Renaissance and Reformation. King Henry VIII - Research Paper Example

?KING HENRY VIII Josie Clark Renaissance and Reformation November 11th KING HENRY VIII Of all of England’s kings, none has been judged by history to be as tyrannical and self-absorbed as has Henry the Eighth. From his mistreatment of his six wives to his destructive policies and mannerisms, he is portrayed as the ultimate dictator of an age that was rife with despots that sincerely believed in their god- given rights to rule as they saw fit even at the detriment of their compatriots. One may argue that the age that Henry lived in allowed for the offences that he was often accused of and that in Kings they were positively encouraged but that does not abscond him of the reality of consequences of the terror that he unleashed on his subjects and especially on his poor wives. This paper aims to give a detailed account of King Henry VIII’s life. Early Years The father of Henry VIII was Henry VII, who was the lone child of Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort. The Tudors were elements of the house of Lancaster which had clashed with the House of York, another noble group, in the epoch of the national war in England called the War of the Roses. A Lancastrian insurgence had grown against Yorkist King Richard III. Henry Tudor overcame King Richard III at the battle of Bosworth Field and took the throne of England. The marriage contracted by King Henry the seventh was thus very significant as it united the York and Lancaster sections and in fact caused the War of the Roses to cease1. Henry VIII was the second boy born to his parents, the first being Arthur and his sisters were Margaret and Mary Tudor. He adored his mother the Queen who was a loyal and obedient woman, an exemplary female who closely portrayed the virtues that the society of that period expected its womenfolk to espouse. In childhood, Henry VIII was greatly pampered and spoiled. Kings in his time were believed to be anointed entities that rarely could make a mistake and even if they did, their mistakes would be used by the Deity to cause an advantage to the nation in some manner. His mother and grandmother apparently believed this notion to the fullest. His father was another matter. King Henry VII favored Prince Arthur, Henry’s older brother. He was the one to inherit the throne and so he was given more consideration. Prince Arthur was bestowed with royal responsibilities while Henry was left to develop his own preferences. Both brothers were strictly monitored and their friends were carefully chosen. His relationship with his father strained both Henry VIII and the King, though more so the younger man. Henry VII seemed aware of the reality of his son’s disposition and especially after the death of his first son, feared the popularity of his second son2. It even seems that he sensed in Henry VIII a drive for power and a festering ruthlessness in hiding. The Six Wives At the age of two, Arthur had been affianced to Katharine of Aragon. This was a common practice at that time and especially as concerns princes and princesses who were used repeatedly by ambitious parents to foster alliances and pacts with foreign countries that would see their powers increase. Henry’s position as the irrelevant child lasted until a few months after his tenth birthday. Arthur, his elder brother, died at his castle in Ludlow. Within a year, his mother had also passed away along with her newborn because of an infection that she had contracted as she recovered from her confinement. The loss of his mother, brother, and baby sister affected his father more than it did Henry VIII. Another tragedy that took place was Arthur’s death. The older Prince had been married to the Spanish Catalina de Aragon on 14th November, 1501. A bond of matrimony between the House of Tudor and the Spanish throne would ensure more respect for both rulers and strengthen their positions. Prince Henry had guided his sister in law and future spouse up the steps of the St. Paul’s Cathedral to say her vows and would later introduce her in an official capacity to the citizens of England. Henry VII toyed with the prospect of marrying his other younger son to the Spanish Princess but could not decide the action to take and so preserved her in relative poverty in England subject to the day that he made up his mind3. In 1509, when at the age of 52 years, Henry VII passed away, and his son promptly proposed to marry the long-suffering Katharine. The fact that she had been Arthur’s wife and that her marriage to Henry was not right in the eyes of many was ignored. Katharine would have cause in the future to regret overlooking that particular point in the haze of happiness that engulfed her on her wedding day. On the premise that Katharine’s marriage to Arthur had not been consummated, as the late Prince had suffered consumption and so could not have undertaken any strenuous activities, a Papal