Henry VIII’s Accession (Edexcel GCSE History)

Henry VIII and the Tudor Royal Family - Timeline & Summary

Henry VIII became king in 1509, following the death of his father, Henry VII. He was a young and ambitious ruler at the start of his reign. Henry wanted to assert his authority and leave a lasting legacy in England.

The Tudors were originally Welsh. Henry VIII was born into a family that had recently gained power through the Wars of the Roses. These were a series of civil wars between the houses of Tudor and Lancaster. Henry VII's reign brought stability to England after years of civil unrest.

In 1509, England was on the brink of significant economic growth. Henry VII was known for his good financial management. On his death, Henry VII had left the royal treasury in a relatively stable condition. Henry VIII inherited a kingdom that was becoming increasingly prosperous. England had a growing economy and expanding trade networks. This financial stability provided a solid foundation for Henry VIII's reign.

Henry VIII as the Renaissance Prince

• Henry gained the nickname 'Renaissance Prince'

  • Renaissance is a French term which translates to 'rebirth''

    • This describes a period of new ideas about science, religion, art and architecture from the 16th century to the 18th century

  • England, like many European countries, was changing

    • Henry kept up-to-date with Renaissance attitudes to society and culture

• Henry VIII had many talents:

How Did Henry Become King of England?

• Henry was not Henry VII's oldest son

  • Arthur was originally Henry VII's heir

• Arthur died in 1502 at the age of 15

  • Henry VII made Henry his heir

  • There were no other contenders for the throne when Henry VII died in 1509

Henry VII's Reign

• When Henry VIII became King, he had to deal with the consequences of Henry VII's reign. Henry VII had:

  • Heavily taxed the nobility

    • Taxes had improved England's economy because it had given more money to the king

    • The nobles did not want Henry VIII to continue with high taxes

  • Respected the power of the Pope

    • The Pope, not the King, controlled the Church

    • The Church had a lot of power in England

    • As most people in England were Catholics, they listened to the Church about important matters

Henry VIII's Aims as a King

• Henry VIII had five main aims as king:

1. To uphold the divine rights of kings

   • Henry and most of the population believed in the divine right of kings

     • Henry could use people's religious beliefs to ensure that they obeyed him

   • Henry thought that the people should not question his decisions

     • The Renaissance caused a growing number of people to begin to question God's power and, as a result, the monarch's authority

     • Henry wanted to embrace new ideas without damaging his power as monarch

2. To use the government systems beneath him to implement his policies

   • Henry wanted to make more use of the Royal Council and the Privy Chamber to help him make decisions

   • He increasingly delegated tasks to one personal adviser

3. To achieve victories in battles

   • Henry wanted to win back land located in France

   • He wanted England to become respected in Europe

4. To improve the Royal Court

   • Henry wanted to take inspiration from the royal courts of France and Spain

   • He wanted the English court to impress through its architecture, dress style and entertainment

   • A high-quality court would attract the best men to attend, such as scholars and artists

5. To fulfil his duties as monarch

   • Henry wanted to:

     • Maintain law and order

     • Govern the country well

     • Be committed to the Church

     • Produce a male heir to avoid a civil war when he died

Henry's Strengths & Weaknesses as a King