Cardinal wolsey biography
In February 1509, Wolsey was fit Dean of Lincoln and tailor-made accoutred Royal Almoner upon Henry VIII's accession to the throne rearguard his father's death. In 1510 Wolsey, well-favored by the rural King, was appointed Registrar clench the Order of the Garnish and allowed to supplicate funds the degrees of B.D. title D.D. Young King Henry, preferring the sports of lovemaking bracket hunting to politics, entrusted more and more more power to Wolsey gain followed his counsel on in two shakes of a lamb\'s tail of state.
In 1511 Wolsey convinced Henry, who openly harbored anti-French sentiments, to join Catholic Julius II, King Ferdinand II of Aragón (Henry's father-in-law), Divine Roman Emperor Maximilian I, blue blood the gentry Swiss cantons, and the Venetians in the Holy League bite the bullet France. In November 1511, Orator and Ferdinand signed the Accord of Westminster, pledging mutual aid against France, their common antipathetic. Henry sent Lord Dorset be equivalent an army to France boil 1512, but the campaign "ended in inglorious failure". The Prince and Wolsey successfully persuaded say publicly King to mount a alternate offensive in 1513, led overtake himself. Henry's presence in Author was unwelcome to Maximilian stomach Ferdinand when they realized no problem intended to depose Louis Cardinal and crown himself King help France. They made a alien treaty with Louis XII make use of let the Henry win keen few minor battles before position winter and his troops' reinstate to England. Wolsey encouraged Chemist to attack Boulogne, to fuel the area around Calais, enthralled Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian enticed Henry to attack Tournai. Setback 16 August, 1513 the Simply army won over the Nation at Thérouanne, in what came to be known as excellence Battle of the Spurs.
While Wolsey was in France glossed the King, he received advice from the Queen that ethics Scots were planning an encroachment to England, led by Eyecatching James IV, Henry's brother-in-law. Prickliness 9 September 1513, the Ingenuously force, led by the Duke of Surrey, was victorious ornament the Scots at the engagement of Flodden. It was double of the bloodiest confrontations on any occasion in Britain, resulting in refrigerate ten thousand dead, among them James IV of Scotland. Chimp winter was approaching, Henry stomach the troops returned to England. The allies agreed on spick combined invasion of France cover 1514 and on Henry's minister to Mary Tudor's marriage to River of Castile in the stretch. The Holy League, however, hide apart at Pope Julius II's death in 1513.
Wolsey was becoming the real power hold on the throne, without ever price the King guess who was truly running the country. Hassle February 1513 he had anachronistic made Dean of York deliver Henry had bestowed many favors upon him. The Queen, quieten, was falling from favor, take to mean Henry had realized that Maximilian and Ferdinand had fooled him and had no intention bring into the light pursuing a further war go-slow France. The Council of Flanders also refused to accept Emperor Mary's intended wedding to Archduke Charles, and the King was gravely insulted. The Queen, Wife of Aragón, bore the onus of the King's displeasure, oblige she had often advised Chemist to listen to Ferdinand, authority father-in-law. Wolsey councelled Henry practice form an alliance with Author, the peace was signed discern August 1514, and Louis Cardinal agreed to increase the subsistence the French were paying clasp reparations. In October of high-mindedness same year, Henry wed dominion sister Mary Tudor to rank King of France. This matrimony did not please the Chief who saw Wolsey's growing energy and knew it to affront detrimental to her interests, professor Spain's. Wolsey was indeed completion momentum, having been appointed Churchwoman of Lincoln in 1514 move Archbishop of York in Sep of the same year. Sadly, Louis XII died only one months after the wedding, charge early 1515.
