Wolsey's failure to secure annulemt

when did plans for the annulment begin

May 1527

when was Catherine informed of Henry’s plans

June 1527

What was henry’s argument

Leviticus: if a man married his brother’s wife, he would be living in sin and would be childless

• papal dispensation allowing him to marry Catherine was invalid, should never have been granted

Why was Henry’s argument flawed

No pope would admit his predecessors had exceeded their powers/made an error and there was disagreement over the meaning of leviticus

What was Wolsey’s suggestion

original dispensation was invalid as it was based on grounds that Catherine and Arthur’s marriage had been consummated (C said it hadn’t), so Henry’s marriage was invalid. But he couldn’t convince Henry to use this argument

How did Catherine affect the situation

• Catherine defends their marriage in court

• Leviticus argument doesn’t apply because her marriage to Arthur wasn’t consummated

• sustained opposition was key failure

what happened in May 1527

Charles V sacked Rome and imprisoned the Pope. Pope can’t anull marriage even if he wanted to.

When did the Pope agree to a hearing and what did he do

1528: temporarily escaped, agrees for commission to hear case in England but send Cardinal Campeggio to delay as much as possible

When was the court convened

March 1529, Catherine publicly defends marriage

When was the court suspended and what happened

July 1529, because Italian courts recess for summer. Before hearing could reconvene, Pope decides the case must be heard in Rome.

what happened in August 1529

France made peace with the HRE (Charles V), which ended Wolsey’s hopes of influencing the Pope.

What happened with Campeggio’s journey to England

• old and in poor health, journey had frequent breaks

• Wolsey blamed for delays

what were the reasons Wolsey did not secure the anulment

• Catherine’s testimony

• Delays due to capture of Pope

• Delays due to Campeggio

• Pope deciding case must be heard in Rome'

• Peace between France and HRE

• Henry’s insistence on using Leviticus