Wolsey's downfall and Rise Of Thomas' Flashcards
What were the reasons for Wolsey’s fall from influence?
Alienation of the nobility
Failure to secure an annulment for Henry VIII
Which influential noble was attempting to discredit Wolsey to Henry VIII?
Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk (Son of the same Case Study Thomas Howard - very influential.)
How was Thomas Howard influential in Henry VIII’s court? (4 examples)
He was Lord Treasury 1522 onwards
Successfully put down the Amicable Grant (1525)
Had a seat on virtually every local government
Son of the Earl of Surrey (also called Thomas Howard) who had led many successful missions under Henry VII and Henry VIII
Who was Thomas Howard’s niece? What was her significance in Wolsey’s downfall?
Anne Boleyn - she began to distract Henry VIII from Catherine of Aragon and also hated Wolsey due to past disputes
How did Wolsey first attempt to justify Henry VIII’s annulment to Catherine of Aragon?
He used scripture - specifically Leviticus 20:21 that states it is an ‘act of impurity’ to marry your brother’s wife
What was Wolsey’s second attempt to get Henry VIII an annulment?
He attempted to use diplomacy - yet this was problematic as the Pope had been captured by Charles V (Henry VIII’s enemy) therefore under his influence
What was Wolsey’s third attempt to get Henry VIII an annulment?
As Papal Legate - he tried to use a legal side step by having the annulment hearing in England opposed to in Rome like normal
Did the Pope agree to Wolsey’s proposition to have the annulment hearing in England? What was his condition?
Yes - on the condition that Cardinal Campeggio was present (He had instructions to delay the hearing)
Where and when did the court meet to hear the annulment proceedings?
Blackfriars, London, June 1529
How did Catherine of Aragon react to the annulment proceedings?
She refused to recognise it - and appealed to the Pope to have it moved back to Rome which the Pope agreed
How did the failure to secure Henry VIII’s annulment reflect on Wolsey?
It brought an end to the ability of Wolsey to have influence over proceedings
Who replaced Wolsey as Royal Secretary after the annulment failure?
Stephen Gardiner
How did Henry VIII react to Wolsey’s repeated failures?
He was accused of praemunire (October, 1529)
He was stripped of his positions (Bishop, Lord Chancellor) and power
What ultimately happened to Thomas Wolsey?
He was summoned to London on the charge of treason
However, he died on the journey to London due to ill-health and stress (November, 1530)
After Wolsey’s death, which influential individuals rose to prominence?
Thomas Cranmer
Thomas More
Thomas Cromwell
Who was Thomas Cranmer?
Archbishop of Canterbury after Warham’s death (1533)
Helped to justify Henry VIII’s annulment to Catherine of Aragon through the writings of the ‘Collectanea Satis Copiosa’
Who was Thomas More?
Replaced Wolsey as Lord Chancellor (1529)
Less keen to be completely devoted to Henry VIII (Sympathetic to CoA)
Strong humanist views - follower of Erasmus and wrote ‘Utopia’ (1516)
Believed in reforming the Catholic Church by persuasion rather than drastic change - executed in 1535 for praemunire
Who was Thomas Cromwell?
Became the principal minister after More’s removal from power - but was very influential since Wolsey’s removal
Led Henry VIII’s government from 1532-1540
Considered the architect of the Break with Rome
