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Aims of Henry's Government Throughout His Reign. - Coggle Diagram
Aims of Henry's Government Throughout His Reign.
Early aims
He began to dismantle the less popular aspects of his father's legacy.
He wanted to establish his status amongst European monarchs.
Wanted to re-establish the role of nobility.
Wanted to establish himself as a warrior king - this is related to Henry V victories against the French. Henry believed that he had the right to lands in France and saw this as a way to seek glory on an international scale.
Henry's Marriage to Catharine of Aragon
A marriage between Henry and Catharine had been discussed since Arthur's death but never cemented.
Henry was anxious to conclude the marriage as quickly as possible. This councillors wanted this as well to deflect Henry from political matters so they could conduct conciliar business as usual.
Henry and Catharine married on 11th June 1509.
At first the marriage was successful on a personal level. Catharine even exercised some influence over foreign policy in the first few years. There relationship began to fall apart as Catharine could not produce a male heir for Henry. Henry knew the importance of have male heirs as his became king by the death of his older brother.
Re establishing the nobility
Under Henry VII the nobility had little direct political influence this was due to fear that they might rise up.
Henry VII's largely peaceful foreign policy has denied the nobility's traditional outlet of the purist of military glory.
This changed with the accession of Henry VIII, who shared the tastes and dominant military culture of the aristocracy.
The sons of the nobility, who were slightly older than the King himself, often partnered with Henry in sports and revels at the start of his reign.
There were also men that accompanied Henry to wars in France. Nobles also lend armies on the behalf of the king like Earl of Surrey to Scotland.
However, nobles did not have the political domination that they hoped for because Henry chose to promote the interests of Thomas Wolsey.
The execution of the Duke of Buckingham indicated Henry's ruthlessness towards the nobility very early on in his reign. Therefore, showed that a title and lands would not protect you.
Foreign policy
Henry sought to overthrow his father's foreign policy legacy. Henry desired military glory which fitted with his rehabilitation of nobility. Therefore, a peaceful legacy was not what he wanted.
Henry wanted to allied with what every superpower would help him achieve his goals.
He was keen to have an international presence and be considered the third force of Europe.
Later aims
He had destroyed his father's legacy through warfare and extravagance.
Henry did not have a consistent approach to his aims in government.
Their was strong themes of glory and secure of succession throughout.
He had very little interest in business.
Henry's reign brought about the broadening of the use of statue law, the destruction of tradional religion and the of the Church's wealth.
The effects on the Church were a complete consequences of the break with Rome, a policy decision which seemed inconceivable in the first 20 years of the reign.
Henry exhibited ruthlessness and cynicisms, demonstrated through his treatment of Empson and Dudley, a trait present throughout the reign.
His resort to execution for treason, often on the flimsiest of charges, combined tyranny and insecurity in a way which overshadowed his positive qualities.
Henry demonstrated impulsiveness in the speed of marriage to Catharine of Aragon.
He also demonstrated impulsiveness with his decision to execute Thomas Cromwell, a decision that he came to regret