Wolsey's Rise and Successes Flashcards
What was Wolsey’s background?
He was born in 1472 or 1473 as the son of a butcher in Ipswich. He won a scholarship to Oxford where he began his studies towards priesthood - he was very able, and received his first degree at 15, earning him the nickname of ‘the boy batchelor’
Why could Wolsey rise up under Henry VIII’s court?
There was a new atmosphere at court, with Henry encouraging ambitions of men like Wolsey to get noticed. He won the support of Richard Fox, one of Henry’s advisors, and was promoted to the office of Royal Almoner, where he was given the responsibility of distributing leftover food from the palace to the poor and needy. Progress was allowed as he demonstrated organisational abilities and an ability to guess what the king wanted to hear, as Henry was frustrated by the cautious advice of his father’s ministers, especially regarding foreign policy
How did the Second French campaign help Wolsey’s advancement?
In 1512 Henry entrusted Wolsey with the Second Campaign after the First was a disaster, which meant organising transport, supplies and equipment for the 25,000 strong army, led by Henry VIII, and Wolsey showed tireless energy and commitment to achieve
Why did Henry think that the campaign led by Wolsey was a success?
Tournai and Therouanne were captured and Wolsey was drawn into peace agreements which followed. Henry was deeply impressed and engineered his rapid promotion to high office
What was Wolsey granted in 1513?
He became Dean of York and Bishop of Tournai
What was Wolsey granted in 1514?
He became the Bishop of Lincoln an the Archbishop of York, which was the second highest position in the English Church
What was Wolsey granted in 1515?
He was made Cardinal by Pope Leo X, which was a high ranking position in the Catholic Church, above any English Churchman, and he became Lord Chancellor in Henry’s government
What was Wolsey granted in 1518?
He was appointed Papal Legate by the Pope, allowing him to be deputy for the pope and exercise Papal powers
What was Henry granted in 1523?
Legate a latere, which was given for life
What was Wolsey’s personality like?
He gained many enemies as he could move aside Henry’s noble advisors on the council and arguably become alter rex (other king). People saw him as arrogant and vindictive, and he would flatter and manipulate Henry, offering him lavish gifts and tokens whilst working him round to his ideas
Who did Wolsey use his legal power against?
He used his legal power as Lord Chancellor and a powerful network of informants to intimidate anyone he saw as a rival such as the Duke of Buckingham (Edward Stafford), who was the only man to hold the title of Duke by the end of Henry VII’s reign
What happened to the Duke of Buckingham?
In 1520 he was investigated by Wolsey after rumours that he’d said in private conversation that Henry might not be king for much longer, and in 1521 he was ordered to London, arrested and imprisoned in the tower. He refused to plead for his life, and was tried for treason and beheaded. Contemporaries believe that Wolsey played on Henry’s insecurity and used Buckingham as an example to anyone who posed a threat to the Cardinal’s power
What happened to Sir Amyas Paulet?
Paulet humiliated Wolsey when he was a young priest, and on becoming chancellor he summoned him to London on a trumped up charge and kept him there, demanding his daily attendance at court for five years. The case was never heard by Paulet was virtually ruined by it
How did Wolsey live?
He accumulated large personal wealth and displayed it. He had a household of 500 servants, and built palaces like Hampton court to make himself look and feel like a king, which continued to annoy nobles but Henry loved the fact that a son of a butcher could put the nobility in their place
Why did Wolsey rise to power?
Background, opportunity of Henry’s ascension to the throne for ambitious men, intelligence and organisation, and success of Tournai and Therouanne, as Henry was obsessed by foreign policy and lands on the continent