effectiveness of henry viii's government

what are the typical subjects of exam questions involving henry viii’s government?

• most important development in government

• extent of transformation of government

• extent of henry asserting his royal authority

what judgement can be made on henry viii’s method of governing england?

henry viii liked to have an overview of his government but was happy to let others do the mundane work for him. the style of government varied throughout his reign

the king had ultimate control in the direction of his government and his policies but the ministers did also serve themselves in government

how did ministers in henry’s government benefit from his style of ruling?

• wealth (massive incomes)

• influence over king and policies → remained personal monarchy and were able to serve themselves and their own agenda

• power and prestige → distribute own patronage and gain loyal followers

• able to remove rivals by influencing king

what evidence is there that the kig maintained ultimate power?

• able to overrule his ministers and did so frequently

• able to remove ministers from power and strip them of their titles

• could have them executed

what was henry’s initial style of government when he ascended throne in april 1509?

continued to use father’s conciliar method of government with his father’s old guard still in positions of power

what factors brought an end by 1514 to his father’s conciliar approach to government?

• dislike of the old guard and the reputation they had gained (public and nobility held great resentment towards them)

• henry became more accustomed to governing, increasingly asserted right to control decision making

• angered by lack of support (from senior councillors) for his idea to declare war on france (wanted to be prestigious warrior king)

• impressed by skill and efficiency of thomas wolsey who almost always fulfilled henry’s wishes

what are the 4 key areas of government to look at?

1. the council

2. the nobility

3. the privy chamber

4. parliament

what were the origins and aspirations of thomas wolsey?

• of low birth, born a butcher’s boy from ipswich

• became key figure in church and court → defied the social hierarchy of the great chain of being

• educated at oxford

• suspected to have hoped to become alter rex

wolsey’s rise to power

• 1507 - appointed henry vii’s chaplian and employed on minor missions to scotland and netherlands over the next two years

• 1509 - made a member of the council, became indispensable to the king through organisation of 1513 french invasion

• 1514 - bishop of tournai 1514 to 1518 and archbishop of york 1514 to 1530

• 1515 - now lord chancellor/first minister and a cardinal of the pope

• 1518 - made papal legate, outranking every opponent in english church with the authority to reform church and monastic system

how was wolsey able to rise to power so quickly?

• in the right place at the right time

• had a pragmatic approach and stopped at nothing to achieve henry’s aims

• had significant vital skillset

• worked relentlessly

how was wolsey a right man at the right time?

• new king was fun loving and relatively disinterested with the workings of government, saw old guard as dull and obstructive

• needed new men in government after executing of empson and dudley 1510

how was wolsey pragmatic in his approach of ensuring henry’s wishes were met?

• initially opposed to war with france, after observing henry’s determination became greatest enthusiast of the idea

• “most earnest and readiest amongst all the council to advance the king’s only will”

  • endeared himself and became indispensable

what specific example can be given for wolsey’s hardworking nature?

• wolsey sent to flanders as envoy to the court of emperor maximilian i

• took only 3 days to come there and back

• returned before the king had even realised he had left

how did wolsey maintain his position?

• amassed a huge wealth

• assured that henry viii valued him

• eliminated his rivals

how did wolsey amass a great wealth to maintain his postion?

• at high of his wealth he was approx 10 times richer than nearest rival

• as archbishop of york earned £3000 p/a

  • also bishop of bath, wells, durham and winchester (puralism) and earned money from those positions

• kept princely household w/ 500 servants

• built hampton court palace → later taken by henry

• established cardinal college in oxford, make own legacy in history

• justified spending an income with the effects shows of wealth and magnificence have on visiting foreign ambassadors

how did henry vii valuing him help wolsey maintain his position?

• henry didn’t feel threatened by wealth or person

• valued talent and hardwork but knew lowborn subject not in position to challenge authority of the monarch

• likely amused henry when wolsey put nobles in their place, useful for limiting their power

• in position for 15 years despite attacks from the gentlemen of the bedchamber

what example can be given of henry NOT being controlled by wolsey?

