# Cardinal Wolsey — Henry VIII character guide > Cardinal Wolsey in Henry VIII by William Shakespeare. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Wolsey, Sir Thomas Lovell, Lovell, Wolsey Sir Thomas Lovell, Wolsey Sir, Sir Thomas More, Wolsey That, Sir Thomas, Wolsey Madam, Cardinal Wolsey, the Cardinal, Wolsey It, Wolsey All goodness, Wolsey Cromwell, Wolsey The Duke of Buckingham, worthy Wolsey, Wolsey Good lord chamberlain **First appearance:** 0002-act-i ## Snapshot The Lord Chancellor who places himself beneath the king's feet and engineers his rivals' ruin, never imagining the same machinery could turn on him. ## Who they are Wolsey dominates the council chamber, leaning on royal favor while quietly buying witnesses and framing Buckingham for treason. He blames the people's tax grievances on others, telling Katherine he knows 'but of a single part' in state affairs, even as her subjects curse his name. His ambition makes him the play's great engine of intrigue, and his eventual fall reveals how quickly a king's gratitude can curdle into suspicion. ## Relationships ### [King Henry VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/king_henry_viii) _psychological_ Wolsey manipulates and serves Henry's desires, but their relationship is marked by Henry's eventual rejection and Wolsey's downfall. ### [Duke of Buckingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/duke_of_buckingham) _rivalry_ Wolsey actively plots against Buckingham, leading to his arrest and execution, making them bitter enemies. ### [Queen Katherine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/queen_katherine) _rivalry_ Wolsey opposes Katherine's marriage to Henry and works to undermine her, creating deep enmity. ### [Gardiner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/gardiner) _professional_ Gardiner is Wolsey's secretary and protégé, but later betrays him to side with the king. ### [First Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/first_gentleman) _social_ Wolsey is observed by the First Gentleman, but they have no direct interaction or bond. ### [Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/cromwell) _professional_ Cromwell is Wolsey's loyal servant and assistant, deeply devoted to him even after his fall. ### [Griffith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/griffith) _rivalry_ Griffith is loyal to Katherine and critical of Wolsey, creating an adversarial dynamic. ### [King Henry VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/king_henry_viii) _psychological_ Wolsey manipulates and serves Henry's desires, but their relationship is marked by Henry's eventual rejection and Wolsey's downfall. ### [King Henry VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/king_henry_viii) _psychological_ Wolsey manipulates and serves Henry's desires, but their relationship is marked by Henry's eventual rejection and Wolsey's downfall. ### [Duke of Buckingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/duke_of_buckingham) _rivalry_ Wolsey actively plots against Buckingham, leading to his arrest and execution, making them bitter enemies. ### [First Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/first_gentleman) _social_ Wolsey is observed by the First Gentleman, but they have no direct interaction or bond. ### [Queen Katherine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/queen_katherine) _rivalry_ Wolsey opposes Katherine's marriage to Henry and works to undermine her, creating deep enmity. ## In the story ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i) Implied orchestrator of Buckingham's arrest; accused of ambition and corruption. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii) Stands under the King's feet, defends himself against accusations of devising the taxes, and secretly arranges for the pardon to be credited to his own intercession. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii) Mentioned as hosting a great supper; praised for his bounteous mind and liberal hand. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv) Hosts the feast and orchestrates the evening's entertainment, showing his political and social influence. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i) Accompanies Buckingham to his execution, seeking and receiving forgiveness from the duke. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i) Implicated as the instigator behind Buckingham's downfall and the plot against Queen Katherine, driven by personal revenge. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii) Presents Campeius and the commission, promotes Gardiner, and defends his actions against criticism. ### [Scene IV: The Divorce Trial at Blackfriars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv) Serves as judge alongside Campeius, denies accusations of bias, and is cleared by the King of initiating the divorce proceedings. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Wolsey, along with Campeius, visits Queen Katherine to discuss the king's divorce. He attempts to present their visit as peaceful counsel, but Katherine distrusts him. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Schemes against Anne Bullen and Cranmer; confronted by the King about his wealth; accused of treason by Surrey; falls from power and advises Cromwell. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii) Discussed posthumously; his death, repentance, and legacy are recounted by Griffith and critiqued by Katherine. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i) Meets Gardiner, shares news of the queen's labor, and later escorts Cranmer to the king. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters/cardinal_wolsey - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/henry_viii_se/characters