Hampton Court Palace

            Unlike other notable sixteenth and seventeenth century institutions, the functions attributed to Hampton Court Palace can be observed as maintaining a certain impression of pragmatism that monuments such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey noticeably lack. Whereas other Elizabethan and Renaissance establishments were constructed with the primary intent of signifying the monarch’s absolute sovereignty, Hampton Court Palace, located well outside the city limits of London in what would have once been a sprawling countryside, is described as being “a potent symbol of political intrigue and even violence.” <Guardian :24>

            Originally a manor house, ownership of Hampton Court Palace was relinquished unto Henry VIII in 1525 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who in addition to his religious honors was also the chief political adviser to Henry VIII and was largely responsible for establishing England as an authoritative entity within the gamut of foreign diplomacy and politics  In addition to its function as a royal residence, Hampton Court Palace is primarily characterized by its implicit function as the idyllic political institution where Henry VIII, and eventually James I, entertained and negotiated with foreign dignitaries throughout the renaissance. The architecture and renovated additions contracted by Henry VIII constitute a tangible reflection of the palace’s intended purpose as a political established rivaling that of Louis XIV’s palace in Versailles. Many of Henry’s extraneous additions such as the cloister and great hall were specifically constructed in accordance to accommodate specific political assemblies. The kitchens of Hampton Court Palace are considered the largest of their kind; the most probable rationale behind their expansive size would be  to cook and feed the vast influx of various aristocrats and foreign ambassadors that assembled there to conduct governmental policies. A notable example of these foreign congregations occurred in 1527 following England’s endorsement of a peace treaty with France. The peace negations were conducted at Hampton Court Palace and were considered a crucial concordance necessary to the success of Henry’s continued attempts to persuade the Pope to annul his marriage with Katherine of Aragon. The Palace’s unique design specifically catering to the demands of foreign diplomacy greatly contributed to its success as a political establishment. Evidence of documented letters revealed that foreign ambassadors were particularly ingratiated to the Palace and assert that the building itself constituted an influential component in their diverse political policies and interactions. <Page>

            In 1603, following the ascension of James VI of Scotland to the English throne (later christened James I of England), one thousand puritans signed the “Millenary Petition”; a document appealing to James to further reform the Anglican Church to better accommodate the religious preferences of the puritan sect.  In response James I hand selected and summoned nineteen clergymen and four puritans to the Palace and conducted what is now referred to as the Hampton Court Conference. On January 14^th, 1604 the select individuals met in the King’s Privy Chamber, east of the Clock Court and began to strenuously address the various religious grievances presented by the four puritan representatives. <Page>Despite the obvious biases demonstrated by James when orchestrating the general proceedings of the Conference, the concluding result would fundamentally revolutionize religion in England and yield one of the most influential books ever printed: the King James Bible.