The Great Matter and Henry's break from Rome Flashcards
Factors motivating Hnery’s Great Matter for essay question
- Henry’s desire for a male heir
- The role of the Anne Boleyn faction
- State of the Church/ Reformist ideas vs support for Catholicism
- Belief the the marriage was against God’s will
What occured during the many pregnancies of COA, what did this show.
COA had several miscarriages, including 2 still births. Proved to Henry that there was little chance of the marriage producing a male heir, as her last pregnancy had been in 1518
In what year did Henry stop sleeping with COA and why
1524, as he no longer found her physically attractive and she was reaching an age that made bearing a child difficult. Still needed a male heir and her last pregnancy had been in 1518.
What religious book was used to claim marriage to COA was invalid and what did it say
Leviticus 20:21, states that ‘if a man shall take his brother’s wife… he shall be without children.’
What fact can be used to disprove Leviticus and thus Henry’s argument for a divorce
His marriage to COA had not left him childless, but rarther without a son/male heir, as his wife gave birth to his daughter Mary (their only surviving child).
What was the name of Henry’s illegitimate son
Henry Fitzroy
What does Henry’s religion say about his pursuit of his divorce
Henry was and remained a devoted Catholic throughout his life, and this undoubtedly played a major role in his seeking of a divorce, in favour of a legal marriage, as he believed his marriage to COA offended God’s law.
What did COA claim about her marriage to Arthur and how did this effect Henry’s GM
Claimed the marriage had never been consumated, and there was no proof of consumation. This effected Henry as in the Pope’s dispensation he overruled their marriage, to allow her to marry Henry, meaning this would act against him in his pursuit of a divorce, as he couldn’t prove they had never consumated.
What decision showed Henry’s need for a male heir
Henry’s decision to to promote his illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, as his male heir. He also appointed him as the Duke of Richmond.
Which event caused both Henry to move away from an alliance with Spain and to promote William Fitzroy
Charles V refusal of a marriage alliance in 1525, between himself and Mary Tudor.
What had COA always opposed and what did it mean for Henry’s GM
She had always been vs God’s law, meaning she argued vs Henry’s use of Leviticus 20:21, as it presented God’s own judgement on their marriage.
When did Henry begin to woo Anne and what were his intentions with her
1526, but only wanted her as a mistress but she refused, no intention of marrying her yet. Later offered her the position of his sole mistress, but again she disagreed, staing she would only sleep with him if she was to be his Queen.
What made the validity of Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn questionable
Henry had sex with Mary Boleyn, Anne’s sister and had her as one of his mistresses.
What role did Anne Boleyn’s brother play in January 1530 and was he successful at this
In January 1530 Anne’s brother (George Boleyn,2nd Viscount Rochford) went on a mission to Charles V and the Pope in Bologna, in which he attempted to gain support for Henry’s case. However he failed to do so.
What was the name of Anne’s brother and what role did he play in France.
George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford, attended a total of six foreign embassies to France. The first was between late October 1529 and late February 1530. George attended with John Stokesley, the Dean of the Chapel Royal. Their mission was to encourage the universities of France to support Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The universities’ response was initially negative, but George encouraged King Francis to write a strong letter in favour of the divorce, which was later used to reverse the universities’ decision.
What charges were used to execute George Boleyn and when was he executed
Acused of insest (adultory) with the Queen (one of 5 men accused of adultery with the Queen), as well as for plotting with the queen to kill the KIng. AKA high treason. Arested on arrested on 2 May 1536. George Boleyn and the other four men were beheaded on Tower Hill on the morning of 17 May 1536.
Which 5 men were beheaded for adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn and when were they executed
5 men: George Boleyn (insest and high treason). Arrested on 2 May 1536.
The four others implicated in the plot, Sir Henry Norris, Sir Francis Weston, Sir William Brereton, and Mark Smeaton were tried on Friday 12 May.
Executed on morning of 17 May 1536 on Tower Hill
When did Anne B become pregnant
December 1532, proving she had been less reluctant to sleep with Henry than previously thought.
What happend in January 1533 and April 1533
Henry married Anne Boleyn in secret, married by Cranmer (Archbishop of Canterbury), who also declared his marriage to COA as invalid in April 1533
When was Anne Boleyn crowned as Queen of England
May 1533
How many of Henry’s 6 wives were actually crowned Queen and which 2 were these
Only 2 crowned queen. The 2 were COA and Anne Boleyn.
Which group was Anne acquanted with and name some of the individuals. How did this effect the GM
Anne was acquanted with a group of reformist writers, who she introduced to Henry, including William Tyndale (who wrote ‘obedience of the Christian man’ using old testament evidence) and she attempted to protect those involved in the distribution of his English translation of the Bible. She knew several people involved in this including Thomas Garret and Thomas Forman. Garret was the curate and Forman the rector of All Hallows Church, Honey Lane, London. When they were arrested Anne wrote to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey asking for them to be relreased.
Who read the ‘obedience of a Christian man, when and why was it important. What did the book argue
Anne B read Tyndale’s book in 1528, which argued that the Kings had authority over the Church. It was taken away by Richard Sampson, the Dean of the Chapel Royal as it was a banned book. Boleyn claimed it was “the dearest book that ever dean or cardinal took away” and she eventually got it back. She now passed the book to Henry VIII with “certain passages marked by her fingernail for his attention”. Henry was impressed and commented that “by the help of the virtuous lady… his eyes were opened the see the truth” and pronounced it a book “for me and all kings to read”.