• wolsey appointed own nominee for abbess to the nunnery of wilton (against wishes of henry)

• forced into grovelling apology

how was wolsey able to maintain his position by eliminating his rivals?

• would attempt to remove men from privy chamber if too close to king and threatened his own position

• participated in execution of the duke of buckingham 1521

• was able to have rivals executed, imprisoned or his with expensive lawsuits

when was wolsey made lord chancellor?

1515

what was wolsey able to do as lord chancellor?

• act independently of the council → had huge amount of power over daily business of court and council

what were the advantages of a conciliar government?

• provided a balanced council with wide range or perspectives to be considered

• henry enjoyed watching rivals compete for his attention

  • ministers worked harder and produced better outcomes to stay in king’s favour and gain better positions / financial rewards

what were the advantages of having one strong lord chancellor?

• allowed henry to rule more effectively with wolsey failing to consult council/bypassing procedure

  • delivered henry’s wished faster, more direct

• less disagreements in decision making, more efficient

• weakened influence of ministers and nobility

what were the disadvantages of having one strong lord chancellor?

• created damaging faction rivalry and lack of compromise

• bred resentment within the council and nobility to wolsey especially from the duke of Norfolk

how was henry’s relationship with nobility different to that of his father?

• surrounded himself with young likeminded noble courtiers who encourage desire for warfare

• enjoyed their entertainment and companionship

  • e.g. charles brandon and henry norris

• provided them with plenty opportunities to pusure traditional outlet of military glory

why was the duke of buckingham executed in 1521?

• reported to have questioned succession (discussion after what happened after king’s death considered treason)

• henry saw his as suspicious and wrote of his concerns to wolsey

• buckingham tried by a court of peers, headed by duke of norfolk

• found guilty → executed

• some argued wolsey manipulated henry into buckinham’s downfall, no evidence?

how was the privy council originally treated in the early years of henry viii’s reign?

• experienced increased reliance and delegation, role was extended

• comprised of young, like-minded courtiers called ‘minions’ who were given positions in pricy chamber enhancing both their status and that of the privy chamber

what role did henry’s minions play in government?

• enhanced their status and that of the privy chamber

• encouraged henry’s suspicions of the old guard and their removal

• distrusted and resented wolsey

how did wolsey remove the minions from the privy chamber?

consequences?

• 1519 - sent some on missions abroad and replaced with his own supporters

• 1526 - eltham ordinances

• most minions recovered their influence in time

• privy chamber remained a part of government out of wolsey’s control

role of parliament intially in reign of henry viii (prior to 1530s)

• grant extraordinary revenue to the crown

• pass laws

what was wolsey’s relationship like with parliament?

• appears to have regarded parliament with distaste

• 1523 - disagreement over level of taxation

• 1525 - attempted (and failed) to raise amicable grants through bypassing parliament to raise money

• could be accused of attempting to rule w/o parliament

when and why did parliament meet 4 times between 1509 and 1529?

jan - feb 1520 → abolished council learned in the law

1512-1514 → provided revenue for invasions of france and scotland

1515 → act regarding the clergy

april 1523 - augusrt 1523 → provided taxes for invasion of france

what evidence of strengths for henry viii'‘s government can be given 1509-1529?

• smooth transition of power due to regent and old guard

• improved leadership with the nobility

• removal of threat to succession (exec. edmund de la pole)

• assertion of authority from french invasion appealed to nobles

• marriage to COA and joint coronation

• use of wolsey, maintenance of royal authority over him

• positive relations w/ parliament, granted taxes for war

what evidence of weakness for henry viii’s government can be given1509-1529?

• tension created from wolsey’s rise to power

• abandonment of father’s effective system of council learned, increased pressure on crown finances

• royal authority undermined by wolsey as alter rex

• wolsey’s domination of council, loss of variation of advice

• wolsey’s poor relationship with parliament

• henry’s disinterst in administration and delegation to wolsey

• 1529 - STILL NO MALE HEIR!!!!