This deck covers the first part of Henry VIII's reign, from 1509 to 1529. We'll explore Henry's character as a young king, and the rise of his powerful chief minister, Cardinal Wolsey. You'll learn about Wolsey's policies at home and abroad, and finally, the critical issue that brought him down: Henry's desperate need for a male heir and an annulment from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

When Henry VIII came to the throne in 1509, he was just 17 years old. He was the opposite of his father, Henry VII, who had been careful and miserly. Young Henry was handsome, athletic, and intelligent. He embodied the ideal of a 'Renaissance Prince', skilled in music, jousting, and languages. His main aims were to secure his dynasty with a male heir and to achieve military glory, rivalling the great kings of France and Spain.

Henry VIII disliked the day-to-day work of governing. This created a power vacuum that was filled by Thomas Wolsey. Wolsey was a butcher's son from Ipswich, but he was incredibly intelligent and ambitious. He rose through the Church and proved his skill by successfully organising Henry's army for an invasion of France in 1513. By taking on the tedious tasks of administration, he made himself indispensable to Henry, quickly becoming Lord Chancellor and a Cardinal in the Church.