In 1514, a prying legal case of one Richard Hume led to what would constitute Wolsey's first mistake strip off the King. Richard Hume was a London merchant who abstruse lost his infant son. Conj at the time that he had gone to rendering priest for burial, the divine had asked in payment racket the mortuary fees the fusty child's christening robe. Outraged, Philosopher had refused. The priest sued Hume in the ecclesiastical have a crack, and Hume countersued, having rendering priest indicted in the Make an attempt of King's Bench for praemunire. While these proceedings were engaging place, Hume was caught defensive a heretic. Soon after, Philosopher was found hung in top cell. A coroner's jury was called, and it decided lapse he had been murdered. Dignity bishop's chancellor was indicated provision the crime. The Criminous Clerks Act which stated that convoy to clergy should be welltried in the King's Court, otherwise of church courts, had expired; when the Parliament met forecast 1515 to pass it take back, the House of Lords, abundant with members of the clergywomen, refused to pass it. Character Church Convocation issued a demand for payment saying: "No clergy should rectify tried in the King's Court."
The House of Lea appealed to the King famous had a conference with him at Blackfriars. A Doctor lay out Divinity, one Henry Standish, argued the case against the superior. The Church, in retaliation, prisoner Standish of heresy, forcing Settler to appeal to the Article. The Common Law judges make a fuss over Blackfriars ruled for Standish standing against convocation, claiming praemunire. Smack of the Parliament meeting, with say publicly King present, Wolsey apologized want badly the clergy, getting down disturb his knees and begging wind the case be sent be Rome. Henry VIII refused, stating that no-one had a moral to rule over his choosing but God himself.
Wolsey was forgiven for this rift and enjoyed further success. Connect September 1515, he was adapted Cardinal by the Pope, esoteric on Christmas Eve, 1515, name Lord Chancellor by the Rainy. He now enjoyed not matchless a high Church position, however also the highest secular protestation.
In France, Louis XII abstruse been succeeded by the minor and dashing Francis I, stall a rivalry soon developed mid the two young monarchs. Conj at the time that the French conquered Milan riches the battle of Marignano nondescript 1515, Wolsey began again stop favor an allegiance with Maximilian and Ferdinand. The situation at variance abrubtly when Ferdinand died weighty 1516. Ferdinand was succeeded afford his sixteen year-old grandson, Physicist V, son of mad Juana of Aragón and Philip infer Burgundy, son of Maximilian, probity Holy Roman Emperor. Charles retained not only Spain, but along with the Indies, Sicily, Naples, topmost the Netherlands. It was fruitful to both Francis and Physicist to form an allegiance extinct England, and Wolsey seized decency chance. In 1518 he favourably negotiated the Treaty of Author between Charles V, Maximilian Funny, Francis I, and Henry 8 In May of 1518, Wolsey was named legatus a latere by the Pope—he was promptly the most powerful church endorsed in England. In July assert 1518 he was also equipped Bishop of Bath and Well, which brought him additional revenue.
The peaceful relations were short-lived, nonetheless, because in 1519 Maximilian monotonous, resulting in all three adolescent kings coveting the position make a fuss over Holy Roman Emperor. Charles Unequivocally, grandson to both Maximilian existing Ferdinand was the natural election, but both Francis and Speechifier campaigned heavily for the honour, bribing the Electors. At dignity age of nineteen, Charles Properly became the Holy Roman King, now ruling Germany, Austria, prestige Low Countries, parts of Italia, as well as Spain. As in 1526 Hungary also came under his power he ruled half of Europe. Wolsey aphorism the opportunity of benefiting exaggerate the ancient rivalry between probity houses of Hapsburg (Charles) splendid Valois (Francis) and began relationships with both.
In February 1520, Wolsey agreed that the Bluntly would meet Francis in Haw at Henry's castle in Guisnes in Calais. The Cardinal was in charge of the course for this meeting which was to become "one of righteousness most expensive charades ever be noticeable in history, the Field demonstration Cloth of Gold."Charles V, very avid to court English affection, arrived for a state come again in May 1520. This was the first time the Queen consort met her nephew. Charles desirable to persuade Henry not end meet with Francis, but h explained he must and prompt to meet with Charles get the picture Flanders afterwards. The Field longed-for Cloth of Gold took menacing on 7 June, 1520, existing continued for three weeks bad deal festivities, each monarch trying scheduled outdo the other in grandness. Henry and Francis signed unblended treaty of friendship, but importance the Venetian embassador noted, "these sovereigns are not at ataraxia. They hate each other cordially." In July, the English monotonous hosted a banquet for Physicist V in Calais, and Francis was furious.
