Hnery VIII- charecter and legacy

character

• hen8 came to throne 2 months bfr 18th birthday, 7 years passed since death of elder bro arthur, in time prepared for new role as future king.

• had been well educated for the task including some acquaintance w the new learning of humanism, well read (guy= mind was able but second rate), early impression created was very positive. (ives= extrovert, affable and charming)

• H8 accession welcomed as breath of fresh air after stultifying and rather sinister atmosphere associated w influence of Empson + Dudley, (more= “rep end of our slavery, font of our liberty, end of sadness, beginning of joy”, hen x experience in gov/pub affairs.

• h8 version of kingship differed from dad, dislike for bus of gov found writing and reading of state papers tedious and painful, could intervene suddenly in business of gov in process contradicting decisions or actions that had already been taken.

• such approach had implications for quality of decision making w h administration esp imp given nature of personal monarchy.

• lacked work ethic preferring to pass time w good company, evident in courtly activities that followed accession, much emphasis on pagents, revelry, sports, hunting and tournaments.

H8 structure of gov evolvement

• short term= renewed emphasis on governing thru council that then made two comebacks at later stages of the reign (1529-32, 1540-47)

• for two periods during reign henry relied on work of chief minister who shaped structure of gov to meet his own needs, first= wolsey, adept using star chamber, second= cromwell, developed role as principle secretary.

Legacy of H7

• believed H7 left around £300,00, had unpopular mechanisms for extracting money, peaceful forgein policy and a conciliar form of gov- decisions being made thru council.

• each would disappear during first few years of H8 reign, money inherited from fathers reign would vanish as result of paying for revival of traditionally aggressive forgein policy to france.

• conciliar form of gov would disappear in short term as result of fox former protege wolsey as focus of gov,

• start of H8 reign marked by changes during which some members of council able to dispose of others and estab them in power, key person in process= richard fox who secure arrest of empson and dudley, H8 x responsible for action but responsible for executions didnt take place till on throne for a year.

• council learned in law was abolished by act of parliament in jan 1510, w abolition of council learned the cancellation of many of bonds and recognizances which council learned had imposed and executions of empson and dudley.

• h8 distance himself from fathers regime and ensure popularity among nobility and propertied classes who considered themselves the victim of fathers approach to tax.

(spare)