dispensation was sought for the marriage and granted. Henry married Katharine on 11th June at Greenwich. This celebration stretched through the midsummer. Henry VIII proved a doting husband to his new wife who was seven years older than him. Eager and enthusiastic to start his rule, one of his first actions was to execute the unpopular tax collectors who had worked for his father. This kind of brutality, which his citizens at first appreciated as it was enacted on their behalf, would later spread alarmingly over all the phases of Henry’s life4. In the thrones of love, Henry VIII showed himself to be a kind and unselfish husband. He was sincerely fond of Katharine and referred to himself as the “Knight of the Loyal Heart,” while prostrating himself before her after each of his strenuous tournaments. Henry VIII would remain married to his first spouse for over two decades. The only issue that blighted their union was her inability to bring forth living children. Only one of the infants that she bore, a daughter named Mary, was to survive into adulthood. One can well imagine how frustrated a man of Henry’s disposition must have been under that cheery position that he supposedly maintained. His interest was soon attracted to other quarters. Katharine remained silent and pretended not to notice anything troublesome. Henry VIII flirted and was intimate with a number of young women before his eyes landed on Anne Boleyn. Henry parted ways with the church and divorced his first wife at the instigation of Anne so that she could be Queen. Hopeless and heartbroken, Catalina died in 1536 and her funeral, shortly after, was the scene at which her successor came upon one Jane Seymour seated across her husband’s knee. Completely overcome by the thought of losing so soon the crown that she had so passionately fought for, Anne became hysterical and soon after miscarried a son. She already had a young daughter who was to be the famous Elizabeth I, but daughters did not count for much. Having gotten rid of one wife before, Henry found it easier to do so again5. He claimed that his wife Anne had participated in illicit intercourse with a collection of men among whom could be counted her own brother. She was decapitated on 19th May, 1536. Having carefully assessed the wretched ends of Henry’s two ex-wives, it is very probable that Jane Seymour consciously made the decision to obey her husband in silence if only to preserve her own life. Unfortunately, her life was cut short in the process of delivering to her husband the much desired son, Edward. Even as he grieved for Jane, Henry cast about for another wife. Prominent English artists of that age were sent abroad to the Continent to scout for prospects in Protestant countries. The niece of the Holy Roman Emperor, Christina, also the duchess of Milan, was purported to have quipped that she would have happily married Harry if only she had two heads. Finally, Ann of Cleves was brought to the King of England. Having admired a portrait of her brought to him in the recent past, Henry VIII knew that he found the real thing to be hopelessly below standard. Complaining that she was blemished and old-fashioned, he openly asserted that he could not bear to be near her. Parliament conveniently pensioned her off and she returned to the continent. Catharine Howard, the fifth wife was beheaded some time after her marriage for daring to have had an active social life before she married Henry6. Thomas Culpeper, her supposed lover was probably much more understanding than Henry. His sixth and last wife was a young widow named Catherine Parr. Intelligent and attractive, it could be argued that the only reason that she kept her life was because Henry VIII preceded her in death. Boundaries and Political Life Henry VIII mounted the throne at seventeen years of age. England boasted only one Duke, Edward Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham, and one a marquis, Thomas Grey, marquis of Dorset. Additionally, there existed 10 earls and 29 barons. All these swore allegiance to the King. In inheriting, a land that had already seen an agreement drafted between Yorkists and Lancastrians, Henry VIII had access to more resources than his father before him did. Though the Tudors were welsh, Wales was not yet fully included in the English government, and its borders still suffered irregular civil unrest as the law was not often applied there. In the Scottish lands, the same situation applied. Henry’s sister, Margaret, would later be married to the King of Scotland, James IV7. A treaty, the Auld Alliance, existed between France and Scotland. It was a common cause of disagreements that often rose between England and Scotland. England also owned Calais, a town on the continent that France tried to re-take more than once. In Ireland, the English government was only recognized in Dublin, a city then known as “ the Pale”, Cork and Waterford. In its outer wild