Henry VIII - Wolsey (Govt and Foreign Policy)

Question 1

What were Wolsey’s origins?

Answer 1

Wolsey was the son of an Ipswich butcher, which made him unpopular with the nobility but ensured he was not a threat to the king.

Question 2

What was Henry VIII’s relationship with Wolsey?

Answer 2

Henry VIII made Wolsey powerful and had the ability to unmake him.

Question 3

What positions did Wolsey hold early in his career?

Answer 3

He became bursar of Magdalen College, Oxford, and was appointed to Henry VII’s Council as almoner.

Question 4

What significant event did Wolsey organize in 1513?

Answer 4

He was the main organizer of Henry’s great expedition to France.

Question 5

What rewards did Wolsey receive in 1514?

Answer 5

He was rewarded with the Bishoprics of Lincoln and Tournai and elevated to the Archbishopric of York.

Question 6

What title was Wolsey given in 1524?

Answer 6

The Pope made Wolsey a papal legate for life, outranking the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Question 7

What happened to Wolsey in 1529?

Answer 7

He was dismissed as Chancellor and sent to York, dying in 1530 on his way to stand trial.

Question 8

Why did Henry VIII give Wolsey so much power?

Answer 8

Henry VIII did not want to manage day-to-day government and preferred to focus on military adventures.

Question 9

What was the nature of Wolsey’s relationship with the nobility?

Answer 9

Wolsey had the right patrons and was seen as a safe pair of hands, while the nobility held honorary positions without real power.

Question 10

How did Wolsey manage to maintain his power?

Answer 10

He was a capable administrator and had a good personal relationship with Henry VIII.

Question 11

What was the significance of the execution of Edward Stafford, Duke of Buckingham?

Answer 11

It reminded the nobility of Henry’s power and was not part of Wolsey’s conflict with them.

Question 12

What were Wolsey’s domestic policies focused on?

Answer 12

Wolsey was called upon to raise extra revenue due to the increasing costs of warfare.

Question 13

What was the Subsidy tax developed by Wolsey?

Answer 13

The Subsidy was based on income rather than property and was used to fund wars against France.

Question 14

What was the Amicable Grant of 1525?

Answer 14

It was a forced loan that faced popular disturbances, leading the king to withdraw it and blame Wolsey.

Question 15

What role did Wolsey play in the Court of Chancery?

Answer 15

As Chancellor, he presided over the Court of Chancery, which administered the law of equity.

Question 16

What inquiries did Wolsey launch regarding enclosures?

Answer 16

Wolsey launched inquiries into illegal enclosure of land, indicating his concern for the poor.

Question 17

What was Henry VIII’s foreign policy approach compared to his father?

Answer 17

Henry VIII was interventionist, seeking to raise England’s profile in European politics through war.

Question 18

What was the outcome of the 1513 war with France?

Answer 18

Henry led an expedition that captured Therouanne and Tournai, boosting his ambition in European politics.

Question 19

What was the Treaty of London in 1518?

Answer 19

A peace treaty devised by Wolsey that aimed for a universal and perpetual peace among major powers.

Question 20

How did Wolsey influence Henry’s military ambitions?

Answer 20

Wolsey sought to maintain peace and often dampened Henry’s desire for war.

Question 21

What were the relations between Henry VIII and Spain before 1516?

Answer 21

Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon was crucial for maintaining good relations with Spain.

Question 22

How did relations with Spain change after 1516?

Answer 22

Relations improved under Charles V, who became a powerful ally against France.

Question 23

Who succeeded Ferdinand of Aragon as King of Spain in 1516?

Answer 23

Charles V succeeded his grandfather Ferdinand of Aragon as King of Spain.

Question 24

What territories did Charles V rule?

Answer 24

Charles V was also ruler of the Low Countries, which bordered France.

Question 25

In what year did Charles V become Emperor of Germany?

Answer 25

Charles V succeeded Maximilian as Emperor of Germany in 1519.

Question 26

Why did Henry VIII see Charles V as an ally against France?

Answer 26

Henry VIII saw Charles V as an ideal ally because he was powerful and the French were concerned about Hapsburg encirclement.

Question 27

What did Wolsey attempt to do in 1521 regarding Charles V and Francis I?

Answer 27

Wolsey attempted to act as a peacemaker by meeting Francis I in Calais and Charles V in Bruges.

Question 28

What happened after the failure of Wolsey's negotiations in 1521?

Answer 28

Henry agreed to an alliance with Charles against France.

Question 29

When did England declare war on France?

