Henry VIII,the Reign
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Henry VIII, the Reign - 1520
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Henry VIII,the Reign
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Timeline 1520
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Strait of Dover Dictates Events
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Not for the first time and certainly not for the last time, the Strait of Dover controlled events.
Charles V was driven by the need to establish communications between his dominions, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, all now united for the first time under one sceptre.
There were two alternative routes.
The first was through the Straits of Dover and the second was from Barcelona to Genoa and thence through Milan to the Tyrol.
France might threaten both (France at this time occupied Milan).
Her threat in the English Channel could be parried by an English alliance, and for this reason Charles, in spite of all provocation, maintained his friendship with Henry VIII.

discover more about the 1520s on Henry VIII the Reign's 'An old Tale of Wives' Page


Francis and Henry Grow to Love Each Other
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January 1520
Since the peace of 1514 between England and France, there had been on–off plans for the sovereigns to meet, but Habsburg Queen Catherine did not like the Valois French and so frustrated Henry’s wishes. An arrangement in 1519 had, like others before it, fallen through, so to express his disappointment Henry started to grow a beard. He vowed not to shave until he met the King of France. Apparently Francis did the same.
Catherine, however, put a stop to that too; disliking both the French and the beard, she ‘daily made him great instance and desired him to put it off for her sake’.
Henry submitted with the apology that his love for Francis was not in their beards but in their hearts. 
In the end, both men had their way.

Francis Appoints Papal Legate Wolsey as His Proctor

23 February 1520
Wolsey proposed to Francis that both kings should appoint him as their proctor to make the arrangements for the proposed meeting on their behalf, not in his capacity as Henry's minister but in his role as impartial papal legate. 

Charles Also Wants a Meeting

Charles asked to meet Henry and Wolsey before they met Francis. Arrangements were made for him to land at Sandwich, Kent, on his way back to the Netherlands from Spain by ship. 

Charles in England

26 May 1520
The plans materialised and after visiting his mother, Joanna, at Tordesillas, Charles sailed from Corunna in north-west Spain and arrived at Dover, rather than Sandwich, met by Wolsey. He then spent three days with his aunt Catherine and Henry at Canterbury.

Wolsey and His Subordinates Showered with Imperial Gifts

As a mark of goodwill, Charles offered Wolsey Spanish bishoprics and their revenues for himself and annuities were also accepted for his servants Thomas Ruthall, Richard Pace and Brian Tuke.
He then sailed to the Netherlands and then Henry and Wolsey sailed to Calais.

Francis and Henry at Field of the Cloth of Gold

June 7–24 1520 
Field of Cloth was the summit meeting organised by Wolsey. It was outlandishly lavish and infamous for its glamour, extravagance and lack of apparent political significance. 
Francis, however, did beat Henry at wrestling.

 Excommunication Bull for Luther

15 June 1520
Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, Pope Leo X, threatened to issue a bull of excommunication against Luther unless he recanted his anti-papal opinions within sixty days.

Second Meeting with Charles Gravelines

24 June 1520
Before returning home after the ostentatious Field of the Cloth of Gold, Henry and Wolsey travelled east to Gravelines, accompanied by Queen Catherine, for another meeting with Charles.
This was a far smaller and cheaper affair than the Field of Cloth.

Selim I Dies

22 September 1520
The Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, who had been a military threat to Christendom in the east, died in Carlu, Turkey.

Luther Burns His Bull

10 December 1520
 Luther burns the Pope's bull at Wittenberg in the presence of a cheering crowd
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Henry VIII, the Reign.
Henry VIII, the Reign.
  • Home Page : Henry VIII A Summary, by Mark Holinshed
  • Pages Guide
  • Henry VIII Timeline
  • Quick Facts
  • About
  • An Old Tale of Wives Henry VIII the Reign Video Series
  • Cardinal Thomas Wolsey
  • Forum Link