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Summary Thomas Wolsey Fact File
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Key facts about Thomas Wolsey and his role under Henry VIII's reign.
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Thomas Wolsey1473 Thomas Wolsey was the son of Robert Wolsey and his wife Joan. His father is reported by
various later sources as a butcher but this has never been verified
1580 He attended Ipswich School and Magdalen College School leaving for University when he
was 14
1594 Attended Magdalen College, Oxford studying theology
1498 10 March 1498: Thomas was ordained a priest in Marlborough and became a personal
chaplain to John Cardinal Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury
1506 Thomas then became a personal chaplain to the governor of Calais where he met King
Henry VII, the father of King Henry VIII
1507 Wolsey entered the service of King Henry VII as royal chaplain
1509 King Henry VII died on 21 April 1509 and his son King Henry VIII succeeds to the throne of
England
1509 When Henry VIII became King Thomas Wolsey was appointed royal almoner and privy
councillor
1513 Thomas Wolsey successfully organized an army for the invasion of France and
accompanied King Henry VIII on his campaign
Katherine of Aragon successfully ruled as regent whilst Henry was campaigning in France
Battle of Flodden English victory over Scotland
1514 Thomas Wolsey was instrumental in concluding the the peace with France but this year
saw the beginning of the wars with France and Scotland
Thomas Wolsey was made Bishop of Lincoln and then Archbishop of York
1515 Thomas Wolsey became a Cardinal and Lord Chancellor of England
1517 The Protestant Reformation begins when Martin Luther nails his "95 Theses" against the
Catholic practice of selling indulgences, on the church door at Wittenberg
The end of the wars with France and Scotland
1518 Cardinal Wolsey was created papal legate
1520 The Field of Cloth of Gold - King Francois I of France meets King Henry VIII but fails to gain
his support against the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. This was a diplomatic triumph for
Cardinal Wolsey who had successfully organised the event
1522 England invades France
Anne Boleyn met and fell in love with Henry Percy a member of the Cardinal Wolsey
retinue. The couple were betrothed but split up by Cardinal Wolsey on the orders of King
Henry VIII. Anne Boleyn blamed Cardinal Wolsey and swore to take revenge on him
1523 England abandons attempted French invasion
Cardinal Wolsey was made Prince-Bishop of Durham
1526 King Henry VIII becomes totally obsessed Anne Boleyn with whom he falls madly in love
1527 "The King's Secret Matter" was no longer a secret. It became publicly known that Henry
was seeking a divorce from Queen Katherine of Aragon and Henry looked to Cardinal
Wolsey to achieve this
Cardinal Wolsey gained permission from the Pope to try the case in England. He presided
at the trial with Cardinal Campeggio , who delayed the proceedings and finally adjourned
the case to Rome
1529 King Henry VIII dismisses the Lord Chancellor Cardinal Wolsey for failing to obtain the
Pope's consent to his divorce from Katherine of Aragon
1530 November: Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was arrested on false charges of treason and died at
Leicester on his way to London, some say of a broken heart
Citation: C N Trueman "Cardinal Wolsey”
Wolsey was the son of a butcher and cattle dealer. He had a relatively comfortable upbringing and
was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford University. Wolsey decided on a life devoted to God
and he joined the church. He held a number of private chaplainries but he soon came to the atten-
tion of Henry VII as Wolsey was quickly identified as a man who had excellent managerial skills
with a very good grasp of detail. Wolsey was also a very keen worker. In 1507, he was appointed
Henry VII’s chaplain. Wolsey continued to serve at court when Henry VIII succeeded his father in
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