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Wolsey showed great promise as a youth and attended Magdalen College at Oxford, where he excelled in his studies. He was ordained a priest, and served the Archbishop of Canterbury, who recommended him for service in the king's government. His great opportunity came with the accession of Henry VIII. Unlike his father, who was conservative in fiscal land foreign affairs, the new king was extravagant, but did not have the organizational abilities to oversee the kingdom himself. He therefore delegated a great deal of power to Wolsey, who competently ran the administration. In 1515 Wolsey was made Cardinal by the pope and also appointed Lord Chancellor of England. In this position he was the chief administrator of both the church and secular governments.
Although Wolsey did not personally favor the king's annulment, he would certainly have attained one, had he been able. During this time however, the Papacy was heavily influenced by Charles V, the most powerful monarch in Europe, and nephew of Catherine of Aragon. It was not in either the pope, nor the Cardinal's power at this time to grant an annulment. Wolsey was abruptly dismissed and died shortly thereafter.
Thomas Wolsey born to a commoner | |
Studied at Magdalen College, Oxford | |
Ordained a priest | |
Served Cardinal Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury | |
Served Henry VII as Royal Chaplain | |
On Ascension of Henry VIII, appointed to his council. | |
Promoted to privy council. | |
Appointed, Bishop, Legate of England, and Lord Chancellor. | |
Field of the Cloth of Gold | |
Henry falls under influence of Boleyn, requests annulment of his marriage. | |
Wolsey dismissed for failure to obtain and annulment. | |
Death of Wolsey |
Great Cardinal in | Stories From English History, Part Second by Alfred J. Church |
Cardinal Wolsey in | Famous Men of Modern Times by John H. Haaren |
Henry VIII. and the Separation from Rome in | The Story of England by Samuel B. Harding |
Thomas Wolsey in | Great Englishmen by M. B. Synge |
Image Links | ||
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![]() Henry VIII. and Cardinal Wolsey in The Story of the English |
![]() Wolsey and Queen Catherine in Famous Men of Modern Times |
![]() Wolsey at Leicester in Famous Men of Modern Times |
![]() Henry sent Wolsey away from court. in Our Island Story |
![]() Wolsey's arrival at Leicester Abbey in The Tudors and the Stuarts |
King of England famous for marrying and dispensing with six wives. | |
Lord Chancellor under Henry VIII. Fired and later executed when he opposed Henry's divorce. | |
Second wife of Henry VIII. Executed when she fell from grace. | |
Descendent of John of Gaunt (a Lancaster) who fought Richard the Usurper for the throne. | |
Bishop Fox | Advisor to Henry VII, and Henry VIII and supporter of Wolsey. |