what kind of person was henry viii?

when was henry viii born?

28th june 1491

when did henry viii become heir to the english throne?

april 1502 → following death of elder brother arthur

when did henry viii become the king of england? how old was he?

• 21st april 1509

• 17 years old

how was henry viii different from his father?

• he was disinterested in the business of government and all too happy to delegate tasks to trusted advisors, unlike his father who sought to be as personally involved as possible

• his father was good at administration, hardworking, shrewd and calculating → instead, henry was unpredictable and often impulsive. made decisions that contradicted previously and would sometimes intervene suddenly in gov

• henry viii was keen to be popular with nobility, placing like minded athletic ‘friends’ in positions of power → henry vii deeply distrusted nobles and sought to remove as much of their influence as possible

• both were intelligent and passionate about education

who acted as regent when henry viii was first made king? why? role in henry viii’s coronation?

• lady margaret beaufort, his grandmother

• ensured a smooth transition of power due to great experience in advisor her own son and strong international connections. also acted as deterrant for possible opponents

• her role was necessary until henry came of age

• she arranged henry’s coronation set for june 1509 → died 2 months after accession in april, but henry was 18 and had ‘proven’ himself worthy of kinship so was now able to act as monarch himself, w/o regent

what response did henry viii’s accession recieve?

• some concern about instability of nation → only young and inexperienced

• viewed in a relatively positive, optimistic light → his father had been unpopular and nobility and gentry sought opportunity to prosper under new monarch

what evidence is there for henry’s smooth transition to power?

• gained a solvent crown and previously well-governed country, left in good shape

• had £1.8 million war chest left by father

• had no real suggestion of any plotting to interfere with henry’s accession

from the extract in the booklet, what can be derived about henry’s personality? (it’s the venetian ambassador who fancied him)

• well educated and cultured, especially from the continent → spoke good french, latin, spanish

  • brought up in diplomacy, provide communication skills to assist foreign relations and ensure clear communication

• good musician → able to entertain foreign courts and ambassadors

• very religious, took mass several times a day → pious, devoted CATHOLIC (initially)

• fond of hunting and jousting → sportsman, competitive, bloodthirsty → wants to be known as warrior king

• wore luxurious, expensive clothes → unafraid to spend money to project authority through his image

• raised in princely fashion, but as the spare not the heir - not educated until much later on how to be a king

what were henry vii’s primary aims when he ascended the throne after his victory at bosworth on the 22nd august 1485?

• security of the dynasty

• effective government

• financially solvent & improve crown finances

• reestablishment of royal authority, consolidation of power, and suppression of rival claims.

• positive diplomatic and trading relations

what were henry viii’s primary aims when he ascended the throne?

• to dismantle unpopular aspects of his father’s legacy → establish himself as a different monarch who wishes to rule england in his own fashion

• establish his status amongst european monarchs

• secure the succession

• glory through warfare and conquest

  WAS NOT CONSISTENT

what 4 methods did henry implement to consolidate his power in 1509?

• marriage

• coronation

• exectutions of rivals and ‘old guard’

• war

how did henry use marriage to consolidate his power in 1509?

• chose to marry catherine of aragon in 1509

  • to strengthen alliance with spain and hopefully secure the succession

• she was older and higher educated (brought up in the possibility that she may have to rule aragon and castile) added prestige and legitimacy to henry as well as serving as a vital political influence

what problem did henry encounter when coming to marry catherine of aragon?

• due to her previous marriage to his brother arthur, AND to produce legitimate heirs a special dispensation was required from the pope which was quickly granted

• some concerns from his advisors who were concerned about her marriage to arthur and doubted decision to ally with spain over hre or france → henry made decision decisively

how did henry use his coronation to consolidate his power?

• june 1509

• had joint coronation with catherine → unlike father, didn’t need to worry about legitimacy. instead presented kingship, wealth and unity

• established his magnificence and royal authority as a monarch through the event → held jousts, feasts and tournaments which presented his magnificence

how did henry use executions of the old guard to consolidate his power?

• 17th august 1510 → executed empson and dudley, leaders of the learned council (after they had been convicted of treason)

• had previously been vital in supressing the nobility and were the most hated enforcers

• did so to ensure popularity and public support in early stages of consolidation, removal of old guard also allowed his to restructure government as he sees fit

how did henry use executions of opposition to consolidate his power?

• 30th april 1513 - executed edmund de la pole, earl of suffolk

• last remaining yorkist claimant to the throne → no longer opposed, exhibited show of power and royal authority at an early stage to present image of what may happen to those who oppose him

how did henry use warfare to consolidate his power in 1509?

• 1511 - joined holy league/league of cambrai against france (allowed him to make alliances with pope, spain, hre etc)

• 1512 - declared war on france

• 1513 - 1st french invasion (strategised by wolsey), won battle of the spurs

• 1513 - catherine as regent of england, brought victory against scots with battle of flodden (james iv died)

established royal authority as both a european monarch involved in continental affairs but also establish break from father’s foreign policy