Henry VIII | Politics Flashcards
What was Henrys approach to politics ?
How is this different to Henry VII ?
Henry VIII was less concerned with mundane aspects of governing such as paperwork and admin - therefore left it to councillors and chief ministers to govern.
Henry VIIs approach to politics was very different, as Henry was vert concious in his decsions, often taking caution and being very much involved in admin. Henry VII was much more careful and aimed to contol his nobility, out of fear of rebellion, which often saw him described as “paranoid”.
How many times did Henry call Parliament by 1529 ?
What does this show ?
4 times (1510/1512/1515/1523)
This shows Henry only used parliament to suit his own needs rather than the needs of the nation (using parliament twice simply for extraordinary reveue for war), using a chief minister to deal with these issues, showing his passive outlook on politics.
When was the CLIL abolished ?
Why was this significant ?
1510
The abolishment of such a hated system gained Henry VIII much respect.
When was the first period of concilliar government under Henry VIII ?
Why was this system abolished after five years of reign ?
1509-1514
Henry utilised the conciliar government for five years after taking the throne, as it was a significant feature of his fathers reign and inheritnace, however it did not suit Henrys passive governing, and desire for direct decision making, coupled with incompatability between Henry and councillors, so in 1514, used a chief minister in Wolsey.
When was Wolsey made Chief minister ?
What caused this ?
1514
Henrys dislike of a conciliar government, coupled with Wolseys triumph in Henrys French campaign of 1513, which impressed Henry, leading to Henry making Wolsey his right hand man.
What official roles did Wolsey hold from 1514-1529 ?
-Archbishop of York
-Cardinal
-Papal Legate
-Chief minister
What was Thomas Wolseys dealings with the Privvy Council in 1519 ?
What does this show ?
The Privy chamber was an area of government which before 1519, lay outside of Wolsey’s control. Young nobility loyal to Henry had gone on to become “Gentleman of the Privy Chamber” and they had distrust for Wolsey, so to control their influence, swapped the gentlemen out for his own men that supported him
Shows Wolsey had personal ambitions, often going beyond his station to neutralise those who threatened his power and control. This is eventually what leads to his doenfall as Wolsey continues to serve himself in power and not recognise his place. This leads tomany historains viewing Wolsey as arrogant and insensitive, even becoming unpopular in parliament itself.
What was Wolsey responsible for under Henry VIII ?
Why did this give Wolsey significant control ?
Management of the Catholic Church
Aiding foreign policy
Domestic policy ( parliament )
Overseeing the legal system
Wolsey was papal legate, meaning he held power over the rest of the nobility, due to the power of the church, he also dealt with domestic and foreign policy, and he end of a concilair government meant Wolsey had significant influence on Henry directly, meaning he personally influenced many decicions, home and abroad. And, his control over the legal system allows Wolsey control, as the court of chancerys lack of strict reading of the law and a higher emphasis on justice, allows Wolsey to apply his own opinion, without oppostion.
What were Wolseys contributions to the legal system, from 1514-1529 ?
Overseeing justice, sitting as a judge aswell as the extending the use of the “court of the star chamber” (1516)
What was the “Court of the Star Chamber” ?
How did this help Wolsey ?
Established in 1487 by Act of Parliament, the court encouaged cheap and fair justice (heard cases of misconduct by locally dominant figures), the court was encouraged for Private lawsuits , to depopulate the sytem, however despite this, “overflow tribunals” had to be set up due to overpopulation
Although this sytem became overpopulated, the system as a whole was effective in achieving quick justice that was attainable even to the poor. This gained Wolsey respect, enabling justice to the lower classes and allowed him to carry out his role of overseeing the legal system.
What were Wolseys key involvements in finances from 1514-1529 ?
And when were these ?
- The Tudor subsidy (1523)
-The Amicable Grant (1525)
-The Eltham Ordinances (1526)
What was the Tudor subsidy (1523) ?
How did this help Wolsey ?
Wolsey changed how subsidies were collected, so rather than local commissioners assessing taxpayer wealth, (which led to comissioners being over generous to local nobility) he established a national committee, which Wolsey himself was head of. Resulting in tax collection being far a far more realistic reflection of wealth
Allowed Wolsey to collect more money, and prevent powerful bobles from escaping taxation, leading to more fair and equal collection of taxes. This wouldve gained Wolsey respect from the lower classes who resented taxation, coupled with the generosity given to the nobles.
What was the Amicable Grant (1525) ?
How did this affect Wolsey ?
Wolsey implemented the “Amicable Grant” to raise more money for war, the tax was labelled a “freely given gift” from subjects to the monarch however in reality it was an unreasonable, heavy tax
with no parliamentary approval. This would not be forgotten and faced widespread resistance with little money actually being raised
This crippled Wolsey, and is often considered as one of his greatest failures - a significant factor in his eventual downfall and loss of respect from parliament and the nobility. Not only did it face widespread rebellion, but actually failed to raise the nessesary finances.
What were the Eltham Ordinances (1526) ?
How did this affect Wolsey ?
Wolsey aimed to reform Privy Chamber finances, claiming it was to reduce royal household expenditure and raise finances. Wolsey managed to reduce the number of Gentlemen of the privy chamber, (the one area of government in which Wolsey did not have control over). Its beleived Wolsey was jealous over the rising influence of the King’s courtiers, so in response, removed Henry’s Groom of the Stool (Sir William Compton) and replaced him with Henry Norris (who favoured Wolsey)
Considered, alongside the Amicable Grant, as one of Wolseys failures, and highlighted Wolseys desire for power and control. A significant factor in his eventual downdall.