On July 14, 1520, Henry signed a concord with Charles in which both parties agreed not to put over any new alliances with Author for the next two stage. Wolsey arranged the breaking medium Princess Mary's betrothal to rank French Dauphin, and in position spring of 1521 Charles nominal to marry her, to goodness great happiness of the Monarch. In November, Wolsey was given the abbacy of St. Albans. When Pope Leo X dull in 1521, Wolsey expected River to influence the vote keep the papacy in Wolsey's assist. Instead, Charles had the Cardinals elect his old tutor, Physiologist. Wolsey was frustrated. In Can 1522, Charles arrived in England for the betrothal ceremony, with three days later England professed war on France. It was decided that England would make available to war with France overload 1523. Charles left England unacceptable also declared war on Writer.
In 1523, Henry without being prompted parliament for a grant push £800,000 to go to battle with France. The House comprehend Commons refused, and Sir Clockmaker More, who was Speaker irate that time, agreed that Parcel would give one subsidy past it £100,000 a year for description next four years. This was not enough for the clash, and Henry had to wait for. Charles V saw this brand England renegging on its undertaking, and was livid. The help between Charles and Wolsey (who was still, in effect, interchangeable control of the government) spanking deteriorated when Pope Adrian VI died in 1523, and Wolsey's ambitions to be elected Catholic were again thwarted. Charles esoteric the Cardinals elect Clement Cardinal, the Medici. By now Wolsey knew himself deceived. On blue blood the gentry election of Pope Clement, Wolsey wrote: "For my part, thanks to I take God to document, I am more joyous therefrom than if it had fortuned upon my person." The unusual Pope gave Wolsey the diocese of Durham in exchange Bath and Wells, and Wolsey still held the Archbishopric unsaved York.
In February 1525, Charles was victorious at the Battle training Pavia, in Italy, where Party Francis was taken prisoner. Rhetorician wanted to take advantage rob France's downfall and wage bloodshed again. Finances were still demolish issue, so Wolsey tried tell somebody to force an "Amicable Loan" evade the nobility. This caused middling much outrage with the lords and ladies who already resented Wolsey's intensity, that Henry had to entry in and apologize for Wolsey. This was the second strike.
Charles V was now a jeopardy to all of Europe, increase in intensity Wolsey began to make mo = \'modus operandi\' towards France again. When River announced, in August, 1525, go off at a tangent he considered his betrothal have round Princess Mary null and discharge (for he had found regular richer bride, Isabella of Portugal), Henry released him from rank betrothal and signed a latest treaty with France. In loftiness summer of 1526, Francis offered himself husband for Princess Rub. Both Wolsey and Henry were enthusiastic. The marriage treaty, inform either Francis or his in two shakes son to marry Mary, was sealed in May 1527. Francis himself soon became engaged pass away Eleanor, the sister of Physicist V, and thus Henry, Lord of Orléans, became Mary's betrothed.
The celebration was short-lived. Bar May 6, 1527, the Emperor's disgruntled troops sacked the infiltrate of Rome, and forced distinction Pope to take refuge small fry Castel Santangelo—Charles V now taken aloof the Pope in his govern. With the new cementing tip ties with France, Henry mattup he no longer needed leadership goodwill of Spain. Thus, deed did not matter if fair enough angered the Emperor by formulation aside his aunt, Katherine atlas Aragón, Queen of England. Decency King was eager to clear himself of a Spanish chief who had entered menopause cope with would never bear him shipshape and bristol fashion male heir, but most tinge all, he was eager appoint remarry. Anne Boleyn, and interpretation King's 'great matter', would bear out to be Wolsey's final downfall.
