Henry VIII and his ministers Flashcards
What is accession?
The process of rising to the throne, and into a position of power
What does being ‘betrothed’ mean?
Being engaged to someone, but in an arranged way
What is royal progress?
When the king travels around the country, to stay in various areas so that he can gain reputation, popularity and power
What is courtly love?
A tradition of love, where a relationship was moved along much slower. The man would treat the woman with utmost respect, even if it meant fighting for her to prove their love to society.
What was Henry VIII’s accession like?
-1485- Henry Tudor defeated King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth and became King Henry VII
-1486- Henry VII married Elizabeth of York
-1486- first son- Arthur was born
-1491-second son- Henry VIII was born
-two daughters born - margaret (1489) + Mary (1496)
-Arthur was arranged to marry Catherine of Aragon- to keep peace with Spain
-Catherine + Arthur married in 1501
-Arthur died of illness in 1502
-Henry arranged to marry catherine in 1503
-Henry VII died in 1509- Henry VIII became king
-Henry VIII married catherine of Aragon
-He became king at 18yrs old
How did Henry VIII rule the country?
-had no experience of governing England
-Had experienced advisers
-Didn’t like administrative / paper work
-preferred jousting, hunting + playing sports
-Wanted to model his rule on European monarchies like Spain and France
-wanted to reassert England’s claim on the French throne - to be another Henry V
-Believed in the divine right of kings
-Wanted to show his power by achieving victories in battle
What was Henry VIII’s character like?
-excelled in sports- archery, hunting etc.
-Spoke French, Latin and Spanish
-played several instruments, sang and danced
-loved to dress in fine clothes and jewels
-Deeply religious- went to church daily
-wanted to prove himself a true knight
-had a very big ego + was very stubborn
What were the weaknesses of Henry VIII’s monarchy?
-very simplistic attitude to kingship
-wanted to go to war-expensive + risk to England’s strength if they lost
-little desire to get involved in governing
-little experience in governing
-liked high risk pursuits- risk to his health + the kingdoms stability
What were the strengths of Henry VIII’s monarchy?
-looked the part of a king
-was willing to prove himself a true knight
-inherited a rich + stable country
-was with Catherine of Aragon- important connections to Spain
-had a team of experienced advisers
-had skill in many other external areas
-had ambition to become a great renaissance king
What is the royal household?
-nobles + servants provided the king with food, clothing + religious guidance
-important role in government
-the king would meet with advisers in it to make important decisions
What is the privy chamber?
-part of the royal household
-made up of the kings closest friends- provided him with entertainment + took care of his personal needs
-headed by the groom of the stools
What is the royal council?
-a group of advisers from the nobility + the church
-provided guidance on policy
What was the system of court like?
-people who were the kings key servants, advisers + friends were known as courtiers
-they lived in or near the same house as the king
-the six and splendour of the court allowed the king to supply wealth and power
-attending court required the kings permission
Who were the justices of the peace?
large landowners who kept law and order in their local areas
What was the social hierarchy of the countryside?
- Nobility
2.Gentry
3.Yeoman
4.Tenant farmers
5.Landless or labouring poor (the majority)
6.Vagrants, homeless people
What was the social hierarchy of the towns?
1.Merchants (owned lots of property)
2.Professionals- doctors, lawyers etc.
3.Business owners- craftsmen etc.
4.Unskilled workers- employed by others (the majority)
What was the overall hierarchy across the country?
1.God
2.the monarch + the church
3. Nobility - dukes, lords, barons
4.Gentry
5.Merchants
6.Yeoman + highly skilled craftsmen
7.Tenant farmers
8.Labourers, servants + unskilled workers
9.Vagrants + the unemployed
What was the hierarchy of the church?
1.Cardinal
2.Archbishop
3.Bishop
4.Priest
What was Thomas Wolsey’s background like?
-son of a butcher
-born in Ipswich- 1471
-well educated- got a degree at Oxford uni at age 15
- a career in the church was a good way for a person like him to make it in life
What key roles did Thomas Wolsey get in his career?
-1498-priest
-1507-royal chaplain to king
-1515-cardinal- appointed by pope
-1515-lord chancellor
-1518-papal legate
1520-kings wealthiest subject
What jobs/tasks did Thomas Wolsey complete for the king in government?
-key foreign and domestic policy decisions
-managed parliament
-raised taxes
-lead diplomatic negotiations
-drafted new laws
What are the reasons Thomas Wolsey could be seen as an alter rex?
-his wealth
-his roles in the church
-he did most of Henry’s work
What are the reasons that disagree with Thomas Wolsey being an alter rex?
-he did not come from a rich background
-he thought of himself a lot behind the scenes
-the hierarchy means the monarchy above everything else
-henry was royal, thomas wasnt - he could always be stopped
What was the problem with enclosures?
