Thomas Wolsey

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Thomas Wolsey
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Early Career

• Son of Robert Wolsey, man of property from
  Ipswich butchers son a slur?
• Educated at Magdalen College, Oxford
• Degree Age 15 - boy batchelor
• Elected Fellow of Magdalen (1497)
• Master of Magdalen School

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Early Career

• Ordained as Priest (1498)
• Resigns as bursar of Magdalen (1499)
• Domestic chaplain to Abp. of Cant. (1502-3)
• Chaplain to Deputy of Calais (1503-1507)
• Chaplain to Henry VII (1507-1509)
• Appointed Royal Almoner (1509)
• Appointed royal Councillor (1510)

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The Patronage Network
Gaining the Kings favour was the path to
influence and success
Leading figures in England came to Court hoping
to gain the Kings favour - giving the King more
power
The King could grant loyal servants land, titles
and cash rewards
The King could manipulate the Court - the
expectation of favour meant nobles would put
their energies into pleasing the King rather than
conspiring against him
The key was to get to Court and gain access to
the King to do this you needed to gain
patronage from less important men, who gave you
a leg up
Royal officials had to work hard as there were
always others who would take their jobs should
they lose the Kings favour
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Why did Wolsey rise?

• Intellectual ability - Oxford success, ability to
  persuade King and court ornate eloquence
• Administrative ability - Richard Nanfan entrusts
  him with financial affairs, Henry VII, organising
  1513 expedition
• Diplomatic skill - expedition to Maximilian in
  1508, peace treaty of 1514

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Oxford
Marquis of Dorset
Henry Deane, Abp of Canterbury
Wolseys Patronage Ladder
Sir Richard Nanfan Governor of Calais
Henry VII
Richard Fox Archbishop of Winchester
Henry VIII
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Why was Wolsey able to consolidate power by 1515?

• Wolseys switch of support from peace party to
  war party in Council 1509-1513
• Retirement of Warham (1515) and Fox (1516) from
  the Kings council created vacancies
• Eclipsing of powerful nobles in Kings Council -
  Duke of Norfolk, Duke of Buckingham and Duke of
  Suffolk as Royal servant by efficiency of service
  1512-1514

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Was Wolsey fortunate?

• Wolsey benefitted from the accession of a young,
  inexperienced King who required a trusted
  servant/ mentor
• His rivals were too young (Charles Brandon) or
  too old (Surrey/Norfolk, Warham, Fox)
• Henry was determined to have war and so Wolsey
  could rise to power by providing it
• Therefore its purely circumstance. Do you agree?