Henry VIII's Character and Aims

Question 1

What was Henry VIII’s character like?

Answer 1

• no experience of government or public affairs
• found the reading and writing of state papers tedious and painful
• lacked work ethic
• often suddenly contradicted government decisions
• well read, affable, extroverted

Question 2

How did Henry VIII’s government differ from his father’s?

Answer 2

• there was a short term renewed emphasis on governing through council, which made two comebacks later on in his reign
• during two periods he relied on the work of a chief minister (Wolsey and Cromwell)
• the Council Learned in Law was abolished in 1510 and Empson and Dudley were arrested and executed - made him more popular amongst nobles as he removed the tax system they felt they were the victims of

Question 3

What legacy did Henry VII leave for Henry VIII?

Answer 3

• left him around £300,000 (however this was lost after Henry paid for war with France)
• he was left unpopular after unpopular taxation systems
• left a peaceful foreign policy
• left a conciliar form of government (disappeared shortly as Wolsey rose)

Question 4

What were Henry VIII’s early aims?

Answer 4

• to establish his status amongst European monarchs through marriage
• to re-establish the role of the nobility
• to establish himself as a warrior King through success in battle

Question 5

Why did Henry VIII re-establish the nobility?

Answer 5

• Henry VII had frozen the nobility out of direct political influence - his peaceful foreign policy had denied them of their traditional outlet of pursuit of military glory
• Henry VIII shared the tastes and dominant military culture of the aristocracy
• However nobles didn’t achieve political domination in the end due to the rise of Wolsey