Answer 29

England declared war on France in June 1522.

Question 30

What was the period of war against France as Charles V's ally?

Answer 30

The war against France as Charles V's ally occurred from 1522 to 1523.

Question 31

What caused relations between Charles and Henry to worsen from 1524 to 1529?

Answer 31

Relations worsened due to the failure of the French campaign of 1523 and Charles rejecting Henry's plans to conquer France.

Question 32

What significant event happened in 1525 that affected Henry's plans?

Answer 32

Charles rejected Henry's new plan to conquer France after his victory at the Battle of Pavia.

Question 33

What did Wolsey help organize in 1526?

Answer 33

Wolsey helped to organize the League of Cognac against the Emperor.

Question 34

What treaty did Wolsey negotiate in 1527?

Answer 34

Wolsey negotiated peace with France through the Treaty of Greenwich.

Question 35

How did Charles V's actions in 1527 affect his relationship with Henry?

Answer 35

Charles was upset as Henry began his campaign to annul his marriage with Catherine of Aragon, Charles' aunt.

Question 36

What event in 1527 worsened relations between Henry and the Papacy?

Answer 36

Charles' troops sacked Rome and captured the Pope in 1527.

Question 37

What was the impact of the Pope's capture on Henry VIII?

Answer 37

The Pope had to do Charles' bidding, reversing good relations between Henry VIII and the papacy.

Question 38

What was the relationship between Henry VII and Scotland?

Answer 38

Henry VII had bequeathed good relations with Scotland by marrying his daughter Margaret to James IV.

Question 39

What happened during James IV's attempted invasion of England in 1513?

Answer 39

The Scots were defeated at the Battle of Flodden, resulting in the death of James IV.

Question 40

Who became regent for James V after the death of James IV?

Answer 40

Henry's sister Margaret became regent for the young James V.

Question 41

What was the state of English diplomacy during Henry VIII's reign?

Answer 41

Henry VIII's diplomacy made England seem important in European affairs.

Question 42

How did England play a role between Francis and Charles?

Answer 42

England acted as an 'honest broker' between Francis and Charles, who were usually hostile to each other.

Question 43

What were the outcomes of Henry's invasions of France?

Answer 43

Henry twice invaded France; neither invasion was defeated by French arms.

Question 44

What was Wolsey's policy for elevating England's international standing?

Answer 44

Wolsey's policy of international glory through peaceful means was successful.

Question 45

What were the financial limitations of Henry VIII's foreign policy?

Answer 45

The active foreign policy was expensive, leading to difficulties in funding initiatives.

Question 46

What was the Amicable Grant of 1525?

Answer 46

The Amicable Grant of 1525 is a famous example of financial problems faced by Henry VIII.

Question 47

What military limitation did England face during Henry VIII's reign?

Answer 47

England was seen as a second-rate power without a standing army.

Question 48

What criticism did the English Church face during Wolsey's time?

Answer 48

The English Church was criticized for issues like pluralism, absenteeism, and simony.

Question 49

What was Erastianism in the context of the English Church?

Answer 49

Erastianism refers to the control of the Church by the king, who made all appointments.

Question 50

What was the king's great matter regarding Catherine of Aragon?

Answer 50

Henry wished to annul his marriage to Catherine because he had no son.

Question 51

What biblical texts did Henry use to justify his desire for annulment?

Answer 51

Henry cited the Book of Leviticus and believed his marriage was unlawful.

Question 52

What was a significant weakness in Henry's case for annulment?

Answer 52

A biblical text from Deuteronomy suggested he should have married his brother's widow.

Question 53

What was one reason Catherine of Aragon opposed the annulment?

Answer 53

Catherine refused to agree to a compromise that would make her daughter Mary a bastard.

Question 54

How did Charles V's position affect Henry's annulment case?

Answer 54

Charles V was Catherine's nephew and held significant power over the Pope.

Question 55

What was Wolsey's role in Henry's annulment efforts?

Answer 55

Wolsey was tasked with securing the Pope's agreement for the annulment.

Question 56

What ultimately led to Wolsey's fall from favor?

Answer 56

Wolsey's inability to obtain the annulment led to his loss of the king's trust.

Question 57

What strategy did Henry use to pressure the Pope regarding the annulment?

Answer 57

Henry threatened to reform the English Church and distance it from Rome.

Question 58

What was the outcome of Wolsey's efforts to secure an annulment?

Answer 58

Wolsey's efforts were thwarted when the annulment case was revoked to Rome.