Henry VIII and the Reformation in England

by: chris kazun

Henry VIII (1491-1547)

King of England from 1509-1547

Highly educatedspoke French,

English and LatinDevout CatholicDetested

ProtestantismHated Martin

Luther

First MarriageHenry betrothed to

Catherine of AragonSpanish-English

allianceProblem: She was

the widow of Henry’s brotherWas Henry’s sister

by marriagePope Leo X wrote a

dispensation allowing the marriage

1521Wrote a pamphlet which condemned Martin

Luther and his ideas “Defence of the Seven Sacraments” by Henry

VIIIGiven the title “Defender of the Faith” by

Pope Leo X 

A Catholic King

“ We have in this little book, gentle reader, clearly demonstrated, I hope, how absurdly and impiously Luther has handled the holy sacraments. …that others may understand how false and wicked his doctrine is, lest they might be so far deceived as to have a good opinion of him…” “…it is evident to all men what sacrilegious opinions he has of the sacrament of our Lord's Body, from which the sanctity of all the other sacraments flow:  who would have doubted, if I had said nothing else, how unworthily, without scruple, he treats all the rest of the sacraments?”“he so undervalues customs, doctrine, manners, laws, decrees and faith of the church (yea, the whole church itself) that he almost denies there is any such thing as a church, except perhaps such a one as himself makes up of two or three heretics, of whom himself is chief…”

Excerpts from “Defence of the Seven Sacraments”

Problems for HenryCatherine only bore

him one surviving childMary (1516–1558)Other children had

died in infancyNeeded a male heir to

succeed to the throneWithout an heir civil

war was likelyFelt God was punishing

him for marrying his brothers widow

Desired Pope to grant an annulment of his marriage to Catherine Annulment declares marriage invalid – it never

took placePope Clement VII (cousin of Leo X) refused to

grant the annulmentReasons:

Church was convinced marriage was legalpapal dispensation had been issued to allow marriage

to begin withPope needed to be cautious politically

Catherine's nephew was Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V

Pope refused to annul the marriage

Something needs to be done

Anne BoleynHenry married Anne,

1533Archbishop of

Canterbury annulled Henry’s marriage to Catherine in 1533

Anne also had trouble producing a male heir

Only surviving child was Elizabeth (1533-1603)

King of England was made supreme head of the Church in EnglandPope no longer had any religious authority in

EnglandAnne Boleyn was recognized as Queen All English subjects required to take oath of

allegiance to the kingThose who didn’t were imprisonedSpeaking out against Act of Supremacy =

execution

Act of Supremacy, 1543

Sir Thomas MoreGenerally cheerful with

great sense of humorHumanist – emphasis on

the value of humans and human actions

LawyerBecame increasingly

close to HenryWas often asked for

counsel/adviceHenry respected him

greatlyChancellor of England

(highest gov’t official)Followed policies of the

King

Thomas More Cont.Refused to recognize

Henry’s marriage to Anne Boleyn

Refused to take the oathNever spoke for or

against Act of SupremacyRemained loyal to the

king, but did not renounce the pope

2 reasons for refusal:violated scripture Violated Magna Carta

Imprisoned in Tower of London for a yearHenry tried to get him to

change his mind

Thomas meets his endTrial was held in

Parliament False testimony used

Thomas declared his support of the pope

Convicted of treasonBeheaded

To executioner: "Pluck up thy spirits, man, and be not afraid to do thine office. My neck is very short. Take heed, therefore, thou not strike awry for saving thine honesty. I die the King's good servant and God's first."

Established Anglican Church (Church of England)Despite breaking with Rome, Henry remained

extremely conservativeThe statements of faith and practice he

approved were very CatholicBig difference was rejecting pope’s authority

Maintained:TransubstantiationSacrament of penanceCelibacy of clergy (priests not marrying)

Rejected Luther’s teachingsAlways saw himself as a good Catholic

Henry’s Religious Views

After Henry VIIIEdward VI – Henry’s only

son (died age 15)His ministers tried to

turn England into a Lutheran state

Mary I (“Bloody Mary”)Re-established

CatholicismExecuted hundreds of

AnglicansElizabeth I

Solidified the dominance of Anglicanism

Incorporated bits and pieces of Protestant belief