2.4 Tudor government

• Power


  Shifted back to the monarchy in the Tudor period
• Henry VII


  • Limited the power of the nobles
  • Changes to government meant the king had the upper hand
• Important decisions under Henry VII

  1. Made in the Royal Court

  2. Nobles had to attend to be part of the decisions
• Star Chamber


  A special court where Henry disciplined nobles
• Henry VII


  • Avoided expensive wars
  • Used taxes to build up the wealth of the Crown
• Royal patronage


  Henry got nobles on side by offering promotions or land
• Henry VIII


  • Extended the power of the monarchy
  • Had to work with Parliament
• Henry VIII


  • Ruled with close assistance from key nobles
  • Kept their power in check
• Henry VIII's actions


  1. Restricted the number of retainers a nobleman could have

  2. Used nobles close to him to force decisions in Parliament
• Henry VIII


  • Worked closely with Parliament
  • Sanctioned his actions by making them law
• Henry VIII waged wars with France and Scotland, and used heavy taxation, approved by Parliament, to finance them
• In 1534, Henry passed the Act of Supremacy which removed England from the Catholic Church and created the Church of England with Henry as its head
• Henry VIII's relationship with key nobles

  • Turbulent
  • Made Thomas Wolsey Archbishop of York and chancellor
  • Wolsey used his influential position to acquire wealth
  • Wolsey could not convince the Pope to annul Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon
  • Wolsey was arrested after being charged with treason and died before facing trial
• Thomas Cromwell


  • Appointed as Henry VIII's chief minister in 1534
  • Had a lot of power over other nobles
  • Led the break with Rome and Dissolution of the Monasteries
  • Made Earl of Essex
  • Arrested and executed without trial in 1540 after the marriage he arranged between Henry and Anne of Cleves failed
• Elizabeth I


  • Strong leader
  • Overcame many challenges in her reign
  • Took advice from nobles to ensure people felt listened to
  • Did not strictly persecute Catholics, only enforced moderate Protestantism
  • Religious Settlement helped repair religious divisions
  • Defeated rebels who wanted to see Mary Queen of Scots on the throne
  • Spread anti-Catholic propaganda to deal with Catholic threats
  • Never married but used her status as the 'Virgin Queen' to gain support
• Elizabeth I's relationship with Parliament

  • Positive
  • Worked closely with Privy Council to pass laws and agree taxes
  • Saw Parliament as her point of contact with the people
  • MPs allowed to raise questions about important issues
  • Relationship aided by William Cecil bringing order and stability to the Royal Court
  • Parliament supported Elizabeth's views on religion