The English Reformation
The theology of Martin Luther helped spark the Reformation in continental Europe, from Bohemia to
France to the Scandinavian countries. In England, however, the Reformation began differently. In 1527,
the king of England, Henry VIII, longed for a male heir to inherit his throne.
His wife, Catherine of Aragon, had only given birth to one child, a
girl, named Mary. Henry decided to have his marriage annulled,
so he would be free to marry another woman, a young beauty
named Anne Boleyn.
Such annulments were granted in Henry’s time by the
Catholic Church. (The Church didn't sanction divorce.) Henry
request for annulment had some legal grounds. His wife was
the widow of Henry’s brother, Arthur, and such marriages were
a violation of canonical law. Henry’s request was not an unusual
one. Popes had annulled marriages for the French kings Louis XII
and Francis I, and two of Henry’s sisters had been granted annulments.
But Henry’s request was to no avail. Pope Clement VII would not grant the
annulment. At that time, Rome and much of the Italian peninsula were under the control of Emperor
Charles V. Henry’s wife, Catherine, was Charles’s aunt. Furious, Henry VIII took other steps, appealing
for support from theologians at several universities. He used diplomacy to convince the pope to change
his mind.
Nothing seemed to work. Then, in 1531, an English Church Council, known as the Convocation,
declared Henry VIII head of the Catholic Church in England. They took this step after much harassment
and many threats from Henry. He then began to collect for himself the taxes annually raised to support
the papacy. Over the next few years, Henry solidified his leadership over the Church in England.
Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, recognizing Henry as the head of the English Church. This
decision by Parliament brought about the formal separation of England from the Roman Catholic Church.
With that, the pope excommunicated Henry, a decision he dismissed as unimportant. At the same time,
the Convocation agreed to the annulment of Henry’s marriage to Catherine. (By that time, Henry VIII had
secretly married Anne Boleyn, who was already pregnant.)
For these reasons, the beginning of the English Reformation was different, indeed, from the reform
movement on the Continent. Officially, the break of England from Rome was a separation within the
existing Church structure. Henry, in fact, had not been a supporter of the Luther-inspired Reformation. He
even wrote a book in opposition to Luther in 1521. In many ways, Henry never stopped thinking of
himself as a devout, believing Catholic. Yet the English government began systematically tearing down
Catholicism. Monasteries were closed, and monastic lands were confiscated by the government. Many of
the monks and nuns retired under the threat of such moves. The English Reformation had many
supporters in England. Englishmen resented the Church’s great wealth and landholdings. Church taxes,
called tithes, were high, as well as the fees clergymen charged for funerals and burials. Henry VIII
legitimized his defiance against the Catholic Church through a series of Parliamentary laws. He also made
former monastic lands available for sale to English lords and other wealthy people in an effort to garner
their support for him and his new English Church.
1. Why did Henry VIII want an annulment?
2. Why wouldn't the Pope give Henry an annulment?
3. What did the Act of Supremacy do?
4. How did Henry VIII solidify his control over the Catholic Church in England?
Henry VIII’s Wives
He was obsessed with having a son and heir to the throne. We now know, however, it is the father who
determines the gender of a baby.
#1 Catherine of Aragon He divorced her. She had one daughter, Mary.
She was the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, the very Catholic monarchs of Spain.
They were married for 24 years (1509-33). She had six children, but they all died, except one a girl.
#2 Anne Boleyn He beheaded her. She had one daughter, Elizabeth.
Because of her, Henry VIII got a divorce, broke with the Catholic Church, and started the Church of
England. He married her, hoping she would bear him a son and heir. She had a girl. Her daughter,
Elizabeth I. They were married for only 3 years (1533-36).Henry VIII accused her of adultery. Adultery
against a King was treason and was beheaded, 1536.
#3 Jane Seymour She died in childbirth. She had one son, Edward VI.
He married her, hoping she would bear him a son and heir. She did. Then she died 12 days later (1536).
#4 Anne of Cleves He divorced her.
He married her for political reasons. She was a German princess and he wanted to ally England
(Protestant) with Germany (Protestant). He divorced her after only six months (1540).
#5 Catherine Howard He executed her.
Henry VIII accused her of adultery/treason. Beheaded, 1542. Married only two years (1540-42).
#6 Catherine Parr She outlived him.
The last wife of Henry VIII of England. They were married for four years (1543-47) and then he died.
Henry VIII’s Children
 Edward VI 1537-1553 Protestant Son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. In 1547, Henry VIII died and
Edward became King of England. Eddie was only 10 years old. A sickly child, Eddie died at 16.
 Mary I 1516-1558 Catholic Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. In 1533, her father
divorced her mother: The 17-year-old was declared “illegitimate". In 1553, her half-brother (Eddie)
died and she became Queen. She married Philip II, the very Catholic King of Spain the English
people regarded Spain as an enemy and Philip as a foreign spy. She restored the Catholic Church
and made it the state religion. Mary was nicknamed “Bloody Mary” because she had 300 Protestants
burned at the stake for heresy. She died childless in 1558.
 Elizabeth I 1533-1603 Protestant Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. In 1558, her half sister
(Mary) died and she became Queen. She was 25 years old. Her country was a poor, second-rate
power, torn by religious strife. She set up the Anglican Church. (America, we call it the Episcopal)
During her reign, England became a world power, she became England’s greatest Queen. She had
no children. Her cousin’s son - James - became King of England after her death.
Directions: Answer all questions completely.
5. Explain what happened to each wife of Henry VIII.
6. Explain what happened to each child of Henry VIII.
7. Do you think a religious leader should also be a political leader? explain
your answer.