Conflicting Views of Henry VIII
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This paper is an examination of the conflicting views of one of England's most famous monarchs, Henry VIII. While the king with six wives who threw the Pope out of England and established the Anglican Church is a familiar figure, historians disagree energetically on his true character. Some argue that he was a dissolute playboy, ruled by his advisers and his whims. Others contend that he was very much aware of everything around him and always completely in charge of events. While the truth appears to be closer to the latter, Henry's case demonstrates how contemporary views can affect interpretations of historical events. Actions that were completely accepted during Henry's time can be made to seem damning in modern eyes. Henry's case is especially interesting because so much historical and interpretative material exists. Therefore, this paper will not attempt to provide an exhaustive analysis but will instead use a number of specific examples to investigate the effect of modern interpretations of historical events. One point to begin an examination of Henry VIII is through the paintings and other artistic representations made of him during his lifetime. David Starkey observes: "To all appearances, he stands as the very model of a strong king. Certainly, this is how he saw himself; more importantly, it is how Holbein, the greatest of his court painters, chose to represent him." Holbein's portraits may be the best-known images of Henry: gartered legs akimbo, a ma
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sweet reasonableness with close attention to detail and the deliberate demoralization of those closest to the seat of power." Henry managed, throughout his long reign, to keep everyone around him off balance enough to allow him to rule absolutely.
One example of such manipulation is an instance in which the king's council decided to charge Thomas Cranmer, "ye, whom God and we have ordained Archbishop of Canterbury, and primate of all this our realm of England," with heresy. The king appeared to side with his council, telling them make Cranmer wait after calling him before them and leading them to believe that he supported their cause. Before they met with Cranmer, however, Henry brought him to his chambers, warned him of his danger, and gave him his royal ring as proof of his support. He then sat back and enjoyed the resulting spectacle. Smith observes that this was simply one of many such scenarios created by the king:
His script was invariably the same - quietly to foster animosity and jealousy within his council, to appear to encourage the majority faction and become a partner in an elaborate plot, then to warn the intended victim of his impending fate, thereby turning the tables, to allow the unsuspecting council to
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1864
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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