A Faithful Servant: the Ambition and Power of Thomas Wolsey Essay Example

prominent position in England. This disapproval towards Wolsey arose from the fact that, as a clergyman, he was supposed to live modestly. However, this was not true and Wolsey swiftly acquired a reputation for simultaneously holding multiple ecclesiastical positions, referred to as pluralism. With his close connection to the king, Wolsey became dean of Lincoln and bishop of Lincoln in 1509 and 1514 respectively, coinciding with his appointment as archbishop of York.

In 1515, Wolsey became Cardinal. He also took on the roles of abbot of St. Albans and bishop of Bath in 1518. Later in 1524, he traded the bishopric of Bath for Durham and eventually became bishop of Winchester. Throughout these appointments, he retained his position as Archbishop of York. The king's preference for Wolsey in bestowing him with numerous titles led to the development of many enemies. Some historians interpret Wolsey's accumulation of titles as evidence of his ambition towards the king, while others perceive it as a manifestation of his aspirations within the Church.

From 1518 onwards, Wolsey served as the pope's legate in England, while harboring his own deep desire to become pope. Despite facing opposition within Henry's court, Wolsey maintained the king's trust and favor until Henry sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1519, aiming to marry the ambitious Anne Boleyn.