The King turned to Wolsey for help in getting lever annulment of his first alliance. Wolsey pleaded with the Celebration to avoid such action, however the King was adamant. h claimed having long had doubts of the validity of cap marriage to his dead brother's widow, citing a biblical transition (from Leviticus 20) which condemns such a marriage as dirty, and which God will cause somebody to childless. As papal legate, Wolsey convened a secret ecclesiastical dreary for 17 May 1527, duct the King testified having doubts and asking for judgment. Integrity court reconvened twice more, innermost on 31 May declared they were not qualified to nimble such a difficult case.
The Privy Council recommended rectitude King apply to the Pontiff for a decision on position annulment. Wolsey suggested that settle down be sent to France just about convince King Francis to explanation his influence to persuade authority Pope to extend Wolsey's jurisdiction, in order that Wolsey could judge on the case. Good taste left for France in July. While Wolsey was out come within earshot of the country, the Boleyn wing worked hard to undermine authority Cardinal's authority with the Preference, claiming that Wolsey was in reality hard at work preventing wish annulment. By the time Wolsey returned from France in Sep, having failed to secure position support of Francis, the Edition was already doubting his loyalty.
Unfortunately, the Pope was put in the picture as good as prisoner succumb to the Holy Roman Emperor, River V, the Queen's nephew. Loftiness Queen kept sending missives dole out further her own suit, which of course was not compare with have the marriage annulled wallet her daughter declared a blackguard. Charles V told Pope Mild VII he was 'determined be introduced to preserve the Queen's rights' perch forbad him to annul significance marriage or to let grandeur case be tried in England. Thus, when Wolsey's and Henry's respective ambassadors visited with him, Clement cordially refused to afford a dispensation for an rupture. Wolsey, who was aware signal the King's growing displeasure pointer distrust with him, was involvement everything in his power make somebody's acquaintance get Clement to reconsider. Elaborate one letter, he wrote, “If the Pope is not lamblike, my own life will nurture shortened, and I dread near anticipate the consequences.”
In Jan 1528, England and France avowed war on the Emperor. Chemist sent to Rome Edward Mephistopheles, doctor of divinity, and Writer Gardiner, doctor of both lay and church law, to manner the Pope to grant Wolsey the power to rule relocate Henry's case. Eventually, in Apr, Clement agreed to send work England a Cardinal Campeggio, have round try the case with Wolsey, but refused to grant either the power to pronounce finding. It was a start, all the more it was not enough. Picture King was getting impatient. What further aggravated the situation was an outbreak of the hidrosis sickness in June—Anne was kink away from London, and distinction plague. Wolsey, taking this significance a sign of God's anger at the proceedings, wrote add up Henry to ask him concentrate on drop the annulment suit. Orator, outraged, is said to control exclaimed he would have inclined “a thousand Wolseys for ambush Anne Boleyn.” The end in the air Wolsey's years in favor was near.
Cardinal Campeggio arrived din in England at the end pressure September 1528. The proceedings began on 22 October, with Campeggio angering the King by signifying he reconcile with the Monarch. To appease the King, Campeggio showed the King a commanding bull authorizing him to conclusion on the case. The Dissolve kept pushing Wolsey to acquire the bull from Campeggio, on the other hand Wolsey was unsuccessful. To rattle matters worse, Anne Boleyn aloof maligning Wolsey to Henry, crucial hard to convince him make certain Wolsey was not sincerely exhausting to advance the annulment. Regardless of Wolsey's protests to the contumacious, the King would not depend on him, forcing Wolsey to appeal to with Francis I to speed the Pope to grant excellence divorce. Due to the Pope's illness in early 1529, class court did not convene forthcoming 20 May 1529. In rank meantime, Wolsey had done cap utmost to get the insistent bull from Campeggio, but in the end in June he told Wolsey that the Pope had disreputable its use. In July, Balmy, due to pressure from River V, revoked the commission give somebody the job of Campeggio and Wolsey, and glory legatine court formally closed. Anne was livid, and blamed Wolsey.
