Henry VIII Government summary

Henry VIII Government summary

1. Cromwell

   • 1530s (1532) - 1540 pp 88-89
   • Reformation in the 1530s
   • Debate over Cromwell
     • Revisionist view
       • The Revisionists believe that there is more or less no real change in Government under Cromwell, which could be referred to as revolutionary. Rather, the position of Cromwell in Government had been exaggerated. 
     • Traditionalist view
       • The traditionalists, believe that the Government under Cromwell had been transformed in the 1530s. IT uses aspects of the Parliament, Council, Power of the Monarch, which is Henry VIII, and the Finances to ashow that this is the case.
   • new financial institutions
     • Cromwell created new financial institutions alongside the Privy Chmaber to manage new revenues, which generated through the break of Rome.

2. Government

   • pp 44
   • suspicion of possible rivals among the nobility
   • use of JP's
   • increasing importance of Privy Chamber
   • no attention to government
     • delegation of power to others
       • Unlike HEnry's father, Henry VIII delegted his power to minister to do the day-to fay running of government for him.
   • encouraged talented advisers outside nobility
   • rise of factionalism
     • pp 108-110 Factionalism (1540-1547) in the Tudor times, is the rivalry of different groups, also called factions, based around a major leader at court to gain the favour of the monarch.
     • The conservative Faction
       • The conservative Faction was one of the main factions at Henry VIII's court. They supportive of Henry becoming the Head of the Church, however they still believed in most of the Catholic doctrines.
     • The Reform Faction
       • The Reform Faction is the other of the two main factions at Court. They were not only supportive of Henry becoming the Head of the Church, but they also believe in the Protestant doctrines.
     • Introduction
       • The rise of Factionalism in 1540-47 was possible, because of: Henry's decision not to install a chief minister, Henry's poor health, or even Henry's encouragement of Factionalism.
   • combination of renaissance 'universal man' and medieval good lord

3. Character

   • pp 41-43
   • well-educated
     • Henry VIII studied languages, history, astronomy and arithmetic. He also learnt several musical instruments.
   • talented
   • Renaissance prince
   • imperial king
     • Henry VIII was keen to promote his monarchy in England with glories as one of Henry V with his victory at Agincourt.
   • skilled sportsman
     • Henry VIII was skilled in jousting, chivalry and archery, but he also loved playing tennis.
   • code of chivalry
     • For the young Henry VIII, following the code of chivalry, was very important as the future monarch of England. This code could be seen as one of the main factors for Henry VIII's foreign policy.
   • symbolised unity and peace
     • Henry VIII was the embodiment of the Tudor rose, with a Lancastrian father and a Yorkist mother.
   • Abolishment of Council learned in law
     • Unlike in the reign of Henry's father, he treated his nobles as friends and associates, with whom he can share his pleasures with. 

4. Wolsey

   • (1515-1529) pp 46-53
   • trusted with day to day running of government
   • feared the influence of the 'minions'
     • Wolsey had a reason for this. The 'minions' had access to wherever the Kng went and are able to prevent certain people from seeing him. They could potentially influence the King .
   • 1526 Eltham Ordinances
     • The Eltham Ordinances recorgnised the chaotic finacnes of the Privy Chamber and made government more efficient.
   • civil law instead of common law
   • frequent use of the Star chamber
     • During the reign of Wolsey, the Star Chamber's use was strengthened by encouraging people to bring their cases against nobles or officials, who misused their power. The cases heard went up to 120/year.
   • few major changes/reforms
   • personal reforms
     • Wolsey was an untrained lawyer and he did not seek to set up a new system, therefore his reforms were more personal and unlikely to continue after his fall. It could be argued that Wolsey strengthened the Star Chamber to attack nobles, who are potential rivals to Wolsey's position.