk, was the uncle of Catherine Howard who became Henry's 5th wife in 1540.
He was a fierce rival of Cromwell and had ambitions to become the King's chief minister, being a Catholic made him hostile to the Protestant cause
53
The fall of Cromwell
1 - 15 June 1540, Cromwell was arrested at a privy council meeting, accused of treason and heresy
2 - Cromwell was taken to the Tower of London and parliament passed an Act of Attainder on 29 June, condemning him to death without trial
3 - In spite of a letter of innocence and pleading for mercy, Cromwell was executed on 28 July on the same day Henry married Catherine Howard
54
The influence of the Duke of Norfolk (Cromwells fall)
DofN hated Cromwell because
- Cromwell supported Protestant ideas
- He was jealous of Cromwell's rise from a humble background
- Cromwell had such an influence over Henry
Seeing the failure of Anne's marriage, the DofN saw his chance to sour the relationship between Henry and Cromwell, He:
- Instructed Catherine Howard to spread rumours about Cromwell saying he was inefficient in arranging the annulment between Henry and Anne
- Claimed the delay was because Cromwell wanted to introduce Protestantism to England against the King's wishes
55
Other reasons for Cromwell's fall
1 - Cromwell was hated by French Catholics, especially Francis I who saw him as a heretic an supporter of Charles V. Removing him would lead to improved relations with France and reduce the possibility of any Catholic crusade against England
2 - Cromwell had many enemies within the court and the Church. They were more than happy to vote for the Act of Attainder that led to Cromwell's execution
56
Henry's decision to execute Cromwell
- He was under pressure from the Duke of Norfolk
- He was under pressure from the Church
- He was under pressure from the court
- Ill-health made Henry bad tempered and led him to make hasty decisions
In 1541, Henry claimed he had been deceived by his courtiers and regretted the death of his "most faithful servant
57
Henry as "Defender of the Faith"
At first, Henry was supportive of the Catholic cause and hostile to Protestantism
- Wrote a book called "In Defence of the Seven Sacraments" which led to Pope Leo X describing him as the defender of the faith in 1521
58
Reasons for Henry's campaign against the Catholic church
- The pope's failure to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon
- The impact of protestant ideas, particularly the idea of William Tyndale, who suggested that the Church should be ruled by Kings
- There were allegations of corruption in the Church
59
The Act of Succession 1534
Stated that only children from Henry's second marriage to Anne Boleyn could inherit the throne
This made Mary illegitimate and Elizabeth became the heir to the throne
60
Significance of the Act of Succession 1534
This was a rejection of the pope's right to decide whether someone could divorce or remarry
Also meant a rejection of the pope's authority in England, as the pope's name was crossed out of all English prayer books
61
The Act of Supremacy 1534
This established that the King and not the pope controlled the English Church, Henry became the Supreme Head of the English church, he now had the powers previously held by the Pope
62
Significance of the Act of Supremacy 1534
Henry could now decide
- How the church was organised
- The Church's religious beliefs
- Who was appointed to important divisions (bishops)
Henry also controlled the Church's income and wealth meaning he could sell church property and seize church taxes
63
When did Cromwell become vicar-general
1534
64
Oath of Succession
All individuals were required to take an Oath of Succession recognising Anne Boleyn's right to be Queen. Failure to do so was seen as an act of treason and could be punishable by death
65
The Treason Act 1534
Treason was traditionally defined as plotting the king's death, waging war against him or helping his enemies. But this act expanded that to speaking out against the Royal Supremacy. People who did could now suffer a traitor's death (hanging, drawing and quartering)
66
Elizabeth Barton, the Nun of Kent
A nun who claimed to have been cured by the Virgin Mary when she became seriously ill
Many people, including members of the nobility and gentry regarded her as a holy woman possessed of miraculous powers who should be taken seriously
67
John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester
- Became Bishop of Rochester in 1504
- A famous scholar who tutored Henry when he was a young prince
- 1535, the pope made Fisher a Cardinal
68
What did Elizabeth Barton do?
