Thomas Wolsey was an English statesman and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. The highest political position he attained was Lord Chancellor, the King's chief adviser, enjoying great freedom and often depicted as an alter rex (other king). His main legacy is from his interest in architecture.

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He was perhaps best known as the peacemaker of Europe and in 1518 he orchestrated the Treaty of London. As a Cardinal and legate a latere Wolsey probably viewed himself as the Pope's emissary to Henry VIII's Court and it was generally agreed within the Roman Catholic Church that those wishing to promote Christianity ought also to advocate peace. Twenty different nations signed including the dominant European powers of the era, which were Spain and France (these two being rivals and the monarch of England typically seeking to play off one against the other to their own advantage). Wolsey served as a tempering influence over Henry VIII, who was apt to seek glory in the field and admired the reputation of his ancestor Henry V.

Cardinal Wolsey also made most of the arrangements for the 1520 Field of the Cloth of Gold, a diplomatic meeting that took place between Henry VIII and Francis I. Wolsey was adept at keeping both the French and Spanish guessing as to which his sovereign would choose to form an alliance with: whilst both were hopeful, both were anxious to maintain friendly relations with England, which, given that England was only a very small island apt to be prey to the ambitions of foreign Princes ruling over far larger and wealthier kingdoms, was vital. Cardinal Wolsey was a seasoned politician, and in dissuading the King from pursuing pro-aggression policies and instead persuading him of the potential glory that could be had through appearing to be Europe's peacemaker, he achieved what few others were able to.

It has been stated above that Cardinal Wolsey took a keen inerest in architecture: his most notable legacy being Hampton Court Palace and Christ Church College, Oxford (then known as Cardinal College). In 1528 Wolsey gave the Palace to King Henry as a gift, possibly to serve as a peace offering. Hampton Court rivalled the Court of the state in its splendour to the extent that it was said, 'why come ye not to Court? To the King's Court or to Hampton Court?' Cardinal College was not completed during Wolsey's lifetime but toward the end of Henry VIII's reign when the King evinced an interest in completing his former minister's project.

Cardinal Wolsey is also famous for his fall from grace, this being memorably depicted in William Shakespeare's play 'Henry VIII.' This occurred in 1529, and in spite of claims to the contrary was probably largely attributable to his failure to prevail against Queen Catherine of Aragorn's defendant Cardinal Campeggio in procuring the King a divorce from his first wife. The King was somewhat in thrall to Anne Boleyn and her faction, who had no reason to love Wolsey, and it was owing to them that the King's former favourite and chief minister lost his favour and his ear. Cardinal Wolsey was arrested on a trumped-up charge of praemunire (placing allegiance to the Papacy above allegiance to the State) and taken to London, where he would probably face a sentence to be executed - but perhaps fortunately for him he died on the journey. Hope this helps,

Kate x

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