7 - The Character and Aims of Henry VIII
- Created by: Becca Newman
- Created on: 06-02-20 12:43
View mindmap
- The Character and Aims of Henry VIII
- The Character of Henry VIII
- Succeeded to the throne 2 months before he was 18
- 7 years after his brothers death - 7 years to prepare for being future king
- He was well read though John Guy said he had a second rate mind
- He was 'extrovert, affable and charming'
- He was well read though John Guy said he had a second rate mind
- 7 years after his brothers death - 7 years to prepare for being future king
- His succession was welcomed after the stifling years of Empson and Dudley
- 'the end of our slavery, the fount of our liberty, the end of sadness, the beginning of joy' - Thomas More
- But Henry had no experience in government and disliked it
- 'the end of our slavery, the fount of our liberty, the end of sadness, the beginning of joy' - Thomas More
- He found writing papers tedious - but would intervene in decisions already made in government
- He lacked work ethic - more adept to enjoying himself
- The Court had emphasis on pageants, revery, sports, hunting + tournaments
- He lacked work ethic - more adept to enjoying himself
- Government structure
- Short term - renewed emphasis on governing through council
- This returned later on in the reign (1529-32 + 1540-47)
- For 2 periods Henry relied on workf of ministers - Thomas Wolsey + then Crimwell
- Wolsey was greatly rewarded for his work by the Pope (he controlled all religious orders in England)
- However his rank gained hi enemies
- Wolsey was greatly rewarded for his work by the Pope (he controlled all religious orders in England)
- Short term - renewed emphasis on governing through council
- Succeeded to the throne 2 months before he was 18
- The Legacy of Henry VII
- It is believed that Henry VII left £300,000
- But also left unpopular mechanisms for extracting money
- The money his father left would disappear with an aggressive foreign policy towards the french
- Henry left a peaceful foreign policy
- All of these would disappear in the early years of Henry VII's reign
- He left a conciliar form of government - decisions were made through a council
- This disappeared due to the dominance of Wolsey
- But also left unpopular mechanisms for extracting money
- He left a conciliar form of government - decisions were made through a council
- All of these would disappear in the early years of Henry VII's reign
- He left a conciliar form of government - decisions were made through a council
- This disappeared due to the dominance of Wolsey
- Richard Fox was in key power at the start of the reign, and ensured the arrest of Empson and Dudley
- Henry VII was probably responsible for their executions
- 1510 the Council learned in law was abolished by Parliament
- This canelled many bonds and recognisances
- Through these actions Henry made himself popular amongst nobes and those who felt victimised and distanced himself from his father's reign
- It is believed that Henry VII left £300,000
- The Aims of Henry VIII's Government
- Henry's Early Aims
- To re-establish the role of the nobility
- To re-establish his European status
- To establish himself as a warrior king through success in battle
- Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon
- This marriage hadn't been agreed upon whilst Henry VII was King
- They married quickly (11 June 1509)
- The councillors encouraged this as they hoped it would distract him from government business
- Marriage was successful on a personal level + Catherine helped with policy in the early years
- By the mid 1520s Henry would regret his marriage, especailly as she couldn't provide a healthy male heir
- Re-establishing the nobility
- Henry VII had largely frozen out the nobility - few spent muhc time at court
- Henry's peaceful foreign policy meant they couldn't achieve glory in battle
- Sons of the nobility partenred Henry in sports which took up the majority of his early reign
- They accompanied Henry to war in northern france
- The mraquis of Dorset accompanied him to South-west france + the Earl of Surrey to Scotland
- They didn't achieve the promotion the wanted as Henry promoted Wolsey instead
- They accompanied Henry to war in northern france
- Henry VII had largely frozen out the nobility - few spent muhc time at court
- Duke of Buckingham
- He was a descendant of King Edward III - Henry regarded him with suspicion
- Buckingham was prone to muttering about the succession+ Henry wrote a letter to Wolsey setting out his concerns
- Muttering about anything after the King's death was technically treason, and so Buckingham was tried and executed in 1521
- Foreign Policy
- Henry pursued military glory - led to war in France
- This was a constant theme in his reign - vast a mounts of money would be spent with small or no gains
- Occasional alliances with the French against Spain + the HRE added to the confusion
- Henry pursued military glory - led to war in France
- Henry's Later Aims
- Although some themes occur, Henry didn't have a consistent approach to government aims
- The pursuit of pleasure almost always was prioritised
- He used parliament acts more and more which made parliament more important
- Traditional religion was destroyed + the Church's wealth was plundered
- He showed ruthlessness + cynicism
- He resorted to execution easily + for flimsy charges
- The speed of his marriage showed impulsiveness as well as the execution of Wolsey which he later regretted
- Henry's Early Aims
- The Character of Henry VIII
Similar History resources:
Teacher recommended
Comments
No comments have yet been made