Henry VIII

Henry VIII started his reign as a much admired Renaissance Prince. He appeared the complete opposite of his father, Henry VII. By the end of his reign, however, he had become a bloated tyrant

Expectations of a Renaissance Prince

16th century monarchs were expected to decide policy, enforce their will and maintain law and order at home. In foreign affairs they should pursue ‘glory’: be noble, chivalric warriors who won foreign lands. They should support the Church and be a patron of the arts.

Henry VIII: A Renaissance Prince?

Henry VIII was well-educated and very interested in theology. He defended the Roman Catholic Church against Protestant criticisms.
In 1521 the pope gave him the title ‘Defender of the Faith’ for his efforts.
Henry VIII also loved hunting, music, poetry, sport and court entertainments.
Henry VIII was considered very handsome and was vain. He was also egotistical and self-righteous.

Henry VIII’s approach to government

Henry VIII was not interested in the day-to-day minutiae of government.
In the later 1520s he was occupied by his Great Matter.
Henry relied upon two key servants until 1540: Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell.

How did Henry VIII become a bloated tyrant?

Henry believed his rule was God’s will and that he was king by divine right.
Henry’s behaviour changed during his reign. Some historians believe this change accelerated after a brain damage either from a serious head injury in 1524 or a jousting accident in 1536. Others believe Henry had always displayed traits of cruelty and instability.
Laws of treason became much harsher during the 1530s as Henry VIII feared people would not accept his marriage to Anne Boleyn.

Popular attitudes to Henry VIII

Cooper (2003): “Popular attitudes were defined by a mixture of deference and fear, encouraged by treason laws and the threat of extreme judicial violence.”
By 1547 there was economic uncertainty because of debasement, inflation and a rising population, although no popular uprising against Henry VIII.
Ferriby, Anderson and Imperato (2017): “Henry succeeded in getting almost all the nation to accept that there very huge advantages in accepting and supporting Tudor government.”

Overview of Henry VIII’s reign

During Henry VIII’s reign government moved from King-and-Parliament to King-in-Parliament. Parliament became much more influential.
The Reformation impacted across England. It led to a much more bureaucratic government to deal with its administration e.g. Court of Augmentations.
Treason laws became much harsher under Henry VIII. Hundreds were executed and the state was much more ‘visible’ in the localities after the Reformation.

1Monarch & Government

1.1Tudor Monarchs

1.1.1Henry VII

1.1.2Henry VIII

1.1.3Edward VI

1.1.4Mary I

1.1.5Elizabeth I

1.1.6Succession Disputes

1.2Changing Role of Parliament

1.2.1Parliament & Henry VII

1.2.2Parliament & Henry VIII

1.2.3Parliament After the Reformation

1.3Principal Servants to the Crown

1.3.1Principal Servants to the Crown

2Religious Changes

2.1Tudor Monarchs & Religious Change

2.1.1The Henrician Reformation

2.1.2Impact of Religious Change Under Henry VIII

2.1.3Religious Change Under Edward VI

2.1.4Religious Change Under Mary I

2.1.5Elizabethan Settlement

2.2Catholicism & Survival

2.2.1Popular Attitudes to Catholicism

2.2.2Catholicism Under Henry VIII

2.2.3Catholicism Under Elizabeth I

2.2.4Catholic Nobility

2.3Protestantism & Puritanism

2.3.1Protestant Influences

2.3.2Protestantism Under Edward VI

2.3.3Protestantism Under Elizabeth I

3State Control & Popular Resistance

3.1Tudor Control of the Country

3.1.1Councils

3.1.2Role of Nobility

3.1.3Justices of the Peace

3.1.4Lord Lieutenant

3.2The State & the Poor

3.2.1Reasons for Growth of Poverty

3.2.2Punishments for Paupers

3.2.3Role of Charities

3.3Resistance to Tudor Rule

3.3.1Resistance to Tax & Subsidies

3.3.2Uprisings Against Henry VIII

3.3.3Uprisings Against Edward VI

3.3.4Uprisings Against Elizabeth I

3.3.5Decline of Popular Resistance

4Economic, Social & Cultural Change

4.1Patterns of Domestic & Foreign Trade

4.1.1Wool & Cloth

4.1.2Exploration & Trade

4.2Changing Structure of Society

4.2.1Population

4.2.2Dissolution of Monasteries

4.2.3Enclosure

4.3Cultural Change

4.3.1Education & Literature

4.3.2Impact of Religious Change

4.3.3Patronage

4.3.4The Arts

4.3.5Cult of Gloriana

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Significance of Threats to National Security

5.1.1Spain

5.1.2The Spanish Armada

5.1.3Ireland

5.2Court Politics

5.2.1Court Factions

5.2.2Essex's Rebellion

5.3Elizabeth & Parliament

5.3.1Conflict with Parliament

5.4Social Distress in the 1590s

5.4.1Social Distress in the 1590s

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