The Rise of Wolsey

The Tudors – Cardinal Wolsey, 1472-1530

In this course, Professor Glenn Richardson (St Mary’s University) explores the life of Cardinal Wolsey (1472-1530), one of Henry VIII’s most trusted advisors in the first part of his reign. We begin by thinking about Wolsey’s rise from relatively obscure beginnings, including his early work in the church, his service to Henry’s father (Henry VII) and his appointment as Royal Almoner in 1509. In the following three modules, we think about Wolsey’s acts on the international stage – looking first at his role in Henry’s 1513 campaign against Louis XII of France, then at his negotiation of peace with France in 1514, and finally at events between 1514-21, culminating in the magnificent Field of the Cloth of Gold (1520) and renewed hostilities with France the following year. In the fifth module, we turn from international to domestic affairs, focusing on Wolsey’s appointment as Lord Chancellor and the increasing closeness of his relationship with the king. In the sixth module, we trace events from 1521 to 1527, including the problems associated with the breakdown of the king’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, before moving on in the seventh module to think about Wolsey’s decline, fall, death, and legacy.

The Rise of Wolsey

In this module, we think about the rise of Thomas Wolsey from obscure beginnings to one of Henry VIII’s most trusted advisors. In particular, we focus on his early life and education, his early work in the church in both England and France, his service to Henry VII, and his appointment as Royal Almoner in 1509.