The Dissolution of the Monasteries

In this lecture, we focus on the dissolution of the monasteries in England from 1536-40, focusing in particular on: (i) the history of the dissolution of monasteries in England; (ii) the first systematic dissolution of the monasteries under Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1525; (iii) why Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries; (iv) the nature of Henry VIII’s religious views, including the influence of Erasmian theology; (v) the escalation of the dissolution of the monasteries and its legal basis; and (vi) resistance to the dissolution of the monasteries, including the monks of the London Charterhouse and the Brigittines of Xion, and the abbots of Glastonbury, Reading, and Colchester.
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This lecture is part of a larger course exploring the history of monasticism in Britain, starting with its origins in the 5th and 6th centuries and ending with the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. The full course can be found here: massolit.io/courses/britain-monasticism-598-1540?source=yt
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MASSOLIT works with university academics to produce short video lectures in the arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is available to schools and colleges on an institutional license as well as via private subscription: massolit.io/?source=yt

[@maureenelsden1927]

Correction: The Carthusian monks of the London Charterhouse were starved to death in Newgate jail. St John Houghton, Carthusian Prior of the London Charterhouse, Protomartyr of the English Reformation, was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn for refusing to take the Oath recognising Henry VIII as Supreme Head of the Church in England. Thomas Cromwell threatened the jury that refused to convict St John Houghton with the same fate. Wolsey was executed for treason for not getting Henry an annulment.

[@michaelperigo6746]

While small or dysfunctional monasteries may have been dissolved, many/most were (sometimes immediately) repopulated by monastics of other Orders or communities, if Benedictine.

[@silvestromedia]

Thanks for posting 😇😇🍷🍷⛑⛑🌴🌴

[@keithsmith3386]

I would implore that the word "dissolution '' never ever be used to describe what happened to the English deformation of the Catholic Church. It was quite obviously the destruction of the monasteries!!!

[@user-rg9yz5ou4y]

Several academics have made podcasts on CZcams rationalizing Henry VIII's destruction and vandalizing of all of England's monasteries and seizing their wealth for himself. I suppose there are podcasts rationalizing and justifying Hitler's crimes, so why not rationalizing his predessesor, Henry VIII. Henry and his henchman Cromwell destroyed England's archetectural and artistic heritage, the many great artworks in the monasteries, and the vast archives of the these institutions, which contains primary documents of all sorts going back to Anglo-Saxon times. It was the greatest and most criminal act of vandalism prior to Mao's destruction of the Tibetan monasteries five hundred years later. Why can't you academics get it in your heads that Henry was a selfish, greedy and violent man who stole from everyone and gave to himself? Their is something obscene about the contemporary academics who seek to rationalize this tyrants' crimes.

[@lukeevatt7638]

While I agree that Henry was a tyrant, with many of his policies such as said dissolution being for personal gain rather than religious purposes, many monastic houses were corrupt much like the church at the time ( Mostly). Although this of course does not justify the extent of their dissolution or it's nature as not only were many integral to local society but also their wealth unfairly stolen

[@johnmurray5573]

Academic thinking is for the most part group think.

[@Anpi-xx6my]

.... And in fact on the day of his second marriage tò Anne Boleyn the English welcomed here with indifference (if not open HOSTILITY)... And when Henry VIII died they sighed with relief...

[@Anpi-xx6my]

​​@@lukeevatt7638 Ande the "related activites" that revolved around the convents and monasteries?
The farmers, who lived off their income and supplemented by work in the friars'/monks' garden's?
Or the many poor and infirm people who lived on the charity of those religious people (including alms, nursing homes or shelters attached tò many convents and monasteries?
Or cities that are destinations for pilgrimages and relics, such as St. Thomas Becket in Canterbury?
Which inspired Geoffrey Chaucher (the "Canterbury Tales" were actually about pilgrims on a "pilgrim" journey towards the capital of Kent), where not all damage, for those people and even economic.
Given the related activites that brought about the entire movement of pilgrims, including accomodation and food and above all the "poor" I mentioned above?