Henry VIII: 1509 - 1547.

• Preconceptions about Henry 8th:

  • Impulsive and energetic.
  • Fat and ugly tyrant (later in life).
  • Greedy for power and wealth.
  • Insatiable sexual appetite, derogogatory towards women.
  • Not particularly intelligent.

  Remember these are preconceptions, myths about Henry 8th. It doesn't mean that they are true.
• How Henry VIII portrayed himself:

  • Strong.
  • Fertile.
  • Powerful and influential.
  • Size of clothing - strength.
  • Jewlery - wealth.
  • Looks directly at his audience - contrast with Henry VII, whose most famous portrait has him looking to the side.
• Henry was never the intended king. His brother, Prince Arthur, was. But Arthur died in 1502. Henry was sort of a 'backup king'.
• Henry's aims were similiar to that of his father's:

  • to ensure the succession.
  • to consolidate his power.
  • extend his own personal power.
• Henry VII left a number of things for his son:

  • a strong and stable government along with a strong council and strong councillors.
  • a strong and peaceful foreign policy - Henry VII's goal was to maintain peace at all times war with foreign powers was expensive and it would destroy foreign relationships.
  • a large treasury with lots of money that largely came from unpopular actions (Dudley and Empson and the Council Learned in Law) (Dudley and Empson would be executed by Henry VIII).
• Henry VII left a pretty strong legacy, but within the first 10 years of his reign, Henry VIII had managed to destroy it.