Topic 1: Young Henry and Wolsey's Rise Flashcards

1
Q

When did Henry VIII’s father become king?

A

Henry VII became the first Tudor king in 1485.

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2
Q

What was Henry VII’s reputation by the end of his reign?

A

Henry VIII’s father, Henry VII, became known for being greedy. Henry VIII was determined to be different and become known as a king of great wealth and generosity.

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3
Q

What term is used to describe the young Henry VIII?

A

He is described as a Renaissance Prince: skilled at a range of activities from sports (jousting, hunting) to music (singing, the lute) to writing poetry to foreign languages. And he had a fine calf to his leg as well!

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4
Q

What were the 6 expectations of a king?

A
  1. Defend the country, increase England’s power and lead the army;2. Show off England’s wealth and power through his own appearance;3. Ensure peace and prosperity - prevent rebellions and keep the law;4. Respect and unite nobility to help rule the country;5. Defend the Church and unite the people in one religion;6. Have male children to continue the Tudor family dynasty.
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5
Q

How did Henry use his appearance to his advantage?

A

He was kingly and also ruthless. Kingly: He was a symbol of wealth and power. He engaged in kingly pursuits, such as jousting and hunting. This also helped unite him with his nobles.Ruthless: He executed unpopular councillors Empson and Dudley from his father’s reign and had them executed as a show of strength and to win approval from the people and his court.

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6
Q

What were Henry VIII’s three main aims as king in 1509?

A
  1. To win power and glory by defeating France (he had read stories in his youth about famous English kings who had done this, such as Henry V)2. To prevent rebellions (he remembered how troubled his own father was by this - he needed sons for this too!)3. Have FUN!
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7
Q

What was Henry VIII’s personal style of monarchy?

A

The same as most before him: he had a divine right to rule and made all important decisions.

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8
Q

Did anyone else have more power than Henry VIII in England?

A

No. The Pope was supposed to have authority over the Church, but Henry expected the Pope to agree to any requests Henry made.

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9
Q

How was Tudor society organised in 1509?

A

Tudor society was hierarchical - you were ranked based on your wealth and social status. The nobles (lords) were at the top, under the monarch.

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10
Q

What was the role of the nobles in Tudor society?

A

There were about 60-70 nobles, the wealthiest landowners, and expected the king to consult them for important decisions.

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11
Q

What social class was below the important landowners known as the nobility?

A

The gentry - lesser landowners. These were often professionals such as lawyers. They were often appointed as Justices of the Peace (JPs) to keep the law.

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12
Q

Who was below the gentry?

A

Wealthy merchants.

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13
Q

Who were below wealthy merchants?

A

Yeomen - farmers who owned land.

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14
Q

Which social class was below yeomen?

A

Tenant farmers - they rented land from, landowners (including the Church).

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15
Q

How did Wolsey start to make a name for himself in 1513?

A

He organised the army (soldiers, equipment, transport etc.) for an invasion of France, and was very successful.

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16
Q

What promotions did he get in 1514?

A

Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York (second-most powerful church authority in England).

17
Q

When did he become Lord Chancellor?

A

1515 - this made Wolsey the Chief Minister. For the next 14 years, he kept a firm grasp on domestic and foreign policy.

18
Q

How did Wolsey become the most powerful church authority in 1518?

A

He managed to get himself the job of Papal Legate - representing the Pope in England meant he now outranked even the Archbishop of Canterbury.

19
Q

What personal qualities did Wolsey have that helped his rise to power?

A

He was very intelligent, ambitious and arrogant and made the most of this - gaining his degree when he was only 15! He then became his college’s treasurer in Oxford and used his position to undertake a huge college rebuilding programme.

20
Q

How did Wolsey become a member of the Royal Council?

A

He was made Royal Almoner in 1509 (in charge of giving charity to the poor).

21
Q

How did Wolsey use his appointment as Royal Almoner in 1509 to rise to further power?

A
  1. He used his access to Henry and the opportunity to build a personal relationship with the king, using his wit, charm and gift for flattery.2. He made use of LUCK - Henry VIII was not interested in administration, preferring pleasure - so Wolsey encouraged this and carved out a role carrying out all the tedious tasks Henry wanted to avoid.