How did Campeggio describe Henry in February 1529
Henry ‘sees nothing and thinks nothing but Anne’.
How did Henry ask Anne for her hand in marraige/ try to win her over
Despite hating writing, Henry wrote a series of love letters to Anne, at the same time as he decided in his divorce from COA.
When and how was Anne Boleyn executed
Beheaded on the 19 May 1536
Who wrote the Collectanea Satis Capiosa and what did it claim
Written by Edward Foxe and Thomas Cranmer and was used in the Feb 1533 Act of Restraint of Appeals to Rome, used to begin the start of the transfer of the pope’s power to the King.
Great Matter motivation- largest motivation
The GM was primarily voted by his religious conscience and the belief that his marraige was against God’s will and would therefore not allow him to produce a male heir, due to the teachings of Leviticus 20:21. However undeniable that Henry’s lust for Anne Boleyn also played an important role, as it allowed the Boleyn faction to gain influence over Henry and introduce him to reformist views, as well as increase her own power, in the long run, by becoming Queen. The reformist views that she shared with Henry had a clear impact on his interest in a reformation/ breaking with Rome,
How old was Anne B when Henry first became interested in her in Feb 1526
19 years old
What was held several times to discuss the validty of Henry’s marriage to COA and what was the result
An ecclesiastical court met several times but was unable to reach any clear conclusion and so referred the case to Rome.
How did Henry aim to persuade COA to separate on 22nd June 1527 and what was the outcome
Asked COa to seperate as he said they had been living in sin. He asked her to co-operate and to choose a house to retire in until the matter had been resloved. COA was stunned and upset and made it clear she would resist any divorce.
What papal request was made by Wolsey in Jan 1528
Wolsey wrote to the Pope in Jan 1528, asking for the papal legate, Lorenzo Campeggio, to be sent to England to pass judgement on the King’s marriage.
How did Wolsey and later Campeggio try to remove COA from the matter
Put pressure on COA to retire to a convent (become a nun), which would leave the King free to marry, as the Pope would agree to this as Catherine would become married to God. Campeggio met with Henry on 22 Oct 1528 and after realising Henry would settle for nothing less than divorce, he too agreed to try and persuade COA to join a convent, but he failed too.
When did Campeggio arrive in England, where did he land and what did the Pope order him to do
Arrived at Dover on 29 Sept 1528, and was told by the Pope to avoid making a decision for as long as possible (delay).
Who did COA have the full support of
The English people
What happend to COA in Nov 1528
Seperated from her daughter Mary and told couldn’t see her whilst did not obey King’s orders. COA had intented to live and die a married woman.
Who represented COA during her trial from 31 May-16 Jily 1529
Chose Archbishop Warham, Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of Ely and St Asaph and her main supporter, John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester as her representatives.
When was Henry summoned to Rome and what was he to appear before.
Summoned to appear before the papal curia in August 1529, which infuriated him and raised his awarness that the Pope may never grant him a divorce. TURNING POINT
Cranmer’s approach to the divorce
Use Doctors of Divinity in the universities to decide the outcome of Henry’s marriage as it was thewho had studied the bible and were therefore better qualified to discuss its meaning. If they found marriage to be invalid the that was all needed for Archbishop of Canterbury to pronounce King a free man. Henry impressed by Cranmer and told him to set aside other woek and focus only on GM. Also impressed by King, not Pope as supreme head.
Who succeeded Wolsey as Lord Chancellor
Thomas Cromwell
Church reform of nov 1529
Offices to be held by any one man was reduced to 4, this measure was not well recieved by the clergy. Procedures for murderers and felons seeking sanctaury were made more severe. Acts were passed to remedy abuses by the church. Fees to be charged for probate and mortuary were limited.
Thomas Cronwell’s attempt to reform/his aims in reforming
Tried to use a papal bull obtained by Wolsey in 1518, that allowed some reform of the monastries Cronwell’s aim= to close all smaller monastires and redirect their wealth to the crown. There were in excess of 800 religious houses in Eng with over 10,000 monks, nuns and friars.
In what time period did the universities decide on Kings GM
Feb-April 1530
What did the Universities decide about the King’s GM. Stat for decision at Oxford
Camberidge Uni= quite strong opposition to divorce so they had to be careful which doctors they picked.
The Uni declared the marriage as vs divine law (as married brother’s widow).
Stronger oppositon at Oxford uni, so more care needed in the selection of Doctors to make decision. Decided by 27 votes to 22 in Henry’s favour
Votes over GM at Oxford uni
Decided as vs Divine Law by 27 votes to 22 in Henry’s favour.
Who were sent a sum of money by Henry
Those who helped him to search for info from Leviticus or other bible passages that would help prove the king’s case. Used scholars and sent them money
When was Henry’ 2nd calling to Rome and what did it do to Hen
Recieved a citation ordering him to Rome in Dec 1530 oredering him to appear in Rome to state his case. His anger with Rome was increasing.
Who was Pope during time of GM
Peope Clement II
