Henry VIII - The downfall of Wolsey

Question 1

How did Wolsey gain political enemies and how did this lead to his downfall?
(Four Factors)

Answer 1

1. Wolsey made many powerful, political enemies through his birth, his re-organisation of the Privy Chamber, and his use of the Star Chamber and actions against enclosure.
2. After 1525, Wolsey realised that he was relatively isolated without the protection of influential friends and family.
3. 1515-1525 Wolsey outsmarted his enemies meaning that there were powerful men waiting for revenge.
4. Aroganise and conservative factions both had contempt for Wolsey and they joined together to bring him down.

Question 2

What name did Wolsey gain?

Answer 2

The “Alter-Rex” meaning the Other King.

Question 3

How did Wolsey become isolated from Henry ?
(Four Factors)

Answer 3

1. Wolsey was often seperated from the King on diplomatic missions which left him distracted from domestic policy.
2. The Duke of Norfolk, along with Anne Boleyn’s father, were based in the court in Greenwhich where, from 1525, the were increasingly replacing Wolsey.
   (Wolsey was making peace treaties in France.)
3. Wolsey’s failure to achieve the annulment increasingly seperated him from Henry
4. Henry had demanded that Wolsey take more councillors, decreasing his power and limiting Henry’s own reliance on Wolsye.

Question 4

How did the rise of the Boleyns bring about the fall of Wolsey?
(Four Factors)

Answer 4

1. The Boleyns had political contacts with those who hated Wolsey, the Boleyns were also angry at Wolsey for failing to bring about the King’s annulment.
2. The Boleyn faction put pressure on Henry to release Wolsey, they were attempting to convince Henry that Wolsey was postponing the annulment.
3. It was a factor beyond Wolsey’s Control
4. Anne Boleyn’s father and the Duke of Nortfolk hated Wolsey.

Question 5

What was a major failure for Wolsey in foreign policy [1526]?

Answer 5

The League of Cognac.
The anti-hapsburg alliance was supposed to counter Charles V’s excessive power but instead it resulted in a brutal retaliation by Charles. Sacking Rome and making the annulment impossible.

Question 6

What treaty did Wolsey organise that resulted in his downfall [1527]?

Answer 6

The Treaty of Westminster.
It failed to put pressure on Charles who still went forward with his plans in Rome.

Question 7

How did the Peace of Cambrai (1529) lead to Wolsey’s downfall?

Answer 7

The French betrayed the treaty of Amiens and made peace with Charles V. The French gave up their ambitions in Italy which reinforced the Pope’s dependence on the Emperor.
This made the annulment doomed to failure. Henry blamed this on Wolsey.

Question 8

How did the failure of the Amicable grant lead to Wolsey’s downfall?

Answer 8

1. Showed that the King had begun to lose faith in Wolsey.
2. The king claimed he had no knowledge of the grant.
3. Wolsey began to lose infleunce in court which meant that Wolsey’s political enemies (Suffolk and Norfolk) could undermine his influence over the king.
4. Wolsey had to take sole responsibility for the grant and the rebellions that it resulted in. With the rebellion in East Anglia being put down by Norfolk himself.