henry viii character and aims

when did henry come to the throne

21st april 1509

how did john guy describe henry

‘his mind was able but second rate’

how did eric ives describe henry

‘extrovert, affable and charming’

why was henrys accession welcomed with a breath of fresh air

after the sinister atmosphere associated with the influence of empson and dudley

what did henry have no experience of

government or public affairs

what did henry place much emphasis on

pageants, revelry, sports, hunting and tournaments

who were the two chief ministers that henry relied on

• thomas wolsey

• thomas cromwell

when did conciliar government make two short comebacks during henrys reign

1529-32

1540-47

what did henry vii leave

• around £300,000

• unpopular mechanisms for extracting money

• conciliar government

• peaceful foreign policy

what did henry use the money his father left for

an aggressive foreign policy towards france

who secured the arrests of empson and dudley

richard fox, thomas lovell, richard weston

when were empson and dudley executed

1510

when was the council learned of law abolished

1510

what did the executions of empson and dudley and the abolishment of the council learned allow henry to do

distance himself from his fathers regime

what were henrys early aims

• establish his status among european monarchs through marriage

• re-establish the role of the nobility

• establish himself as a warrior king

why did councillors encourage the marriage between henry and catherine

the marriage would distract henry from political matters and would allow them to conduct conciliar business

when did henry and catherine marry

11th june 1509

who partnered henry in sports and revels and accompanied henry in war

the sons of the nobility

why did the nobles not achieve political domination

henry chose to promote the interests of thomas wolsey

what were henrys main aims by 1520s

• the divorce from catherine of aragon

• marriage to anne boleyn

what was henrys main aim by the 1530s

to rid england of papal authority