Thomas Wolsey (c. March 1473 – 29 November 1530; sometimes spelled Woolsey) is an English political figure and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

When Henry VIII becomes King of England in 1509, Wolsey becomes the King's almoner.

Wolsey's affairs prosper, and by 1514 he has become the controlling figure in virtually all matters of state and extremely powerful within the Church.

The highest political position he attains is Lord Chancellor, the King's chief adviser.

In this position, he enjoys great freedom and is often depicted as an alter rex (other king).

He falls out of favor after failing to negotiate an annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon and is stripped of his government titles.

He retreats to York to fulfill his ecclesiastical duties as Archbishop of York, a position he nominally holds but had neglected during his years in government.

He is recalled to London to answer to charges of treason—a common charge used by Henry against ministers who fall out of favor—but dies en route of natural causes.

Within the Church, he had become Archbishop of York, the second most important cleric in England, and then was made a cardinal in 1515, giving him precedence even over the Archbishop of Canterbury.