The demise of Thomas Cardinal Wolsey due to Anne Boleyn

Thomas Wolsey, despite his common background, was recognized from an early age as an intellectual thinker, with a brain for politics, and a mind full of ambition. Wolsey was educated at Magdalene College of Oxford, earning his B.A. in 1488, and his M.A. in 1497 (Williams 06). On Ma

In October 1528, Pope Clement’s representative, Cardinal Campeggio, arrived in London to try the case; however, Clement did not give him the power to pronounce sentence. Campeggio saw immediately what drove the King, as he reported to Clement “He sees nothing, he thinks of nothing but Anne; he cannot do without her for an hour. He constantly treats her as if she were his wife” (Weir 286). During the early months of 1529, the legates prepared for the hearing of Wolsey’s nullity suit. Wolsey, who had left no stone unturned to make the King’s case watertight, was confident of a happy outcome when the legatine court opened on May 31st. Campeggio listened to all but gave nothing away. Finally, on July 23rd, he unexpectedly adjourned the case to Rome; and in doing so, sealed Wolsey’s fate for him (Weir, Six 289).

It was around this time that Henry became preoccupied with the matter of succession. It had been five years since Katherine’s last pregnancy and the Queen, at age thirty-five, was going through menopause. Since 1522, Henry, prompted by doubts raised by both his confessor and his lack of an heir, began to question the validity of his marriage. It is likely that this contributed to his growing interest in Anne (Weir 240).

Henry VII cared nothing for Wolsey. However, Wolsey proved himself on a errand to Scotland. Soon after, he proved himself again as a messenger from Henry to the Holy Roman Emperor (Ferguson 72). In 1509, Wolsey was appointed Bishop of Lincoln, and upon the death of Henry VII, was given the position of Royal Almoner in the household of Henry VII’s son, Henry VIII (Williams 12). 1510 brought Wolsey even more favor from the young king who, preferring lovemaking and hunting to the political arena, presented Wolsey with the office of Registrar of the Order of the Garter and was permitted to supplicate for the degrees of B.D. and D.D. (Ferguson 91). In 1511, Wolsey proved his growing power when he convinced Henry VIII, who was already openly anti-French, to side with Henry’s father-in-law, King Ferdinand II of Spain, Pope Julius II, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, the Swiss, and the Italian city-state of Venice in the Holy League against France. Wolsey aided in the creation and signing of the Westminster Bill between Ferdinand and Henry, promising help to each other against the French (Weir, Henry 140). In 1513, Henry and his fellow members of the Holy League became poised for war with France. Pope Julius bestowed the kingdom of France upon Henry, now all he had to do was win it. He sent an army under the Marquess of Dorset to France that June, but the campaign "ended in inglorious failure" (Weir 151). Wolsey and Katherine however, were able to convince him to mount a second army against France, this time lead by Henry himself (Weir 157).

Despite her success in undermining Wolsey, Anne was not yet finished with him. She was furious when Henry formally pardoned Wolsey and confirmed his Archbishopric of York (Ferguson 466). The Holy Roman Emperor’s ambassador is quoted in saying to this act “to reinstate him in the King’s favor would not be difficult, if it were not for the lady [Anne Boleyn]” (Ferguson 466). It was Wolsey’s ambition to re-confirm himself Archbishop during the first week of November, 1530. At the same time, Parliament ordered the arrest of Wolsey on the charge of high treason against the crown. And on November third, Wolsey was arrested at York. While en route to London from Cawood in Yorkshire to face trial, Wolsey became ill and died on November 30th, 1530, at Leicester Abbey.

Some topics in this essay:
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