Henry VIII and the Henry VIII and the Reformation in EnglandReformation in England

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The English ReformationThe English Reformation Late medieval England had a reputation for Late medieval England had a reputation for

maintaining the rights of the king against the maintaining the rights of the king against the pope.pope.

religious leaders had called for Church reform religious leaders had called for Church reform since the 1300’s. since the 1300’s.

By the 1520’s, English clergy were toying with By the 1520’s, English clergy were toying with Protestant ideas.Protestant ideas.

England’s break from the Catholic Church was England’s break from the Catholic Church was not work of religious leaders however. not work of religious leaders however.

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

For political reasons, For political reasons, Henry VIII wanted to end Henry VIII wanted to end papal control over the papal control over the English church. English church.

AnnulmentAnnulment At first, Henry VIII stood firmly against the At first, Henry VIII stood firmly against the

Protestant revolt. Protestant revolt. The pope even awarded him the title The pope even awarded him the title

“Defender of the Faith” for a pamphlet he “Defender of the Faith” for a pamphlet he wrote denouncing Luther. wrote denouncing Luther.

In 1527, an issue arose that set Henry at odds In 1527, an issue arose that set Henry at odds with the Church. with the Church.

Marriage to Catherine of AragonMarriage to Catherine of Aragon In 1509, Henry VIII had married In 1509, Henry VIII had married

Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon, daughter of , daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, and the aunt of Emperor Charles V. and the aunt of Emperor Charles V.

By 1527, the union had produced By 1527, the union had produced no male heir to the throne and only no male heir to the throne and only one surviving child, a daughter, one surviving child, a daughter, Mary. Mary.

Henry was concerned about the Henry was concerned about the political consequences of leaving political consequences of leaving only a female heir. In this period, only a female heir. In this period, people believed it unnatural for people believed it unnatural for women to rule over men.women to rule over men.

Dispensation from Pope Julius IIDispensation from Pope Julius II Henry even came to believe that his union Henry even came to believe that his union

with Catherine, who had many with Catherine, who had many miscarriages and stillbirths, had been miscarriages and stillbirths, had been cursed by god, because Catherine had first cursed by god, because Catherine had first been the wife of his brother, Arthur.been the wife of his brother, Arthur.

Henry’s father, Henry VII, had betrothed Henry’s father, Henry VII, had betrothed Catherine to Henry after Arthur’s untimely Catherine to Henry after Arthur’s untimely death in order to keep the English alliance death in order to keep the English alliance with Spain intact. They were officially with Spain intact. They were officially married in 1509, a few days before Henry married in 1509, a few days before Henry VIII received his crown. VIII received his crown.

Because marriage to the wife of one’s Because marriage to the wife of one’s brother was prohibited by law, the brother was prohibited by law, the marriage had required a special approval marriage had required a special approval from Pope Julius II.from Pope Julius II.

The King’s AffairThe King’s Affair By 1527, Henry was thoroughly By 1527, Henry was thoroughly

enamored of Anne Bolyn, one of enamored of Anne Bolyn, one of Catherine’s ladies in waiting. He Catherine’s ladies in waiting. He determined to put Catherine aside determined to put Catherine aside and take Anne as his wife.and take Anne as his wife.

This he could not do in Catholic This he could not do in Catholic

England, however, without papal England, however, without papal annulment of the marriage to annulment of the marriage to Catherine. Catherine.

The Reformation ParliamentThe Reformation Parliament

When the king’s advisors could When the king’s advisors could not obtain a papal annulment, not obtain a papal annulment, they conceived of a plan to they conceived of a plan to declare the king supreme in declare the king supreme in English spiritual affairs as he English spiritual affairs as he was in English political affairs. was in English political affairs.

Head of the Church of EnglandHead of the Church of England

In January 1531, Henry In January 1531, Henry publicly recognized as publicly recognized as Head of the Church in Head of the Church in England “as far as the England “as far as the law of Christ allows.”law of Christ allows.”

Marriage to Anne BoleynMarriage to Anne Boleyn In January 1533, In January 1533,

Henry wed the Henry wed the pregnant Anne pregnant Anne Boleyn, with Thomas Boleyn, with Thomas Cranmer officiating.Cranmer officiating.

King the Highest Court of AppealKing the Highest Court of Appeal

In February 1533. In February 1533. Parliament made the Parliament made the King the Highest King the Highest Court of Appeal for Court of Appeal for all English subjects.all English subjects.

