Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
How Did Wolsey Rise to Power? (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Important was Wolsey to Henry VIII's Reign? - Timeline & Summary
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey played an important role in Henry VIII's reign. Wolsey served Henry as his closest advisor and chief minister. Wolsey's influence extended across various parts of government. He was involved in many things, from domestic policies to foreign matters. He was talented at helping Henry govern England. He offered Henry advice on matters of state and diplomacy.
Despite his eventual fall from power, Wolsey's legacy is that he was a skilled administrator and influential statesman.
Who was Wolsey?
Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor between 1515 and 1529
Wolsey had an unlikely rise to power
He was not born into nobility
It was very difficult in Tudor times to climb the social hierarchy
Wolsey rose to power by:
Gaining a degree at Oxford University
Becoming a priest
Entering the Royal Council as the Royal Almoner in 1509
Wolsey's personality
Many aspects of Wolsey's personality contributed to his climb to power:
Wolsey's Roles & Wealth
Roles
Wolsey held two key roles in Tudor England
Both roles gave Wolsey significant power over both the Church and the king
What roles did Wolsey have in Tudor England?
Role | The year that Wolsey took on the role | Explanation of role |
|---|---|---|
Lord Chancellor | 1515 | The Chancellor was responsible for:
|
Cardinal | 1515 | A cardinal is a senior member of the clergy. In this role, Wolsey:
|
Wealth
Wolsey's role gave him significant wealth
He was ten times more wealthy than his nearest political rival
Wolsey used his wealth to rebuild lavish residences which included:
York Place (1514-1516)
Hampton Court (1514-1521)
In both residences, Wolsey hosted elaborate parties
Reasons for Wolsey's Rise to Power
Actions that Wolsey took to gain power | External events that helped Wolsey's rise to power |
|---|---|
Wolsey gained the position of Royal Almoner in 1509. This gave Wolsey access to the king | Henry's attitude. He hated his father's advisers and removed them from court. Henry also did not want to do the day-to-day running of the country. Both aspects allowed Wolsey to gain power |
Wolsey used his charm to flatter and persuade the king | England was at war with France in 1512. Wolsey proved himself by organising and supplying England's army in 1513 |
Wolsey was willing to financially ruin his rivals to maintain his influence over Henry |
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question based on this section could ask you to explain why Wolsey became Henry's most important minister by 1515. The key reasons for Wolsey's rise in power were:
Wolsey's personality
Henry's attitude towards government and his ministers
The war with France
This is a 12-mark question. Ensure you write three paragraphs that:
P - Make a point about the question
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made
E - Explain why this evidence caused Wolsey's rise to power. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor caused Henry to promote Wolsey to Lord Chancellor and Cardinal by 1515
L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this factor is in causing the rise of Wolsey
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