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The Fall of Wolsey

Catherine of Aragon and the succession, the reasons Henry VIII sought an annulment, the opposition of Pope Clement VII, and the fall of Wolsey when the divorce failed.

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What you'll cover

The fall of Wolsey 📜

Henry VIII needed a male heir, but Catherine of Aragon had only a daughter, Mary. Henry wanted the marriage annulled so he could marry Anne Boleyn. Wolsey was ordered to win the annulment from the Pope, and his failure led to his fall.

Words for the crisis 🔑

Learn these four terms before you judge the fall of Wolsey.

For and against the annulment 🆚

Henry had strong reasons to seek the annulment, but faced firm opposition.

Grade 9 thinking 💡

To reach the top grades, weigh the failure of the annulment against other causes of the fall, such as the enemies of Wolsey at court and the rise of the Boleyns.

Match the person to who they were 🔗

  • Catherine of Aragon
  • Anne Boleyn
  • Pope Clement VII
  • Charles V
  • the first wife of Henry
  • the woman Henry wished to marry
  • the Pope who refused the annulment
  • the nephew of Catherine and Holy Roman Emperor

Match the term to its meaning 🧩

  • annulment
  • succession
  • legatine court
  • male heir
  • a ruling that a marriage was never valid
  • who would inherit the throne
  • a church court held by representatives of the Pope
  • a son to inherit the crown

Why an annulment? ❓

Why did Henry want an annulment?

  • He wanted a male heir and wished to marry Anne Boleyn.
  • He wanted to seize the wealth of Catherine.
  • He wanted to declare war on the Pope.

Causes of the fall ✅

Select the TWO causes of the fall of Wolsey.

  • The failure to win the annulment.
  • The hostility of the Boleyns.
  • Winning a great war in France.
  • Closing the monasteries.

Order the crisis 🪜

An interactive activity.

Summarise the crisis 📝

Henry wanted a male _____ and wished to marry Anne _____. He asked the Pope for an _____, but Pope Clement _____ refused. When the London court failed, Wolsey lost the favour of the _____.

heir Boleyn annulment VII king Catherine Mary monasteries France Rome

Count the years 🔢

An interactive activity.

Spot the causes of the fall 🖍️

An interactive activity.

Reason, opposition or cause of the fall? 🧭

An interactive activity.

Assess the fall ✍️

An interactive activity.