How effectively did the Tudors restore and develop the powers of the monarchy?

unlike his father:
- didn’t have to fight for the throne
- no doubt about his blood claim
- the crown had ample finances
- didn’t face over-mighty subjects
Only 17, raised as ‘the spare’ rather than the heir - full of renaissance ideas, idealistic views of chivalry, desire to prove himself as a warrior king
nobility saw Henry VIII as a potential saviour from the ‘oppression’ of the Council Learned in Law

11th June 1509 - @@married Katherine of Aragon@@ (5 years older than him), consolidating his standing in Europe
- seemed happy marriage
- Katherine appeared to have some early influence over policy making and defence of England against Scotland
Re-established position of Nobility
- abolished Council Learned in Law in 1510 (executed Empson and Dudley)
- early rise of nobility didn’t last because of promotion of Wolsey in 1512
- 1521 - Duke of Buckingham executed for discussing succession (he had a blood claim to Edward III)
Wanted to establish himself as a warrior king
- sought conquest and glory in France
- success against France and Scotland in 1512 and 1513 but high financial costs

from 1514 - disregarded intitial conciliar approach and handed control to Thomas Wolsey with government and church positions
power of the Privy Chamber and Henry’s minions significant and beyond Wolsey’s control
Wolsey used his power to serve the King and his people - reforms to court to help the poor
Wolsey used his power for himself - treatment of Sir Amyas Paulet
Wolsey had wide ranging power - Archbishop of York 1514, Cardinal and Lord Chancellor 1515, Papal Legate 1518, Bishop of Durham 1523
seemed to be able to control and manipulate the King
had legal powers and men (500) to intimidate any potential rivals
Wolsey survived failure of 1525 Amicable Grant
position depended on him pleasing the King
downfall - failure to achieve the King’s divorce

split from Rome brought Henry VIII more power and wealth
Act in Restraint and Appeals 1533 - subjects couldn’t appeal to Rome
Act of Supremacy (Head of the Church) 1534
Treason Act 1534 - treason could be committed by spoken word, writing, and actions
had to rely on parliament to gain his new powers

personal monarchy
reform and conservative factions fought for power and influence over Henry
when Katherine Howard was Queen - conservative faction (Norfolk, Gardiner, Wriothesley) held sway and some religious reforms were reversed
when Catherine Parr was Queen - reform faction took upper hand (Norfolk tried to have Catherine and Cranmer charged for heresy but failed)
Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber and the Grooms of the Stool had large influence
Edward Seymour and reform faction had firm control by the end of reign