1
Q
Thomas Wolsey
c1471-1530
A
- Became the royal almoner upon Henry VIII’s accession (distributing money as charity to the needy on behalf of the King)
- He came to Henry’s attention due to his organisational abilities
- He became more like a chief minister, interposing himself between the king and the experience councillors who were increasingly frozen out by Wolsey’s influence
- Became Archbishop of York and a cardinal in 1514, and Lord Chancellor in 1515
2
Q
Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey and second Duke of Norfolk
1443-1524
A
- Came from a distinguished Yorkist family
- Fought for Richard III in the Battle of Bosworth, after which he was imprisoned and attained for treason
- Was restored to his title in 1489 when he suppressed the Yorkshire Rebellion and led the victorious English army at the Battle of Flodden with Scotland
- Was promoted to the Duchy of Norfolk
- Served both Henry VII and VIII as a soldier and administrator
3
Q
Thomas Cromwell
c1485-1540
A
- Rose from a humble background to become a lawyer and secretary to Wolsey
- Became principal secretary to Henry VIII
- He was the one who suggested Henry placed himself as the head of the English Church
- Masterminded the dissolution of the monasteries
- Fell from favour and was executed at the Tower of London on 28th July 1540
4
Q
William Warham
c1450-1532
A
- Archbishop of Canterbury from 1503
- Councillor under Henry VII
- Lost political influence under Henry VIII
5
Q
Thomas Cranmer
1489-1556
A
- Was a Cambridge academic
- Came to Henry VIII’s attention through the Collectanea Satis Copiosa
- Was burnt for heresy under the Catholic Queen Mary I
6
Q
Stephen Gardiner
c1495-1555
A
- Progressed initially in the service of Wolsey
- Became principal secretary to Henry VIII and the Bishop of Winchester
- Supported the break with Rome, but kept conservative Catholic views, which led to imprisonment under Edward VI
- Returned to favour under Mary I and was appointed Lord Chancellor
7
Q
Thomas Wriothesley
1505-50
A
- Owed his advancement to Cromwell’s patronage
- Appointed joint principal secretary in 1540
- Survived Cromwell’s downfall and attached himself to Gardiner
- Appointed Lord Chancellor in 1544
- Switched sides when involved in the downfall of Norfolk in 1546
8
Q
Edward Seymour
c1500-52
A
- Marquis of Hertford and later Duke of Somerset
- Brother of Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymour and uncle of Edward VI
- Became a soldier and very politically influential towards the end of Henry’s reign
- Lord Protector to Edward before his downfall in 1549
9
Q
Francis I of France
1494-1547
A
- Reigned from 1515-47
- He and Henry were intense rivals, but at times they were willing to ally due to their suspicions of Emperor Charles V
10
Q
Charles V
1500-58
A
- Successively Duke of Burgundy
- King of Spain from 1516-56
- Made HRE in 1519-56
- Dominant ruler in western Europe
- Nephew of Catherine of Aragon
11
Q
John, Baron Russell and Earl of Bedford
c1485-1555
A
- Had a long career as a courtier
- Served Henry VIII as a diplomat and soldier
- Became a councillor in 1536
- Following Exeter’s fall, he was granted huge amounts of monastic land in Devon to gain royal support in the southwest
12
Q
Henry Courtenay, Marquess of Exeter
c1498-1538
A
- Grandson of Edward IV
- Dominant in the southwest
- Had a close relationship with Henry but his identification with the Aragonese faction and his hostility to Cromwell strained this
