character and aims

• "Henry the great"

  • supreme head of the church
  • had 6 wives
  • took land in france
  • secured succession
• "a breath of fresh air"

  • relation with nobility
  • executed Empson and Dudley of hated council learned
  • change in foreign policy
• "self-interested", "impulsive", "ruthless"

  • 2 wives hennaed for his need for children
  • dismissed daughters: Mary and elizabeth
  • break with Rome - reformation
• henrys personality:

  • 'extrovert, affable and charming'
  • religious
  • courageous, chivalrous, charming, ruthless
• how prepared was he for his rule:

  • well educated and cultivated
  • had no experience of gov. or public affairs
  • understood concept of humanism
  • mind was able but second rate
• how his kingship different from his fathers:

  • profound dislike for business of gov.
  • found writing and reader of state papers tedious
  • lacked work ethic
  • allowed others to rule for him - council
• Henry VIIIs early aims:

  1. repair relationship with nobility
  2. re-structure gov.
  3. success in battle - glory
  4. establish foreign status through marriage
• Gov. / council / relationship with ministers:

  Henry 7:

  • involved
  • conciliar form of Gov - privy chamber
  • god relation with personal monarchy

  Henry 8:

  • emergence of FOXs former protege
  • Thomas Moore, Thomas Wolsey, Thomas Cromwell
  • council only short term: 1529-32 and 1540-47
  • pursued glory over state affairs
• finance:

  Henry 7

  • left £300000
  • chamber > exchequer
  • extraordinary rev, extraction was unpopular - council learned

  Henry 8

  • spent money left - foreign policy
  • executed Empson and dudley
• parliament:

  Henry 7

  • called 7 times - tonnage and poundage etc
  • satisfactory relations

  Henry 8

  • growing importance
  • called 9 times
  • rev. for france wars
• foreign policy:

  Henry 7

  • peaceful, defensive
  • politically isolated by 1509
  • didn't waste money

  Henry 8

  • military glory
  • agressive
  • abolished h7 policy
• relations with nobility:

  Henry 7

  • satisfactory/ frustrating
  • no pursuit of glory

  Henry 8

  • council learned abolished 1510
  • cancellation of bonds and recognicanes
  • didn't achieve political domination
  • shared military culture with aristocracy
• succession:

  Henry 7

  • Margaret and James IV
  • himself a widow
  • Henry 8 and Catherine of aragon

  Henry 8:

  • eager to marry