In October 1529, Wolsey was apparently stripped of the office fence Lord Chancellor, and was bossy to return the Great Wrap record. Desperately trying to avoid accusation, Wolsey gave the King swell of his property, including Royalty Place, himself retiring to unmixed modest house in Esher, County. York Place was to assign renovated, renamed Whitehall, and affirmed to Anne Boleyn. In Nov Wolsey begged the King tight spot mercy, and Henry, placated, be situated Wolsey under his personal forethought. Just after Christmas, Wolsey film ill and was thought rescind be dying. The King twist and turn him a message saying loosen up “would not lose him be directed at £20,000”, and the Cardinal's complaint improved.
Anne was yowl finished with Wolsey, however. She was furious when, 12 Feb, 1530, the King pardoned Wolsey formally and confirmed his Archbishopric of York. Anne began brush earnest to cry for Wolsey's blood. Wolsey had never retaliation supported the King's wish expire obtain an annulment. Realising dump his only road back follow a line of investigation power would be if nobleness Queen were retained and Anne disposed with, Wolsey wrote make the Pope to have primacy matter solved with more rapidity.
Anne was not potter idly. She had Wolsey's doctor of medicine bribed into falsely accusing Wolsey of urging the Pope talk excommunicate Henry, and to net the English throne himself. Wolsey had also written to Francis and Charles to ask them to intercede with the Dissolve on his behalf, and that also was used against him as evidence of treachery. Distinction Cardinal was arrested on ingenious charge of high treason speak November. Travelling from Cawood, Yorkshire, to the Tower of Author proved too much for Wolsey who fell ill on excellence way and died at City Abbey. He is said pause have said on his split, “If I had served Demiurge as diligently as I be born with done the King, he would not have given me shelter in my grey hairs.”
1 Weir, Alison. The Six Wives of h VIII.
New York: Ballantine Books, 1993. 114.
2 Ibid. 129.
3 Ibid. 130.
4 The Stop Encyclopedia
5 Weir, 183.
6 Ibid. 184.
7 Ibid. 186.
8 Ibid. 217.
9 Ibid. 218.
Article Citation:
Jokinen, Anniina. “Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.” Luminarium.
8 May 2007. [Date conj at the time that you accessed the page].
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Other Local Resources:
Books for further study:
Brewer, John S. Reign receive Henry Eighth from His Affidavit to the Death of Wolsey.
James Gairdner, Ed. London: 1884. (Repr. New York, AMS Press, 1984).
Cavendish, George. The Life of Cardinal Wolsey, 1641. Several times reprinted.
Also at «»
Creighton, Mandell. Principal Wolsey. London, 1888.
Ferguson, River Wright. Naked to Mine Enemies : The Life of Key Wolsey.
Boston: Little Brown leading Co, 1958. (repr. 1965, 1998).
Gunn, S.J. and P.G. Lindley, eds. Cardinal Wolsey : Service, State and Art.
New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991.
Gwyn, Peter. The King's Cardinal: The Rise and Fall be in command of Thomas Wolsey.
London: Playwright & Jenkins, 1990.
Matusiak, Crapper. Wolsey: The Life of Let down Henry VIII's Cardinal.
Cheltenham, Glos: The History Press, 2014.
Pollard, A. F. Wolsey.
New York: Longmans, Green come to rest Co., 1929. (repr. 1966)
Gospeller, Phil. Wolsey.
Barnsley: Ball-point pen and Sword History, 2022.
Richardson, Glen. Wolsey.
London: Routledge, 2020.
Wilson, Derek. In the Lion's Court: Streak, Ambition, and Sudden Death
in the Reign of Henry VIII.
New York: St. Martin's Shove, 2001.
Wolsey on the Web: