The kings Great matter

1527

Henry decides to seek an annulment

1529

Legations court at Blackfriars

October 1529

Wolseys fall

1530-31

Years of drift

1532-33

Cromwell in charge

1533

Act of Appeals

April 1533

Henry and Catherine’s marriage annulled by Cranmer

Jan/Feb 1533

Anne pregnant - Henry needs to marry her so the child is legitimate

1534

Act of supremacy - Henry in charge of the church

Jan - march 1534

Acts for the submission of the clergy

1535

Leading Carthusians executed

1532

Act in restraints of annates

The three reasons Henry wanted an annulment?

• A matter of conscience

• A legitimate heir

• Love for Anne Boleyn

Explain the matter of conscience as a reason to Henry wanting an anullment

Henry had genuine concerns about the validity of his marriage

His concerns were given further credence by the lack of a son from the marriage - Henry saw this as god’s punishment and appeared to be supported by the Latin translation of the Book of Leviticus

Explain having a legitimate heir as a reason as to why Henry wanted an annulment

If his marriage wasn’t legitimate, neither was his child. This raised the possibility of unrest when Henry died. This would be more likely as there were still descendants of Edward IV who were still alive and could claim the throne.

Was increased further when the question of Mary’s legitimacy was raised during a visit to France in 1528, concerning her possible marriage to the french heir

How was the love for Anne Boleyn a key reason for Henry wanting an annulment

In feb 1529, campeggio was to say that Henry’s love was ‘something amazing and in fact he sees nothing and think nothing but Anne’ - there is not doubt that Henry had fallen in love with Anne. Henrys letters show his infatuation and love. He sustained the campaign for 5 and a half years which was unneeded

What was the most important reason for an anullment and why?

The most important reason was a need for a legitimate heir. He wanted a male heir and Catherine only producing a female was hurting the security of the dynasty.

What strategies did Wolsey take to secure an annulment of Henry and Catherine’s marriage?

• Scriptural

• Diplomatic

• Legal affairs - Legatine court at Blackfriars 1529

Describe Wolseys scriptural approach to securing an annulment

• Focused on the validity of the papal dispensation that allowed Henry’s marriage

• Relied on Catherine’s word that her first marriage was not consummated

• Wolsey thought this could persuade the pope

Describe Wolsey’s diplomatic strategy to secure an anullment

• The second line of attack was against Charles V

• He was Catherine’s nephew and was unlikely to support a divorce and he had control of Italy

• Wolsey wanted to free the pope from Charles’ influence and wanted to make a further alliance with France, so to put pressure on Charles to release the pope, it failed as Charles was too strong to be evicted

Describe the legal affairs Wolsey undertook to secure an annulment

• Wolsey decided to hold divorce proceedings in England

• Papal legate made the judgements occurred in Blackfriars in 1529

• The pope sent Campeggio to delay the proceedings and interviewed Henry and Catherine in turn before drawing up the necessary papers to conduct the case in open session

• When the hearing took place Catherine refused to recognise it. She was then charged with contempt of court

• The failure of Blackfriars led to wolsey’s downfall

What is Praemunire

A 14th century law that prospected the assertion or maintenance of papal jurisdiction or any other foreign jurisdiction or claim of supremacy in England, against the supremacy of the monarch

What were the reasons for Wolseys fall?

• The divorce - failure to satisfy Henry

• Failures in foreign policy and amicable grant

• Henry lost faith in him

• Faction (Anne and Boleyns)

• Lack of noble support

The divorce - how did it lead to Wolseys fall?

Wolsey kept using the excuse that Catherines marriage to Arthur was consummated - he tried to persuade the pope that the original dispensation was not valid as it ignored the divine as set out in Leviticus. It failed as it required the present pope having to admit that the the previous pope made a mistake.

Failures in foreign policy and Amicable grant- how did it lead to Wolseys fall?

The suspension of proceedings in England was Henry’s final straw. The french alliance was highly controversial and Henry had become shaken over the failure of the amicable grant in 1525 - he distanced himself from Wolsey