Tudors 2.7 - Henry VIII, 1509-47

When was Henry VIII proclaimed king?

23rd April 1509

What does John Guy say of Henry’s intelligence?

That it was ‘able, but second rate’.

What was the general attitude to Henry’s accession?

A positive, hopeful one. Henry was seen as a breath of fresh air after his stingy, serious father, and the kingdom welcomed him.

What did Thomas More say of Henry’s accession?

That it represented ‘the end of our slavery, the fount of our liberty, the end of sadness, the beginning of joy’.

How did Henry VIII’s attitude to government differ from his father’s?

He found paperwork and governmental logistics painful and tedious, but still intervened sporadically, sometimes contradicting things that had already been done.

Did Henry VIII have a good work ethic?

No, it was shite.

How much did Henry VII leave his son upon his death?

£300,000

What legacy of foreign relations did Henry VII leave his son?

A peaceful one.

What did Henry do in 1510 to symbolise the start of a new era?

He abolished the Council Learned and had Empson and Dudley executed.

How did Henry lose all the money his father left him?

By launching a series of fruitless and expensive wars with France.

What were Henry’s key aims in the early years of his reign?

1. To establish his status amongst other European monarchs through marriage
2. To re-establish the role of the nobility.
3. To establish himself as a warrior king through successes in battle.

When did Henry marry Catherine of Aragon?

June 1509

Why did Henry later regret his marriage to Catherine?

Because she had issues with childbirth

Why did the nobility become more powerful under Henry VIII?

Henry VII had pursued a peaceful foreign policy, depriving the nobility of work in warmongering and leading armies. Henry VIII was far more violent and set up tournaments and conquests.

Why did the nobility not return to full authority?

Because Henry favoured delegating matters of administration to his advisors, Wolsey and Cromwell, who often organised wars on his behalf.

When and why was the Duke of Buckingham executed?

1501, for speculating the king’s death.

Was Henry’s policy consistent or tumultuous?

Tumultuous - he was deeply impulsive