Henry VIII Flashcards
What is meant by Henry VIII ‘Great Matter’
His desire for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon
Why did Henry want a divorce
His desire for a male heir
-Catherine had failed to provide him a male heir and only gave birth to a girl, Mary I, and so he sought to replace her with his new love interest; Anne Boleyn
How long did the kings great matter occupy royal and givernment business for
1527-34
Examples of people who criticised the Roman Catholic Church
-John Wycliffe: (14th century)
His followers were known as the Lollards and they had attacked the Church for losing sight of the scriptures and becoming too ritualistic. The Lollards were persecuted by both the state and the Church and driven underground, however their ideas influenced the reformation
-Martin Luther: A Monk in Wittenburg, Germany, 1517
Nailed his 95 thesis to the door of the Cathedral ( a way of instigating debate). His analysis of the faults and corruption of the Church attracted followers within Germany, who became known as Protestants.
How did Protestantism spread across Europe
-Their ideas spread along trade routes across the North
Sea and England.
The number of Protestants in England was small but they had some influence through the positions they held in the universities, London and even in the King’s court and Church. The early protestants drew influence and emphasised their continuity with the Lollards.
When did Henry VIII become King
1509
Who was first entrusted with the job of securing Henry’s divorce
Thomas Wolsey (1927-29)
What position did Wolsey hold in the Church
Cardinal of the Church
How did Wolsey attempt to get Henry a divorce and why was it a fail
-Travelled to Rome and plead Henry’s cause, however, the recent sack of Rome by Charles V of Spain, nephew of Catherine, meant that the Pope, Clement VII, was not in the position to grant an annulment
-Instead, Cardinal Compeggio was sent to London to conduct hearings at which Catherine gave evidence
When did Henry dismiss Wolsey and who did he give the task of the ‘Great Matter’ to
1929
Thomas Cromwell
Why was Wolsey often called ‘Alter rex’ (second King)
-Henry was not interested in the political aspect of running the country, only the idea of being King, and so these matters were handed to Wolsey to deal with
Why was Wolsey seen as the ‘Epitome of Clerical Abuses’
-He had an accumulation of wealth and power (led a lavish lifestyle and even built Hampton Court Palace) which contradicted the values of the Church as he held a significant position as Cardinal. He was also an advisor of Henry
-Additionally, despite Cardinal’s not being allowed to marry or have children, he did.
Why did Wolsey fall from power
-Failed to get Henry his annulment. Henry began to lose trust in him. His wealth led to accusations of corruption and clerical abuses. He was later arrested, however died before he could face trial
What was the Amicable Grant
-1523, Wolsey was tasked with finding money to finance an invasion of France.
The Amicable Grant : priests and to pay 1/3 of their income, others pay 1/6. Many refused to pay and rebellion broke out in Suffolk
What solution did Cromwell find for Henry’s divorce
-Unlike Wolsey, Cromwell bypassed the Pope completely by declaring that Henry was the only one who could grant an annulment to a marriage in England
What position did Cromwell hold before becoming Henry’s second chief minister
-Wolsey’s advisor
What did Cromwell change about the Privy Council
-Reduced the number of people on the Privy Council to around 20 and gave the remaining people more power and influence (initially an emergency response to the Pilgrimage of Grace in 1536)
-However, many of these members distrusted Cromwell ( E.G Thomas Howard who convinced Henry to execute him)
Why did Henry appoint Thomas Cranmer as Archbishop
-Henry was becoming impatient for the divorce to be granted as Anne was pregnant by January 1533. This meant that Henry needed a cleric who would be sympathetic to his divorce and prepared to act quickly.
-Cranmer was prepared to be complaint to Henry’s wishes and as a result, was appointed to Archbishop of Canterbury
The Act in Restraint of Appeals and when?
Impact?
-1533
-Prevented Catherine from challenging legal decisions on the Great Matter made in England
-Allowed Cranmer to open his court at Dunstable to preside over the legitimacy of the king’s first marriage
-Led to Henry’s excommunication
The Act in Conditional Restraint of Annates
What was it’s impact.
-1533
-Bishops gave the Pope 1/3 of their first years revenue. These payments were banned in the First Act of Annates, 1532, meaning that the primary source of papal revenue in England was removed
-Showed Henry had not given up hope that the Pope would grant him a divorce . The Act challenged centuries of tradition and worship .
