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
- Thomas Wolsey
- The Rise of Protestantism
click to edit
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
- 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.
- 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
click to edit
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
click to edit
click to edit
click to edit
click to edit
Determined and ambitious
click to edit
Dealt with revolts / rebellions
Built castles
Feudal system
Domeday book