- From 1527, her visions became sinister, saying Henry would die a villain's death
- Criticised Protestant ideas and saying people should remain loyal to the Pope and burn English translations of the Bible
- 1533, a book was published containing Barton's prophecies claiming Henry would burn in hell
69
Henry's reaction to Elizabeth Barton
- Henry was worried she could inspire people to resist his reforms, creating the possibility of rebellion. Therefore, he ordered Cromwell to act
- Barton's visions were also an embarrassment to Henry
70
Elizabeth Barton's death
- 23 November 1533, Barton was forced to confess to lying about her visions
- She was condemned by attainder, an act that allowed people to be executed without trial
- 21 April 1534, Barton was executed for treason
- Her death took place on the same day Londoners took the Oath of Succession, this was a warning of what would happen if they didn't
71
What did John fisher do?
- Fisher condemned Henry's attempts so secure a divorce and his split from Rome
- Henry hated Fisher but he hadn't broken any laws so he couldn't do anything
- Henry remained suspicious and watched Fisher closely
72
John Fisher's death
-Fisher had links with Elizabeth Barton so he could've been arrested for treason but instead he was fined £300
- Fisher refused to take the Oath of Succession in April 1534 so he was sent to the tower and eventually executed for treason in June 1535 a few months after he had become a Cardinal
73
Thomas More
- A scholar and a great Renaissance thinker renowned throughout Europe, wrote a book called Utopia describing a perfect society
- Was a devout Catholic who saw Protestants as criminals
- Actively suppressed Protestantism
74
Thomas More's death
- 13 April 1534, More refuses to take the Oath of Succession and on 17 April is sent to the Tower of London
- He refuses to say why he won't take the Oath so he is not technically committing treason
- 1 July 1535, After over a year in prison and several visits from Cromwell trying to persuade him to take the Oath. More is placed on trial where evidence(probably made up) is shown that More has spoken his true feelings about Henry and is fond guilty of treason
- 6 July 1535, More is executed on Tower Hill
75
Significance of Thomas More's opposition
- More was one of Europe's great intellectuals and his death outraged many in Europe, including Charles V. This made a Catholic crusade more likely
- More became a martyr for the Catholic cause, encouraging unrest and rebellion
- The trial and execution created an atmosphere of terror in England as people feared the consequences of speaking out against the King
- The execution deepened the split with Rome as the pope threatened to excommunicate Henry
76
The English Church in 1534
- The Act of Supremacy made Henry head of the English Church at the expense of the pope
- Henry had the power to change the Church's beliefs and practices
- Both Reformers(Protestants) and Catholics tried to influence Henry
- Reformers hope to remove Catholic beliefs and practices such as transubstantiation and pilgrimages
77
Cromwell and Cramner moving the Church towards Protestantism
1 - Act of Ten Articles 1536
2 - Royal Injunctions 1536
3 - Bishops Book 1537
4 - Royal Injunctions 1538
77
Cromwell and Cramner moving the Church towards Protestantism
1 - Act of Ten Articles 1536
2 - Royal Injunctions 1536
3 - Bishops Book 1537
4 - Royal Injunctions 1538
78
Act of Ten Articles 1536
Set out beliefs of Henry's new Church. Reduced the seven sacraments to 3 (Eucharist, Baptism and Penance)
78
Act of Ten Articles 1536
Set out beliefs of Henry's new Church. Reduced the seven sacraments to 3 (Eucharist, Baptism and Penance)
79
Royal Injunctions 1536
This tried to ensure all priests practised the same thing: to speak in favour of the Royal Supremacy and discourage pilgrimages
The number of Holy Days was also reduced
80
Bishops Book 1537
Another attempt to set out the beliefs of the church. Many Catholic beliefs were given less importance and stated the main duty of a priest was preaching
81
Royal Injunctions 1538
This declared that every Church should have a bible translated into English and that all holy relics, statues and images were to be destroyed as well as pilgrimage sites
82
Henry's continuation of Catholic beliefs
Henry felt that the reform had gone too far and in 1539, he published the Six articles reaffirming traditional Catholic beliefs such as transubstantiation, clerical celibacy and purgatory.
