Wolsey's Fall

• Why did Henry want to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon (on matters of conscience)?

  • Henry had had to obtain papal dispensation in order to marry Catherine of Aragon due to her previous marriage to his brother, Arthur, but it is possible that doubts began to arise about whether the Pope had authority to issue it, especially if the marriage had been consummated
  • Henry saw his lack of sons as a punishment from God, furthered by the Book of Leviticus which stated: 'if a man shall take his brother's wife, they shall be without sons.'
• Why did Henry want to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon (on matters of a legitimate heir)?

  • If Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon was not legitimate, then that meant their daughter, Mary, was also illegitimate
  • There was debate over whether Mary, the female heir, was suitable for the throne as there were descendants of Edward IV who were still alive and could claim the throne
  • The marriage was unlikely to produce more children, as Catherine was over 40, her last pregnancy had been in 1518, and Henry and Catherine had not had a sexual relationship since 1524
• How did Wolsey lack the influence in Rome he needed to annul the marriage between Henry and Catherine?

  • Wolsey had not developed political contacts in Rome
  • When Cardinal Campeggio was sent to England to hear the case, Wolsey thought it would go in his favour. However, Campeggio was determined to delay (on the Pope's orders)
  • In July 1529, the case was suspended and Campeggio returned to Rome, and Wolsey realised a verdict wouldn't be coming. The Pope then decided the case did need to be decided in Rome
• How did the reluctance of the Pope to condemn the actions of a previous Pope mean that the annulment between Henry and Catherine was made more difficult?

  • The dispensation granted in 1509 had been granted by Pope Julius II. In 1527, there was a new Pope named Clement VII
  • The persuasion to convince the Pope that the original dispensation was not valid ignored divine law as established in Leviticus, as it required the present Pope to admit that the previous Pope had been incorrect
  • The Pope decided that the case must be heard out in Rome
• How did Wolsey delay (perhaps purposefully) the annulment between Henry and Catherine?

  • He changed his initial view that the matter could be dealt with by the church hierarchy in England to a strongly stated opinion that only the Pope could give the necessary rulings
  • Wolsey didn't like Anne Boleyn, who made it no secret that she expected to be the King's political confidante, meaning a significant diminution in his own power
  • Wolsey probably deferred the case to Rome to protect himself
• How did Wolsey's foreign policy lead to his downfall?

  Wolsey had followed a pro-French foreign policy, beginning with the League of Cognac in 1526, then the Treaty of Amiens in 1528. This failed; Wolsey had to abandon the war declared on Charles V in 1528, and France made peace with Charles in the Treaty of Cambrai in 1529. This had not resulted in the 'warrior king' ideals that Henry had wanted to follow, but in English isolation in Europe on the international stage
• How did Wolsey's failure to annul Henry and Catherine's marriage lead to his downfall?

  After the failure of the Campeggio legatine court, there seemed to be no solution that Wolsey could offer for the King's 'Great Matter.' Charles V was in control of the Pope and showed no inclination to help Wolsey, who was responsible for the pro-French foreign policy. As a result, Henry now deemed Wolsey as incompetent and as loose weight.
• How did factional struggle lead to Wolsey's downfall?

  From 1527, Wolsey's attention was diverted to foreign affairs and the annulment, so his ability to control the court waned. Those who supported Anne Boleyn and resented Wolsey for his power thus leapt on this, with the Boleyn faction (including Rochford and Norfolk) able to influence Henry more
• How did Wolsey's isolation from Henry lead to his downfall?

  Wolsey worked in separate buildings from Henry. From 1525, the Boleyn faction (along with Norfolk and Suffolk) spent more time with the King at Greenwich. Wolsey was increasingly away due to foreign affairs.
• How did the failure of the Amicable Grant lead to Wolsey's downfall?

  • Henry had less trust in Wolsey after he had to issue a public stage of clemency for the failure of the Amicable Grant, which had potentially tarnished the King's reputation
  • Gave Wolsey's enemies the opportunity to undermine him, such as when Norfolk crushed the rebellion that was sparked after the Amicable Grant
• How did Henry himself lead to Wolsey's downfall?

  Henry sacrificed Wolsey to strengthen the annulment case, as he was associated with church corruption and papal power. Henry may have wanted to sever all ties with everything related to the Pope, especially as the Pope was reluctant to annul his marriage
• When did Wolsey die?

  November 1530