Thomas Wolsey

Thomas Wolsey (born between 1471 and 1476 at Ipswich, Suffolk; died 29 November 1530) was an English statesman and archbishop. He was made a cardinal in 1515. Of humble origin, Thomas Wolsey became the principal figure in affairs of state for many years during the reign of King Henry VIII of England before falling into disgrace.

His Grand Eminence The Right Honourable Thomas Wolsey
Portrait of Cardinal Wolsey at Trinity College, University of Cambridge (c. 1585–1596)
Lord High Chancellor of England
In office 1515–1529
Preceded by	William Warham
Succeeded by	Sir Thomas More
His Eminence Thomas Wolsey Cardinal, Archbishop of York, Primate of England Appointed 15 September 1514 Reign ended 29 November 1530 Predecessor Christopher Bainbridge Successor Edward Lee Other posts Cardinal-Priest of S. Cecilia (1515–1530) Orders Ordination 10 March 1498 Consecration 26 March 1514 by William Warham Created Cardinal 10 September 1515 Personal details Born March 1473 Ipswich, Suffolk, England Died 29 November 1530 (aged 57) Leicester, Leicestershire, England Buried Leicester Abbey Nationality English Denomination Roman Catholicism Parents Robert Wolsey (father) and Joan Daundy (mother) Previous post Bishop of Lincoln (1514) Administrator of Bath and Wells (1518–1523) Administrator of Durham (1523–1530) Administrator of Winchester (1529–1530) Alma mater Magdalen College, Oxford Coat of arms Thomas Wolsey's coat of arms

Cardinal Wolsey chiefly developed his talents in managing the foreign policy of the kingdom on behalf of Henry VIII. In spite of the many enemies who envied his ambition, he was able to acquire the confidence of the king until the latter decided to have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled in order to marry Anne Boleyn.

Chronology

• Between 1471 and 1476: born at Ipswich.
• 10 March 1498: ordained priest.
• 1509: Dean of Lincoln; made royal almoner and member of the Council.
• 1514: Took Thomas More into his service to look after his revenue.
• 1515: Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor of England.
  • 10 September 1515: Pope Leo X created Wolsey a cardinal.
• 1516: Obtained from Leo X the title of cardinal-legate. He proceeded to take the possessions of thirty monasteries and put himself forward as a candidate to become Pope.
• 1518: Bishop of Bath and Wells (while still Archbishop of York)
• 1522: Resigned Bishopric of Bath and Wells
• 1525: Founded Cardinal College at Oxford (afterwards Christ Church), one of the largest and richest colleges of the University of Oxford.
• 1529: The varying attitudes of Wolsey, wishing to keep the Pope happy, had the effect of destroying his credit with the king. In the autumn, impelled by Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII brought charges against Thomas Wolsey. He was dismissed from his office of Lord Chancellor and deprived of his properties, including the palace of Whitehall, where Henry decided go and live, instead of Westminster Palace.
• 29 November 1530: He died of exhaustion at Leicester while being transferred to the Tower of London.

Thomas Wolsey Media

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  Heraldic banner of Wolsey as Archbishop of York, showing the arms of the See of York impaling his personal arms, with a cardinal's hat above. The griffin supporter holds the Lord Chancellor's mace

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  Thomas Wolsey by an unknown artist c. 1520 held in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

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  Queen Catherine of Aragon, by an unknown artist

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  Hampton Court Palace, London

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  Bust of Thomas Cardinal Wolsey kept at St Stephen Church – Ipswich

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  Bronze statue of Thomas Cardinal Wolsey in St Nicholas Street, Ipswich

Other websites

• Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Wolsey, Thomas Archived 2011-11-18 at the Wayback Machine
• Catholic-Hierarchy, Thomas Cardinal Wolsey