Failure to agree could lead to imprisonment, confiscation of property and death. The Protestant cause weakened after Cromwell's death, but many protestant ideas found their way into the Church
83
Monasteries
Abbeys (large), Priories (medium) and Friaries (small) were run by Monks and Nuns
84
Monasteries in the community
Many monasteries were wealthy constitutions, they owned about a third of the land in England.
The top 20 monasteries had incomes of £1000 a year which was comparable with many members of the nobility. They were an important part of local communites
85
Monasteries roles and functions
- Religious
- Places of Refuge
- Commercial
- Administrative
- Social and Economic
- Medical
- Educational
86
Religious role of monasteries
They acted as a place of religious contemplation. Monastic rules required monks to worship and pray every day. To ensure they worshipped God properly monks were expected to be poor, chaste and obedient. They also said prayers to the dead known as chantries
87
Places of refuge (monasteries)
They were safe places where people could sty when they travelled. They also acted as safe havens for people who felt threatened
88
Commercial (monasteries)
Many large monasteries were businesses controlling estates and renting out land to local owners
89
Administrative (monasteries)
Some senior monks helped administer local justice and 30 sat in the House of Lords, some advised the King
90
Social and Economic (monasteries)
They provided help for the poor. They also provided employment for local people who helped run the monasteries and maintain their lands. Additionally, monasteries provided a home for widows and widowers, as well as elderly nobles
91
Medical (monasteries)
They acted as hospitals and hospices looking after the sick and the dying
92
Educational (monasteries)
Monks often educated young boys of the nobility and gentry. Monasteries also acted as places of learning and where manuscripts and books were written and kept
93
Reasons for the dissolution of the monasteries
- Religious
- Political
- Financial
94
Religious reasons for dissolution of monasteries
Many reformers, including Cromwell and Cramner, disapproved of many of the religious practises in the monasteries such as chantries. Getting rid of the monasteries, in their view, would end these backward practises
95
Political reasons for the dissolution of monasteries
Henry VIII may have felt that Monks and Nuns were loyal to the pope rather than the King, this seemed to be confirmed by the fact that may religious houses supported the Pilgrimage of Grace. By closing them down, this would strengthen Henry's control over the church by getting rid of sources of opposition within it
96
Financial reasons for the dissolution of monasteries
The monasteries were very wealthy, closing them down, taking over and renting out the land would benefit Henry financially as:
- It would pay for any future wars and the defence of England against any Catholic crusade from Francis I and Charles V
- It would make him financially independent of parliament and Henry would no longer have to ask it to approve taxation
- Land could be sold off or given as gifts to the nobility to win over landowners previously hostile to Henry's control of the Church
97
How the monasteries were dissolved
1 - 1535, Cromwell commissioned a survey into the workings of the smaller monasteries
2 - This led to a series of visitations of monasteries. These claimed monks were keeping mistresses, engaging in homosexual activity, gambling and nun's bearing children. The survey also confirmed the wealth of the monasteries giving a combined total of £160000 a year
3 - The Act for the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries, 1536 closed the smaller monasteries
4 - Further inspections in 1538 led to many abbots and abbesses surrendering their religious houses as a gift to the King
5 - This was confirmed by The Act for the Dissolution of the Greater Monasteries, 1539
98
Winners of the dissolution of the monasteries
- Religious reformers like Cromwell and Cramner
- Henry VIII
- The Nobility
99
Religious reformers like Cromwell and Cramner (DofM)
- Closure of the monasteries meant that a powerful symbol of the Catholic Church was brought to an end
- Dissolution was another step along the road towards a reformed Church
100
Henry VIII (DofM)
- The wealth accrued by the dissolution of the monasteries made Henry financially independent and very rich
- Helped end opposition from within the Church to his rule
101
They received monastic lands from the King either as a gift or sold to them cheaply
- They could now farm the land commercially, increasing their incomes and wealth
102
Losers of the dissolution of the monasteries
Monks
- Nuns
- Devout Catholics
- The poor and sick
- Tenant farmers
103
Monks (DofM)
Monks lost their homes and livelihood. Many monks were re-employed by the Church, but many suffered unemployment and hardship