frontiers, indigenous Irish chieftains laid down the law. The most powerful of these were the earls of Kildare, Desmond, and Ormond. Cardinal Wolsey Demonstrating great trust in his chief adviser Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII left the running of government to his machinations. The sole son of a butcher in the town of Ipswich, Wolsey had graduated at a young age from Oxford, and became a religious adviser. So diligent was he in the carrying out of his duties that his efforts attracted the attention of no less a personage than the late King, Henry VII. A showy personality and an extrovert, he later constructed Hampton Court for the exclusive use of his Lord and Master, Henry VIII. Being an upstart, a man who had clawed and scrapped his way from obscurity and into prominence, he was despised by the aristocracy for his humble origins. While Henry VIII indulged his taste for violent sports, Wolsey ran the offices of ruler ship. Only on major issues would the King be consulted. A number of Wolsey’s actions were enacted to empower himself. His area of specialization being Law, he greatly added to the capabilities allowed the Chancery of which he was the prime official as well as enlarging the uses of the Star Chamber. He also used his office to judge cases that came about from the grievances of the economically disadvantaged. Not being adept at fiscal matters, Wolsey inevitably clashed with Parliament, which had proposed direct taxation as a way of adding to the King’s coffers. In 1512, Henry sent the army to battle against France on the side of Spain, his first wife’s homeland. Much was not accomplished and without a decisive victory, discouraged troops streamed back home. To establish a reputation in the minds of his people and the World at large, Henry VIII declared war on France once again in1513 and this time rod at the front of his troops. Wolsey provided enough arms and money and the English army was the clear victor in the Battle of Spurs8. The French city of Tournai was added to England’s possessions. Wolsey’s actions, in the light of being a supposed Prince of the Church, earned him the wrath of the citizens of England. He openly indulged in his tastes for money, compromised women and placed close relatives in positions of influence within Henry VIII’s court. Even William Shakespeare referred to him as that “bold bad man”. His actions, being a representative of the Catholic Church would help decide the mind of the English populace in supporting the King when Henry would later be excommunicated for looting monasteries, nunneries, and holy shrines. Wolsey’s exploits in his foreign policies brought him recognition of a more respectable nature. Having decided to build up England’s reputation among other realms as a mediator and thus add to her prestige, he doctored the Treaty of London in 1518, where representatives from other realms agreed to embrace the notion of peace. Peace, however, proved to be an idealistic concept that was all but untenable. Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, goaded Henry to invade France in 1523. Parliament was convened to fund the army but there were insufficient levies forthcoming. Wolsey, for once, had advised the King against the invasion. He was vindicated when England had to abruptly abandon the war due to depleted resources. Depressed and disappointed, Henry VIII cast about for someone to blame for his loss. It was then that Wolsey’s enemies reminded the King of his many failures, chief among them, his letdown in getting the Pope to terminate his matrimony to his first wife. However, Henry also realized that Wolsey knew too much and that a more final way had to be found to get rid of him once and for all. Wolsey was summarily dismissed from his post and in 1530, fabricated treason accusations were brought against him and he was to die on his way to England to face his accusers9. In a scenario in which it seemed that Henry was searching for a way to justify the righteousness for his separation from the Catholic Church, he began to claim that the clergy engaged in reprehensible practices and that they were of worse character than the normal populace. His behavior was shameful and it was obvious that he lusted after the treasure of the Church but wished to posses it without having to seem to be stealing. He claimed that monks and nuns indulged in forbidden practices behind closed doors and possessed their properties while these accusations were investigated. In 1535, monks were regularly arrested in the pretext of high treason . They were subjected to an assortment of mutilations in public before being decapitated. This was done to foster fear in the viewing public against criticizing the King’s policies even if those policies were wanting. In 1538, Henry moved further to destroy the nation’s Shrines. These were said to hold holy artifacts that had been in the possession or were part of the early Christians and