Military Accomplishments of Henry VIII
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- Henry VIII mounted the biggest invasions of France since the reign of King Henry V
- The Mary Rose was built in 1509 / 1511 as the first English gunship
- Henry VIII established Deptford and Woolwich as the Royal Dockyards 1511 / 1512
- King Henry VIII was known as the “Father of the English Navy”
- Beginning wars with France and Scotland in 1514
- Battle of Flodden English victory over Scotland in 1513 which ended in 1517
- In 1522 England invaded France but abandons attempt in 1523
- The English navy increased under Henry VIII from just 5 ships at the beginning of his reign to about 60 ships
- Henry VIII created a great chain of coastal fortresses in the 1540s to defend England against the threat of invasion
- Renewed warfare with France and Scotland in 1542
- French landings on the English coast between 1545 and 1546 which were defeated
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Religious Accomplishments of Henry VIII
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- During his early years Henry VIII was a devout Catholic and with Sir Thomas More wrote the book called the 'Declaration of the Seven Sacraments Against Martin Luther' in 1520
- In 1521 Henry VIII was given the title 'Defender of the Faith' by Pope Leo X which is still used as part of the English monarch's titles
- Establishing the Church of England in 1534 and the Act of Supremacy
- Dissolution of the monasteries starting in 1536 and increasing the wealth of England
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Political Accomplishments of Henry VIII
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- King Henry VIII added Imperial concepts of Kingship to existing Feudal concepts
- Henry VIII decreased the power of the nobles and increased the power of Parliament and the monarchy
- New lands and positions were created due to the dissolution of the monasteries - all granted by King Henry VIII
- The Act of Appeals in 1533 aided the constitutional development of England
- The Union of England and Wales which was legally accomplished by Parliament in 1536 and 1543
- He was accorded the title King of Ireland by the Irish Parliament in 1541
- Henry VIII entered politically advantageous marriages with Spain and Germany
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Personal Accomplishments of Henry VIII
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- Produced three children who all ruled as the King or Queens of England continuing the Tudor Dynasty: King Edward VI, Bloody Mary and Queen Elizabeth I
- Henry VIII was a keen musician and reputed to have composed 'Greensleeves' and 'Helas Madame'
- In his younger years King Henry VIII was fine horseman and athlete who excelled in the joust and also playing sports such as tennis
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