Henry the VIII 1509-1547

Wanted to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon because she had failed to

produce a male heir

Had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn (a lady-in-waiting to

the queen)• Anne refused to be just a mistress

• Henry needed a legitimate son for a male heir

Pope might under normal circumstances annul the marriage,

but. . .

• Sack of Rome in 1527 had made the Pope dependent on Charles the V (emperor of HRE).

• Charles the V was the nephew of Catherine

Henry advised to cut ties with Rome

• Parliament cut off all appeals from English church courts to Rome

• Ended Papal Authority in England

• Jan. 1533, king’s marriage was announced “null and absolutely void” and his marriage to Anne was validated

• 3 months later she had a child—a girl, named Elizabeth.

Act of Supremacy

• 1534—declared that the king was “taken, accepted, and reputed the only supreme head on earth of the Church of England.” (Anglican Church)

• This meant that the English Monarch now controlled all matters of doctrine, clerical appointments, and discipline.

Treason Act

• Made it punishable by death to deny that the king was the supreme head of the church.

• Would be challenged by Thomas More—who would be beheaded on July 6, 1535.

King keeps trying. . .

• Anne would be beheaded in 1536 on accounts of adultery

• #3, Jane Seymour produced the long awaited male heir, but died 12 days later.

• #4, Anne of Cleves, was a German princess, and arranged for political purposes.

– The painting of her turned out to be a bit flattering

– Disappointed with her, he quickly divorced her

• #5, Catherine Howard; prettier than #4, but preferred other men than Henry—she was beheaded

• #6, Catherine Parr; She would outlive him.

                    

       Catherine of Aragon

m. 1509 - 1533

Divorced

                    

       Anne Boleyn

m. 1533 - 1536

Executed

                    

       Jane Seymour

m. 1536 - 1537Died

                  

Anne of Cleves

m. 1540 Jan. - July

Divorced

Kathryn Howard

m. 1540 - 1542

Executed

Katherine Parr

m. 1543 - 1547

Widowed 

Henry would be briefly succeeded by his sickly son Edward VI (1547-1553), the

son of Jane Seymour.

Evolution of the Church

• Thomas Cromwell worked out details for the new church.

– Monasteries were taken over and possessions were confiscated by the King.

– Many were sold to nobles, gentry, and some merchants. (added to his supporters)

– Moved towards more Protestant Doctrines (clergy’s right to marry, elimination of imagery, and new guide book, “Book of Common Prayer”

ARCHBISHOP THOMAS CRANMERBORN: 1489

EXECUTED: 21 MARCH 1556 

Archbishop of Canterbury from 1533 to 1553. Granted the annulment of Henry VIII and

Catherine of Aragon's marriage. Burned at the stake in Mary I's reign.

Cromwell was the chief minister to Henry VIII from 1532 to 1540. He supported English reformers such as Robert Barnes and Hugh Latimer, but he did not

institute doctrinal changes in the Church of England. However, he did promote the use of the English Bible.

He was executed on July 28, 1540 for treason and heresy

CHARLES V, KING OF SPAIN AND HOLY ROMAN EMPEROR

BORN: 1500DIED: 1558

                        

Charles V by Titian Prado, Madrid

  Nephew of Catherine of Aragon and cousin of Mary I.

Phillip II of Spain

Queen Mary Queen Elizabeth