Thomas Wolsey's Rise To Power

• What does 'Alter Rex' mean?

  Alter Rex translates to 'other King' - this means that Wolsey and Henry had similar jobs in order to make the kingdom run.
• What was Wolsey's social standing when he was younger?

  Wolsey was born in Ipswich in 1471 to a butcher's family, so he had a low social ranking. This defied the hierarchal system of tudor society as he eventually climbed the ranks.
• How old was Wolsey in 1509?

  When Henry rose to the throne in 1509, Wolsey was 38 years old.
• What roles did Wolsey gain in 1515?

  Wolsey became the Lord Chancellor and the Archbishop of York in 1515 by impressing Henry. His role as the Archbishop of York gave him an annual salary of £3000.
• What role did Wolsey gain in 1518?

  He became "Papal Legate", the person who represented the Pope in England.
• How many servants did Wolsey have?

  He had around 500, the same number as the King. It is thought that the next richest person after Wolsey had 10% of his income, and by 1520 he had become the King's wealthiest subject through dedication and hardwork.
• Why did other nobility dislike Wolsey?

  They believed that his low-birth should have prevented him from rising to such a high position, and that he had too much power over the King's decisions.