Star Chamber

The Star Chamber was an English court of law at the royal Palace of Westminster that began sessions in 1487 and ended them in 1641 when the court itself was abolished. The court was so named because the court chamber had a pattern of stars on a dark blue background painted on its ceiling.

Under the Lord Chancellor

Under the leadership of Lord Chancellor Thomas Wolsey and Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer (1515-1529), the Court of Star Chamber became a political weapon for bringing actions against opponents to the policies of Henry VIII, his ministers and his parliament.

Related Topics:
Thomas Wolsey - Archbishop of Canterbury - Thomas Cranmer - 1515 - 1529 - Henry VIII - Minister - Parliament

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Although the court was initially a court of appeal, Henry VIII and his councillors Wolsey and Cranmer encouraged plaintiffs to bring their cases directly to the Star Chamber, bypassing the lower courts entirely.

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