104
Nuns (DofM)
Nuns lost their homes and livelihood. Nuns weren't able to work in churches or marry, so suffered great hardships, resorting in many cases to begging
105
Devout Catholics (DofM)
Devout Catholics mourned the end of Catholic practices such as chantries performed in monasteries
106
The poor and sick (DofM)
The poor and sick had nowhere to go if they could not provide for themselves or fell ill. Many of them became beggars and vagrants
107
Tenant farmers (DofM)
Tenant farmers who had rented land from the monasteries saw rents rise or they were thrown off the land by the gentry
(So many people losing their homes in a short space of time led to towns being swamped with beggars and homeless people)
108
Cultural impact of the dissolution
- Loss of historical buildings
- Loss of beautiful artefacts
- Loss of centres of learning with libraries destroyed
- However there was the establishment of cathedral grammar schools and university colleges to replace monastery schools
109
The Pilgrimage of Grace
1536, A series of rebellions that took place in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
- Minor rebellions also took place in Cumberland and Westmoreland
- Rebels viewed themselves not as rebels but as Christ's soldiers aiming to restore Catholicism to England
- They wanted to negotiate with the King, not fight him
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Reasons for the Pilgrimage of Grace
- Religious
- Social
- Political
- Economic
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Religious reasons for The Pilgrimage of Grace
Fear that the attack on Catholicism would continue and parish churches would be next
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Social reasons for The Pilgrimage of Grace
Anger at the closure of the monasteries that led to hunger and homelessness and no help for the sick
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Political reasons for The Pilgrimage of Grace
Resentment at Cromwell's interference in local affairs and his attempts to centralise power
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Economic reasons for The Pilgrimage of Grace
Resentment:
- at continuing taxation with the 1534 Subsidy Act still being collected
- at rising rents
- at increase in enclosure
- by landowners towards the Statute of Uses introduced in 1536 (a tax on inheritance)
Also, bad weather had led to a poor harvest, increasing dissatisfaction
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Leaders of the rebellion
Robert Aske - A lawyer
Nicholas Melton - A shoemaker
Lord Darcy - A nobleman
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The Pontefract Articles
The Pontefract Articles
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Failure of The Pilgrimage of Grace
1 - Robert Aske's misplaced faith in the King led to the undoing of the uprising. Aske was prepared to accept Henry's offer of a pardon and a parliament to discuss the rebels complaints. This meant the rebellion was disbanded, removing the threat to Henry's throne
2 - Henry's ruthlessness helped end the rebellion as he could not accept the rebels demands as that would make him appear weak, encouraging others to challenge his authority. It also would have undermined his religious policy so therefore, Henry destroyed the rebellion and violently put the perpetrators to death
- reinforcing his authority
- Preserving his religious policy
- Discouraging other potential rebellions
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The Significance of the Pilgrimage of Grace
- It threatened the King
- It postponed plans to carry out religious reform
- It sped up the closure of the monasteries
- It strengthened the Council of the North
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It threatened the King (PofG)
Was the largest uprising of Henry's reign involving 40000 men and the capture of castles and cities in the North of England.
At the end of 1536 it presented a real threat to Henry's position as King as they could have driven Henry from the throne
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It postponed plans to carry out religious reform (PofG)
Demonstrated that the North of England remained staunchly Catholic and that many people rejected Henry's religious policies.
This made it dangerous for Henry and Cromwell to introduce reformist policies and reforms were postponed
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It sped up the closure of the monasteries (PofG)
Henry recognised that many of the monasteries had backed the rebellion and were opposed to his policies. This meant Henry sped up the dissolution, closing down the larger abbeys as well as the smaller religious houses
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It strengthened the Council of the North
Demonstrated that Henry needed to strengthen his grip on the North to prevent further rebellions.
