Wolsey 550

By Emily.Shepperson
  • 1473

    Birth

    Thomas Wolsey was born in 1473, Ipswich.
  • Period: 1473 to 1530

    Wolsey: A Timeline of Events

  • 1478

    Starting School

    Wolsey starts his education at Ipswich School.
  • 1484

    University

    In 1484, Wolsey starts university at Magdalen College Oxford and graduates in 1488 aged 15.
  • 1489

    Bursar and Priest

    Started work at Magdalen College as a Bursar and later as a priest and Dean of Divinity.
  • 1507

    Start of Service for King Henry VIII

    Wolsey entered the service of King Henry VII as secretary to Richard Foxe. The King was keen to promote staff from working class backgrounds.
  • 1509

    No Invitation?

    King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon were crowned at Westminster Abbey. Wolsey was not invited.
  • 1511

    Invasion of France

    Despite personally being against it Wolsey supported Henry VIII’s plan to invade France as he knew it would build his relationship with the King as his trusted advisor.
  • 1514

    Hampton Court Palace

    Started building Hampton Court Palace.
  • 1515

    Cardinal and Power!

    At the request of King Henry VIII, Pope Leo X made Wolsey a cardinal.
    King Henry VIII makes Wolsey Lord Chancellor of England. Wolsey is at the height of his power with responsibilities for both church and state.
  • 1520

    Britain and Frances Relationship

    Field of the Cloth of Gold coordinated by Wolsey to improve friendship between England and France towards a peace treaty across Europe.
  • 1524

    Cardinal College

    Establishes Cardinal College Oxford (Christchurch College)
  • 1525

    Tax

    Amicable Grant is enforced to raise money from taxes to pay for King Henry VIII’s war with France. There was widespread objection, and the tax was rapidly withdrawn.
  • 1527

    End of a Marriage

    Wolsey is instructed to obtain an annulment for King Henry VIII for his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he can marry Anne Boleyn and produce a male heir.
  • 1528

    Work Starts

    Work starts on Cardinal College Ipswich.
  • 1529

    Guilty?

    Wolsey pleads guilty to a charge of Praemunire of having overstepped his authority and loses his job as Lord Chancellor.
    Wolsey surrenders the Great Seal of office and was sent North to stay in York away from court. Looses most of his titles and income.
  • 1529

    Court Ruling is Undecided

    Cardinals Wolsey and Campeggio preside a legatine court to rule on whether the Kings marriage was null and void. Queen Catherine delivers a powerful speech to say her marriage is valid. The court could not reach a decision and was dissolved.
  • 1530

    Arrested

    Arrested for High treason and starts the journey back to London for trial.
    25 days later Thomas Wolsey dies at Leicester Abbey.