were respected in the Catholic Church. Wealthy pilgrims to these places often deposited jewels, pricey ornaments and written prayers in them. All these, Henry VIII possessed for himself. In 1538, he initiated the shutdown of Monasteries and nunneries in England, Wales and Ireland, about 850 in total. Final Years The nonviolent succession of Edward was Henry VIII’s chief obsession in his final years. In 1543, Parliament approved the Succession Act, which specified Edward, Princess Mary and Princess Elizabeth, in that arrangement, the successors to the throne. Throughout the 1540’s Henry’s wellbeing was in firm decline. He experienced constant headaches and a sore on his leg. He had grown massive and was known to have a remarkably violent temper. On January 28, 1547, Henry VIII expired at Whitehall palace. He was only 55 years of age, a middle aged man by today’s standards, but his excesses had caught up with him and he physically resembled an aged monarch at the time of his death10. His passing was not publicized for several days and only on January 31 was his nine year old son declared sovereign as King Edward VI. All three of his offspring would be crowned heads. Edward passed on at age 15 and was followed by his half sister Mary in 1553. Queen Mary passed away 5 years later and was followed by her half sister the inflexible and resolute Elizabeth who was in power until 1603. She, of all the siblings, was born with the concrete character of her father and a few of his vices as was observed in her ferocious tempers. Henry commenced his period in office as a striking and virile King adored by his people and finished it as an autocrat dreaded by his friends and enemies. His six marriages, religious persecutions, and murders of ministers as well as wives gave him a reputation of notoriety that has not been surpassed by any other English monarch to date. It may be argued that the intrigues of his palace served to transfer attention from more urgent matters that needed to be addressed in his realm such as the state of the poor citizens. Small property-owners, resident farmers and vagabonds or tramps lived most of their existences comparatively unaffected by proceedings that transpired in Henry’s mansions or even in the legislative body. They probably would not have been moved one way or the other even if they got to know about them as they were dealing with bread and butter issues. Their concern was how to find for themselves and their children the next meal and where to sleep at night. The intrigues of Henry’s court would have seemed a mockery to their very existence. The changes in the church, though, did touch many citizens’ lives in very factual ways. Henry’s reorganization of the English Church affected the nature of the tiny village parishes far from London even as it changed the scenery of the English landscape, which for many years had rung with the reverberation of chimes from hundreds of Catholic monasteries and convents. At Henry’s passing, the degradation of the currency helped effect uncontrolled price increases as people insisted on proportionally addition of the tainted coins. The cost of trade increased as aliens would not accept debased legal tender. This monetary disturbance was righted in 1562 when these sullied coins were withdrawn from distribution. Even though he was only nine at his succession, Edward was never an insignificant person. Having been surrounded for so long by the deceit and untrustworthy characters that attend royalty, he had to learn to keep his own counsel. He must also have gotten a skewed view from the example of his father, as to how a monarch was supposed to rule over his family and peoples if he was to be accorded any respect. He looked capable of re-enacting his late father’s mannerisms, but luckily for his subjects, fate saved them a repetition of King Henry VIII. Edward died not long after being chosen Lord Protector and Duke of Somerset just before his crowning and so Mary, his half sister, came into power. Bibliography Friedmann, Paul., Wilkinson, Josephine. Ann Boleyn. London, Casemate Pub & Book Dist Llc. 2010. Green, Robert. King Henry VIII. Danbury, Franklin Watts. 1998. Halio, Jay., Shakespeare, William., Fletcher, John. King Henry VIII, Or, All is True. Oxford, Oxford University Press. 1999. Havelin, Kate. Queen Elizabeth I. Minneapolis, Lerner Publications Company. 2002. Loades, David. The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Chalford, Amberley Publishing. 2009. Richmond, Hugh.. King Henry VIII. Manchester, Manchester University Press. 1994. Shakespeare, William., Crewe, Jonathan. The Life of King Henry the Eighth. London, Penguin Books. 2001. Starkey, David.. Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII. New York, Harpers Collins. 2004. Tremlett, Giles. Catherine of Aragon. London, Faber and Faber. 2011. Weir, Alison. Henry VIII: King and Court. 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