Henry VIII - Aims & Character Flashcards
When did Henry come to the throne
2 months before 18th birthday
7 years since Arthur died (prepared for role during this time)
What did Henry have a dislike for?
Business
What did Henry put emphasis on?
Pageants, revelry, sports, hunting, tournaments
What did Henry’s dislike for business mean?
Lacked work ethic
Found writing and reading state papers tedious and painful
Structure of government evolved differently (for two periods relied on a chief minister)
What was the fourfold legacy left by Henry VII?
Money
Unpopular mechanisms for extracting money
Peaceful foreign policy
Conciliar government
How did the legacy of money last?
He had £300,000
Disappeared as a result of paying for aggressive foreign policy towards France
How did the legacy of unpopular mechanisms last?
The council learned was abolished by act of Parliament in January 1510 (cancelled many bonds and recognisances, execution of Empson and Dudley)
Henry distanced himself from his fathers regime and ensured popularity with the nobility
How did the legacy of conciliar government last?
Government disappeared as result of emergence of Thomas Wolsey
Members of the council were able to dispose of others and establish themselves (Richard Fox, Lovell, and Weston secured arrest of Empson and Dudley)
What were Henry’s key early aims?
Establish status amongst European monarchs through marriage
Re-establish role of nobility
Establish himself as a warrior king through success in battle
What were Henry’s later aims?
Recurring themes - pursuit of glory and securing succession
Break with Rome
Ruthlessness and cynicism
Impulsive (marriages and executions)
How did Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon to?
Henry wanted to conclude marriage as quickly as possible which suited Henry’s councillors who thought it would deflect him from political matters
Married on 11th of June 1509
Initial success on personal level and Catherine exercised influence over policies in first few years, but by mid-1520s clear she wouldn’t produce a male heir
How did Henry go about re-establishing nobility?
He shared tastes and dominant military culture of the aristocracy
Sons of nobility accompanied Henry in sport and war
In the end nobles didn’t achieve political domination they’d hoped for because Henry relied on Wolsey
What were Henry’s foreign policy aims?
Sought to overthrow his fathers foreign policy
Pursuit of military glory in France
