Henry VIII’s Closest Friend
King Henry VIII of England reigned from 1509 until 1547 and was constantly preoccupied with one thing: military success. Namely, Henry was obsessed with pressing his claim to the French throne. Through success and failure, at times of prosperity and of financial ruin, there was rarely a moment when Henry wasn’t thinking about invading France or wasn’t fighting in France himself. His interest in warfare was a testament to the King’s vanity and his obsession with preserving his public image. His father, Henry VII, had ended his reign with a controversial reputation, ruthlessly maintaining a grip over the laws of England and keeping its nobility on a tight leash. As a young man, Henry VIII wanted his reputation to be one of a warrior king.
As Henry grew older he became increasingly paranoid, afraid of threats lurking behind every corner. Henry VIII was not afraid to execute those who had previously been his closest friends and allies. Thomas More had been executed in 1535 for failing to adhere to Henry’s religious demands, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey had died on his way to a trial which would have likely resulted in his execution, and on 28 July 1540 (only a few months after being given the earldom of Essex) Thomas Cromwell perished upon the scaffold. With Henry executing his friends left, right, and centre, was there anyone who he really trusted until the end?
