Henry VIII

1) Early life and Early reign

Henry was very intelligent

Handsome, Sporty, Tall, Athletic

Henry's older brother died so he became king in 1509 upon the death of his father.

Henry never expected to become King. His father intended for him to have a career in the church.

He loved to write poetry

He loved music, and even composed

He could speak 5 languages, Engl, Lat, Spa, Fre, Ita

He loved art and architecture

he loved hunting, jousting and real tennis

Much taller than the other men at the time

He was very good at sport

The perfect prince???

When he became King

Unlike his father he loved to feast

He ruled in a fair manner

He was popular withe the nobles & people

2) The King's Great Matter

Henry wanted a male heir to continue the tudor line

However, after 24 years of marriage, H+C had just one child, a girl called Mary

In 1509, before he becomes KIng, he marries Catherine of Aragon, his dead brother's widow

Henry believed he was being punished by God for marrying his brother's widow.

He sends Thomas Wolsey to get an annulment from the Pope, This would leave him free to marry someone else

1529- The Pope sends Cardinal Campeggio to make a decision, but he fails to reach one

  1. Thomas Wolsey
  1. The Rise of Protestantism

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He was Archbishop of York and the Pope's legate in England

He had success in foreign policy. Famously, he arranged the meeting called the 'Field of the cloth of gold'

He was intelligent hard working. But, also greedy and extravagant.

He also, successfully raised money for Henry, although in 1525 he nearly started a rebellion by raising taxes

Wolsey rose from being a butchers son to one of the most important men in the country

Henry was furios that Wolsey didn't secure his annulment. Wolsey was charged with treason but died before the trial

Martin Luther - A German Monk who wrote (in 1517) 95 points to improve the Church. This started Protestantism

The Catholic Church were selling indulgences, getting rich (not helping poor) and only having services in Latin

People were beginning to question and disagree with the Catholic Church

  1. Thomas Cranmer

He annuls Henry's first marriage then marries him to Anne Boleyn without telling the pope - she was crowned June 1533

The Pope reacts by excommunicating Henry. However, he now believed he should be in charge of the English Church, not the Pope

He was a supporter of protestant view and the annulment

June 1533 - Anne gives birth to a girl, much to Henry's disappointment

Henry makes Cranmer the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533

6) Thomas Cromwell & The Reformation

1534 - The Act of Supermacy. This declared Henry was head of the English Church, not the Pope

The consequences for anyone not accepting these acts was serious. E.g Henry's advisor Sir Thomas More was beheaded for refusing to accept Henry as the head of the church

1534 - Declared marriage to Catherine of Aragon invalid & Mary therefore illegitimate

Henry allowed bibles to be pulished in English for the first time.

1533 - English people could not appeal to the Pope. The King has 'entire authority'

1532 - England stopped tax payments to the Pope

Cromwell was Henry's chief advisor. He was pro-protestant and it was up to him to pass laws to turnvthe country Protestant.

  1. The Dissolution of the Monasteries

The Monasteries were also very Pro-Catholic and did not support the reformation

Local landowners, were very happy to buy the land and buildings

There were about 800 Monasteries and nunneries, they all owned land and many were rich

The dissolution made Henry a huge amount of money

Following the reformation, Henry needed money to finance potential wars

8) The Pilgrimage of Grace

They were led by Robert Aske

Claimed to be a peaceful pilgrimage and that they did not blame Henry, but wanted to free him from his advisors

Thousands of people took up arms and marched to London

Duke of Norfolk met the rebel leaders and promised to hear them in parliament if the rebels disbanded

Opposition to the Dissolution of the Monasteries

Henry had no intetion of keeping the promises and had all the leaders executed. This sent a strong message to anyone thinking about rebelling

The Norman conquest

How did William keep the throne once he became king

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The three claimants

Why was William victorius

William duke of Normandy

Harald Hardrada

Harold Godwinson

Edward's ex-advisor

Edward promised him the throne

Direct descendent to King Cnut

William's luck

William's army

William's skill and preparation

Harold's army and mistakes

Had Pope's support

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Determined and ambitious

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Dealt with revolts / rebellions

Built castles

Feudal system

Domeday book