Why attempts to obtain the divorce failed and how far this was the reason for Wolsey's fall

Question 1

What are the 3 (with joint) factors for Wolsey’s fall?

Answer 1

1. Failure to obtain the divorce
2. Boleyn faction + nobility
3. Failure in foreign policy

Question 2

How did Wolsey’s failure to obtain a divorce contribute to his fall?

Answer 2

• Assured Henry would be easy - delays thought to be purposeful
• Anne Boleyn set Henry against him

Question 3

What were the three key ways Wolsey attempted to get the divorce?

Answer 3

1. Religious
2. Legal
3. Location/ influence

Question 4

How did Wolsey argue that the marriage to Catherine was religiously wrong?

Why did this fail?

(2 aspects)

Answer 4

Original dispensation was not valid was it ignored divine law as set out in Leviticus (no sons if marry brother’s wife)

It required that the present pope to admit a previous pope had made an error

When Henry refused to abandon this approach and payed for treatises to be written arguing his case, it not only failed but brought the matter to international attention, making it harder for the papacy to give way

Question 5

What was Wolsey’s techinicality/ legal argument for divorce?

Why did this fail?

Answer 5

That there was an error in the dispensation - required only acceptance of a clerical error

BUT in response Catherine’s advisors found a slightly differently worded version, which satisfied objections

Question 6

What was Wolsey’s idea surrounding using his own influence (foreign policy) to get Henry his divorce?

Why did this fail?

Answer 6

To hold the hearing in England so that Wolsey could use his influence as papal legate to make the call.

However delays and the papal view that he could accept or reject the decision made the approach useless to Henry and Wolsey

Compromise: decision made by Wolsey and Cardinal Campeggio HOWEVER Campeggio delayed which aggravated the urgent Henry, delays blamed on Wolsey. Once arrived in England clear that he would reach no verdict - tricked

July 1529 suspended proceedings for summer (as in Rome)

Question 7

What evidence is there to suggest that failure in handling the divorce issue was more significant than Wolsey’s hostile relations with the nobility?

Answer 7

Able to resist attacks on his position for 15 years, suggesting failure was the trigger

Henry too fond of Wolsey to listen to noble grumblings after 15 years ignoring them without trigger - divorce issue and from that Boleyn faction

Question 8

Evidence divorce issue was most significant issue for Wolsey’s fall?

Answer 8

1. Promised would secure quickly
2. Lasted 2 years - remained Henry’s main concern throughout that period
3. Contributed to Boleyn faction esp convincing Henry of Wolsey’s purposeful delays - factor in fall
4. The matter’s importance highlighted by Henry breaking with Rome over it despite being Catholic
5. Anne refused to be Henry’s mistress
6. Longer = less likely Henry would have an heir old enough to rule when died - dangers of minority rule

Question 9

What evidence is there of the significance of the Boleyn faction in Wolsey’s fall?

Answer 9

1. 1st important figure to get close to king (expulsion of minions etc) that nobles could rally around
2. Rivalry with Anne over closeness to the king contributed to her convincing Henry that Wolsey was deliberately delaying divorce
   
   1. Anne much more involved in politics adn thus more likely to influence decision making, reducing Wolsey’s influence
3. Heavy presence - fathers and brothers in king’s court

Question 10

Consider whether Wolsey would have deliberately delayed divorce process

Answer 10

Yes:

Hoping that delays would cool infatuation and make him abandon her

But:

Wolsey = astute and would have realised Anne was there to stay and thus in best interests to try to please the king

So:

Realisation would best explain some of the diplomatic attempts to speed up the process in the final year

Question 11

Significance of Boleyn faction in Wolsey’s fall?

Explanation

Answer 11

2nd after divorce issue

Links to divorce issue and to issue of nobility as first to be strong around king BUT divorce issue = tipping point as divroce = king’s main concern and delay was reason for being able to charge with praemunire

Question 12

What evidence is there that Wolsey’s failure in foreign policy was significant in his fall?

Answer 12

• Unable to get Henry Amicable Grant for Pavia 1525
  
  • Importance of warrior king and like Henry V with land on the continent
• Divorce issue = bad timing with foreign affairs
  
  • Anti-Charles when sacked Rome 1527 AND Catherine’s nephew
• Policy of alliance with France and military victory a failure
  
  • Protests at home over suspended cloth trade with Burgundy
  • French victories 1528 BUT defeated at Battle of Landriano
• Peace with Charles
  
  • Pope Treaty of Barcelona
  • Francis Treaty of Cambrai
• Only invited to 1529 Treaty of Cambrai at last minute
  
  • 2 months later fell from power

Question 13

Was fialure in foreign policy more significant in causing Wolsey’s fall than divorce issue?

Answer 13

No, although still quite important.

While not Henry’s main issue at time (that being the divorce issue), Henry still wanted to be a warrior king, and failure for Pavia especially stung as desired land on continent like Henry V

Also significance in proximity of timings with fall and Cambrai failure

HOWEVER divorce more significant as had Boleyn and nobility influence, AND most important matter PLUS foreign poicy also impacted on the divorce issue