Wolsey's Rise to Power Flashcards
Reason 1 - SKILL AND HARD WORK - He was a brilliant organiser who achieved some success and made Henry happy
He was well educated, considering he was the son of a butcher, and gained a degree from Oxford at the age of 15
Wolsey organised the war against France in 1513, doing a good job of organising the army, its equipment and transport.
Henry rewarded Wolsey for his successful organisation of the war in 1513 by making him Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of York (could be used to link with Reason 2).
Reason 2 - THE CHURCH - he used his career within the church to climb high in status - one of the only ways for someone of common birth to achieve power
In 1501, Wolsey became chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury and used the position to get to know important men
In 1515, Wolsey managed to outrank the Archbishop of Canterbury by being made Papal Legate
Reason 3 - OPPORTUNISM - He took on tasks the King didn’t enjoy
When he became Royal Almoner in 1509, he used the position to get close to Henry VIII and take on tasks that the king found boring. Being Royal Almoner meant he was automatically a member of the Royal Council.
Henry VIII disliked many of the advisers he had inherited from his father, getting rid of men like Empson and Dudley. This gave Wolsey the opportunity to fill the gap and get promoted rapidly.
