Henry VIII, Renaissance Prince

Test yourself

England in 1509

Henry VIII came to power in 1509. At this time, England was a hierarchical society and strongly Catholic.

The Great Chain of Being

Tudor England was hierarchical. This meant that you were ranked based on wealth and social status.
God was at the top of this ‘Great Chain of Being’ and everyone was expected to know their place and respect those above them.

Typical life in England

Most people in England shared the same Roman Catholic religion and lived in the countryside.

Henry VIII's accession

Henry became king in 1509 at the age of 17, ruling 2.5 million people.
He quickly married his brother Arthur’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, to keep the alliance with Spain.

Henry VIII's character

Henry was athletic, generous, educated, stubborn and a show-off.
He believed in the divine right of kings (the idea that God had put him on the throne, so he was only answerable to God).
He was also a strict Catholic.

Henry VIII's Character

When Henry VIII took the throne his aims were simple: to build on Henry VII’s firm foundations, pursue glory through war, and secure the succession.

Henry VIII's aims

Henry had several aims:
- To decide England’s policy for himself, achieve victories in foreign wars (especially against France!).
- To create a magnificent royal court through art, architecture, dress and entertainment and by attracting great scholars and artists to court.
- To maintain law and order.
- To be a good servant to the church.
- To produce a son to continue the Tudor dynasty.

Henry VIII's strengths

Henry was popular with the public.
He had inherited a rich and stable country from his father with an established system of government.
He loved his wife Catherine and had a strong alliance with Spain.
He was surrounded by experienced advisors and had ambitions to be a great king.

Henry VIII's weaknesses

Henry had little experience of government.
He didn’t really want to be involved in the day to day business of England.
His attitude to kingship was based on heroic legends rather than reality.
His desire to go to war as soon as possible was not necessarily good for England.
He had a large ego that was difficult to manage.
He liked high-risk sports such as jousting, which could lead to injury or death.

1Henry VIII & Wolsey, 1509-1529

1.1Henry VIII & Wolsey, 1509-1529

1.1.1Henry VIII, Renaissance Prince

1.1.2The Rise of Wolsey

1.1.3Wolsey's Domestic Reforms

1.1.4Wolsey's Foreign Policy

1.1.5Evaluating Wolsey's Foreign Policy

1.1.6The Succession & Annulment

1.1.7Fall of Wolsey

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Wolsey

1.1.9End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Wolsey 2

2Henry VIII & Cromwell, 1529-1540

2.1Henry VIII & Cromwell, 1529-1540

2.1.1The Rise of Cromwell

2.1.2The King's Annulment

2.1.3Cromwell & the King's Marriages

2.1.4Cromwell & Government

2.1.5Cromwell & Parliament

2.1.6Fall of Cromwell

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Cromewell

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Cromwell 2

3The Reformation & its Impact, 1529-1540

3.1The Reformation & its Impact, 1529-1540

3.1.1The Break with Rome

3.1.2Opposition to the Reformation

3.1.3Impact of the Reformation

3.1.4Role of Religious Houses

3.1.5Dissolution of the Monasteries

3.1.6Impact of Dissolution

3.1.7The Pilgrimage of Grace

3.1.8Evaluating the Pilgrimage of Grace

3.1.9End of Topic Test - The Reformation

3.1.10End of Topic Test - The Reformation 2

Jump to other topics