What was the “Kings Great Matter” ?
What was the impact of this ?
From 1527-1535, Henry’s desperation for a male heir was the driving force behind his decision making- he even considered legitimising his son Henry Fitzroy. Henry blamed Catherine for not giving him a son and as a result, he was determined to end his marriage and find a new wife who could give him what he wanted.
After 18 years of marriage, Henry tries to divorce from Catherine of Aragon, which is seen as wrongful in the eyes of the church, and as a whole painted Engaland as weak and subservient to the Catholic Church, and Henry as desperate. This also impacted Wolsey, as he was responsible of achieving this impossible task for Henry, with his failure resulting in his downfall.
Which factors made the securing of the annulment, more challenging ?
-Divorce was exceptional, especially after 19 years
-Henry had also fallen madly in love with Anne Boleyn
-Anne believed she was pregnant
-Charles V’s invasion of Rome (1527)
-Catherines own protestation
What was Henrys approach to the KGM, with Wolsey ?
Why did this fail ?
Henry asked Wolsey to request a papal dispensation to annul his marriage to Catherine declaring the marriage as “legally invalid”, and accusing Henry of “living in sin” using a bible verse from the book of Leviticus which was the basis of the appeal for an annulment, this stated their marriage was invalid as Catherine had been married to Henrys brother Arthur previous.
Given the circumstances and the use of biblical evidence support it, the method, should and woudlve most likely succeeded if it wasnt for the invasion of Rome (1527) .In normal circumstances the Pope might have been prepared to issue a dispensation for the annulment (for the right fee). However, Pope Clement VII was not in a position to do so, as Rome had been sacked by the troops of the Emperor Charles V and the Pope was in effect the emperor’s prisoner. The emperor, Catherine’s nephew, was not prepared to see his family humiliated.
What was the outcome of Wolseys request for Papal dispensation ?
What was the outcome of this for both Henry and Wolsey ?
After two years, 1529 the Pope sends Cardinal Campeggio to hear the case for Henry’s annulment and the case openso the 15th of June. The case was adjourned by Campeggio on the 30th July and the annulment was denied.
Henry was running out of legitimate options, and time was running out, which meant he became more desperate, this lead to instability and a weak outlook globally. On the other hand, Wolsey knew his own fate depended on securing an annulment and in Octoberof that same year Wolsey was charged with praemunire and he surrendered all he had to Henry, including Hampton Court on 4th November 1530 Wolsey was arrested and on the 29th of November he died at Leicester Abbey of natural causes just before his execution.
From which years is a conciliar government first reinstated ?
From 1530-1532
From the downfall of Wolsey as Chief Minister, there was a conciliar government for two years.
Which proposal from Thomas Cromwell saw him rise to power ?
A break from Rome
Cromwells proporsal of a break from Rome and the consequent formation of a new church - with Henry at its head, was the move that saw Cromwell rise to Henrys favour. This follows Wosleys failures to secure the annulment.
In what year was Cromwell made Henrys Chief Minister ?
1532
What was Thomas Cromwells route to achieve the break from Rome ? (3)
- Exploiting weaknessess in the Catholic Church
- Pressuring Pope Clement VII
- Utilising Parliament
How did Cromwell exploit weaknesses in the Catholic Church ?
How did these factors expose weaknesses in the church ?
-Dominance of “statute law” over “canon law”
-Catholic church weakned by “Humanism” and “anti-clericalism”
-The “Collectanea Satis Copiosa”
Both the divorce and break with Rome were accomplished through the use of Statue of law (Acts of Parliament) whose supremacy over canon law (law of Church) was firmly established as Christopher St German challenged Church’s legal supremacy in 1528 through the “assertion of English law superiority over Church canon law”. This helped to prepare the way for the parliamentary attack on the Church’s power. Also Simon Fish’s pamphlet, “Supplication of the Beggars” (1529), plead to the king, all the weaknesses in the Catholic church, including accusations of murder (Richard Hunne) and corruption - which influenced anti-clericalism and humanism, which opposed catholicism. Finally, the “Collectanea Satis Copiosa” was a collection of documents compiled by Cranmer and Foxe to justify Henry VIII’s divorce on legal and historical grounds.
How did Cromwell put pressure on Pope Clement VII ? (4)
And what was the impact of these ?
(1531) Clergy collectively accused of praemunire
(1532) Act in Conditional Restraint of Annates
(1532) Supplication against the Ordinances (House of Commons)
(1532) Formal submission of the clergy to Henry VIII
Accusing the clergy of praemunire was a sustained attack on the Clergy and forced them to recognise the monarch as ‘Protector and Supreme head of the English Church’, which put more pressure on the Pope, as more power is directed toward the monarch. Also the “Act in Conditional restraint of Annates” withheld first year’s income through annates from the office of bishop, meaning less revenue would be paid to the Pope, in taxes, putting pressure on the Pope financially, bolstering English indpendence. Also the “Supplication against the ordinances”, was a peitition whichincreased anticlerical pressure and support for Henry within the House of Commons. Lastly, the “Formal submission of the clergy to Henry VIII” was a formal surrender of the Church’s independent law-making function, leading to more monarchical supremacy and also provoked the resignation of Thomas More as Lord Chancellor (Catholic figure).