What were annates
payments from newly appointed Bishops to the Pope)
The Supplication of the Ordinaries and when
-1532
-Removed the Church power of convocation- No religious law could be passed without royal consent
-Led to the resignation of Thomas More as Lord Chancellor and many clergy refusing to turn up to the session at which the deciding vote was taken on the issue
The Act of Dispensations and when?
What was its impact?
-1534
-Stopped all payments to Rome, including Peter’s Pence.
-future dispensations were to be issued by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
-Important as it cut off all funding from England to Rome and gave all legislative power to England
The Act of Succession and when
-1534
-Recognised the invalidity of Henry’s marriage to Catherine and the validity of his marriage to Anne
-Legitimised heirs of second marriage, bastardised Mary
-made it a treasonable offence speak with malice about Henry’s second marriage
The Act of Supremacy
-1534
-Made the King the only supreme head of the Church of England, not the Pope
The Treason Law
–1534
-it a capital offence to slander the Supremacy or deny the King’s new title as head of the Church.
-This gave Cromwell a weapon against potential opposition
The Act Extinguishing the Authority of the Bishop of Rome and when
-1536
Pope was denied:
• The collection of clerical taxes
• The power of appointment to church offices
• The authority to determine matters of religious doctrine
• The right to grant dispensations and personal exemptions
• The use of his title in England, being known, henceforth, as the Bishop of Rome
The Act for the First Fruit and Tenths and when
-1534
-All clerical taxation now goes to the crown
What were the economic consequences of the Royal supremacy
-Payments to Rome, such as Annates, had been banned, yet Henry still passed an Act to annex First Fruits and Tenths to the crown. This meant that any new benefice holder had to pay their first years income to the king, as opposed to Rome as previously. They also paid a levy annually of one tenth the annual value of the benefice from then on.
-Cromwell commissioned to carry out survey of ecclesiastical wealth, called Valor Ecclesiasticus. It detailed clerical incomes so Henry knew exactly how much property and revenue the Church possessed
-1485-1534, clergy paid £4,800 p.a. to Rome, but in 1535 and 1536 they paid £46,052 and £52770 to Henry
Examples of measures that Henry and Cromwell took to ensure that people were loyal and accepted the Act of Supremacy
-All adult males has to swear an oath to the terms of the Act of Succession
-All clergy had to make a declaration that the Pope had no greater God-given authority in England than any other foreign bishop
-The printing press and the pulpit were used to reinforce these oaths
-Sermons preached in support of the Supremacy and the Boleyn marriage
-Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Shaxton were radicals who came to prominence as they were willing to preach the virtues of Henry’s Supremacy in the pulpit, as well as denounce papal power
-The Treason Act 1534
Who was Elizabeth Barton and how did she oppose the reformation
-The ‘Holy Maid of Kent’.
-She had visions of the Virgin Mary and gave harmful prophecies to Henry.
-Her notoriety grew and she gained support from John Fisher and Archbishop Warham.
-She was sent to the TOL in Nov 1533, to be executed he same day that Londoners had to swear the Oath of Supremacy
Who were the Carthusians
-A religious order based in London. They were not strongly effective as they were not united in their opposition, however Cromwell could not silence dissenting opinion
-This led to imprisonment and torture, and 6 leaders were executed May-July 1535
Who were the Observant Friars and why were they more dangerous than Carthusians
-A group similar to Cathusians, whose friary was alongside the king’s most frequented palace at Greenwich.
-They were more dangerous because of this and because as preachers, they could spread the word of dissent quickly.
-All 7 observant houses were closed down, leading to friars imprisonment
Who was John Fisher (Bishop of Rochester)
-A Catholic who was executed in 1535 following his open refusal to accept the Royal Supremacy
(remained loyal to Catherine of Aragon)
-This caused outrage across Europe and did little for Henry’s reputation.
Who was Thomas More
-He was reluctantly willing to accept the change in succession, but refused to swear oath so was imprisoned in TOL alongside Fisher.
-He became Lord Chancellor in condition that he would not be involved in the Great Matter. But he resigned after the submission of the clergy in 1532
-Executed 6th July 1535
