How Did Wolsey Fall From Power
How important was his opposition at court in causing Wolsey’s fall from power in 1529? (24 marks)
Wolsey had always caused resentment from the nobility, and this only grew as he became more dominant in Henry VIII’s government. Not only did nobles dislike him due to his low birth contrasted with his high positions, such as becoming Lord Chancellor in 1515, but resentment was also caused by his lavish lifestyle. Although opposition against him had got stronger throughout his career, this in itself was not significant enough to cause his fall. It was a factor that undoubtedly would’ve swayed Henry, however the ultimate reason for Wolsey’s fall was the failure to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
Wolsey began building Hampton court in 1514, and continued making improvements throughout the 1520’s. Hampton court was extremely grand, some argued it was more grand than the kings court. Not only did the nobility resent him for his openly extravagant lifestyle, but, some thought he ruled the country, rather than Henry VIII, as the ‘alter rex’. This provoked John Skelton, the kings former tutor, to write …show more content…
Catherine, understandably, was opposed to be divorced from Henry and tried her upmost to prevent the marriage being ended. Henry believed it would be easy to get a divorce from his wife due to Wolsey’s contacts, as papal legate and cardinal. However when it became clear that Wolsey’s efforts weren’t materializing, growing pressure began to remove Wolsey from his position. Wolsey went to desperate measures to resolve the problem, even attempting to put Catherine in a nunnery. However when all of these attempts failed, it was a combination of this, the failure of the amicable grant along with other factors, such as Wolsey’s opposition at court that combined to caused Henry to dismiss him from his position as Lord
Wolsey had always caused resentment from the nobility, and this only grew as he became more dominant in Henry VIII’s government. Not only did nobles dislike him due to his low birth contrasted with his high positions, such as becoming Lord Chancellor in 1515, but resentment was also caused by his lavish lifestyle. Although opposition against him had got stronger throughout his career, this in itself was not significant enough to cause his fall. It was a factor that undoubtedly would’ve swayed Henry, however the ultimate reason for Wolsey’s fall was the failure to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
Wolsey began building Hampton court in 1514, and continued making improvements throughout the 1520’s. Hampton court was extremely grand, some argued it was more grand than the kings court. Not only did the nobility resent him for his openly extravagant lifestyle, but, some thought he ruled the country, rather than Henry VIII, as the ‘alter rex’. This provoked John Skelton, the kings former tutor, to write …show more content…
Catherine, understandably, was opposed to be divorced from Henry and tried her upmost to prevent the marriage being ended. Henry believed it would be easy to get a divorce from his wife due to Wolsey’s contacts, as papal legate and cardinal. However when it became clear that Wolsey’s efforts weren’t materializing, growing pressure began to remove Wolsey from his position. Wolsey went to desperate measures to resolve the problem, even attempting to put Catherine in a nunnery. However when all of these attempts failed, it was a combination of this, the failure of the amicable grant along with other factors, such as Wolsey’s opposition at court that combined to caused Henry to dismiss him from his position as Lord