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WAS WOLSEY 'ALTER REX'? - Coggle Diagram
WAS WOLSEY 'ALTER REX'?
By 1519, Wolsey was supposedly saying 'I shall do so and so' whereas before he said 'the King will do so and so'.
Worked himself to the point of exhaustion rather than delegate tasks as he was afraid that others would get the glory.
Wolsey was regarded by informed and unbiased contemporaries, e.g. Venetian Ambassador, as the 'real ruler of England' or 'Alter Rex' (other king).
Wolsey rarely put his own agenda before Henry VIII. At times he might have preferred a different option, especially when it came to foreign policy as Wolsey wanted to be regarded as an arbiter rather than an aggressor, but if Henry VIII wanted to do something, Wolsey had no choice but to do what the King wanted. For example, he had to sacrifice his anti-enclosure policy in 1523 to save money for the King's planned 3 pronged attack against France.
In 1528, the Abbess of Wilton died. She had a particularly influential position at Wilton Abbey. Wolsey wanted his candidate to replace the Abbess, but Anne Boleyn wanted her friend to take over the Abbey. Henry VIII told Wolsey to appoint Anne's candidate, but Wolsey ignored these orders - fell out of favour with the King.
Wolsey chose the right moment to break bad news or introduce new policies to Henry VIII in case he wasn't happy or was unreceptive.
Polydore Vergil, an Italian humanist scholar who spent most of his life in England, claimed Wolsey often "brought out some small present or other... and while the King was admiring the gift intently, Wolsey would adroitly bring forward the project on which his mind was fixed".
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Wolsey was constantly worried about rivals for power so in 1519 he expelled the minions, in 1523 they were sent abroad to fight, and the 1526 Eltham Ordinances reduced the number of men in the Privy Chamber from 12-6.
It has been argued that the expulsion of the minions wasn't an attempt by Wolsey to send influential courtiers away from the king, but an exercise in disciplining and educating young men at court by entrusting them with significant responsibilities.
Wolsey only kept his position as long as he served Henry VIII loyally. Once there were failures, e.g. divorce, foreign policy, then Wolsey fell from power.
Wolsey was regarded as having princely lots of wealth and servants. He had Hampton Court and York Palace, which were both bigger than Henry's palaces. Moved through London with great pomp and pageantry and wore his bright scarlet robes.
Often said that Wolsey aimed to follow the Pope rather than the King. Wanted to become Legate and it's believed Wolsey even possibly wanted to become Pope himself.
Wolsey monopolised power, He used his own household officials in government posts. Royal councillors waited on him so much so that Henry complained he had no advisors.
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Council did little more than rubber stamp a policy Wolsey had drawn up with king's sanction. Cavendish - "thus the almoner ruled all them that before ruled him".
"The King intervened in nothing, and this Cardinal did everything"
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Wolsey was always careful to give Henry VIII the credit for policy initiatives - e.g. stressed his legal reforms were done in name of King.