Invalidation of First MarriageInvalidation of First Marriage In March 1533. Cranmer In March 1533. Cranmer

became archbishop of became archbishop of Canterbury and led a Canterbury and led a movement to invalidate movement to invalidate the King’s marriage to the King’s marriage to Catherine.Catherine.

Acts of Succession & SupremacyActs of Succession & Supremacy

The Act of Succession (1534) made The Act of Succession (1534) made Anne Boleyn’s children legitimate Anne Boleyn’s children legitimate heirs to the throne heirs to the throne

The Act of Supremacy (1534) The Act of Supremacy (1534) declared Henry “the only supreme declared Henry “the only supreme head on earth of the Church of head on earth of the Church of England.”England.”

Opponents ExecutedOpponents Executed

When Thomas More and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, When Thomas More and John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, refused to recognize the Act of Succession and the Act of refused to recognize the Act of Succession and the Act of Supremacy, Henry had them executed, making clear his Supremacy, Henry had them executed, making clear his determination to have his way regardless of the cost.determination to have his way regardless of the cost.

Dissolution of the MonasteriesDissolution of the Monasteries In 1538. Parliament In 1538. Parliament

dissolved England’s dissolved England’s monasteries and monasteries and convents.convents.

The Six Wives of Henry VIIIThe Six Wives of Henry VIII To satisfy his desires and to secure a male To satisfy his desires and to secure a male

heir, Henry married six times:heir, Henry married six times: His marriage to His marriage to CATHERINE OF CATHERINE OF

ARAGONARAGON was annulled 1533. was annulled 1533. In 1536, In 1536, ANNE BOLEYNANNE BOLEYN was executed was executed

for alleged treason and adultery and her for alleged treason and adultery and her daughter Elizabeth was declared daughter Elizabeth was declared illegitimate.illegitimate.

JANE SEYMOURJANE SEYMOUR died in 1537 shortly died in 1537 shortly after giving birth to the future Edward VI.after giving birth to the future Edward VI.

Henry wed Henry wed ANNE OF CLEVESANNE OF CLEVES sight sight unseen on the advice of Cromwell, the unseen on the advice of Cromwell, the purpose being to create by the marriage purpose being to create by the marriage an alliance with the Protestant princes. an alliance with the Protestant princes. The marriage was annulled by Parliament The marriage was annulled by Parliament and Cromwell was dismissed and and Cromwell was dismissed and eventually executed.eventually executed.

CATHERINE HOWARDCATHERINE HOWARD was beheaded was beheaded for adultery in 1542.for adultery in 1542.

Henry’s last wife, Henry’s last wife, CATHERINE PARRCATHERINE PARR, , a patron of humanists and reformers, a patron of humanists and reformers, survived him.survived him.

Edward VI (1547-1553)Edward VI (1547-1553)

When Henry died, his son and When Henry died, his son and successor, Edward VI, was only ten successor, Edward VI, was only ten years old. years old.

Under the regencies of the duke of Under the regencies of the duke of Somerset and the duke of Somerset and the duke of Northumberland, England fully Northumberland, England fully enacted the Protestant Reformation.enacted the Protestant Reformation.

Mary I (1553-1558)Mary I (1553-1558)

In 1533, Catherine of In 1533, Catherine of Aragon’s daughter Aragon’s daughter succeeded Edward succeeded Edward (who had died in his (who had died in his teens) to the English teens) to the English throne as Mary I and throne as Mary I and proceeded to restore proceeded to restore Catholic doctrine and Catholic doctrine and practice.practice.

Elizabeth I (1558-1603)Elizabeth I (1558-1603) Upon Mary’s death in Upon Mary’s death in

1558, the throne passed to 1558, the throne passed to Elizabeth.Elizabeth.

Elizabeth had to determine Elizabeth had to determine the future of the Church of the future of the Church of England.England.

Moved cautiously at firstMoved cautiously at first Slowly enforced a serious Slowly enforced a serious

of of reformsreforms that were later that were later called the called the Elizabethan Elizabethan Settlement. Settlement.

Elizabethan SettlementElizabethan Settlement The queen’s policies were a The queen’s policies were a compromisecompromise

between Protestant and Catholic practices. between Protestant and Catholic practices. The Church of England preserved much The Church of England preserved much

Catholic ceremony and ritual. Catholic ceremony and ritual. Queen reaffirmed that the monarch was the Queen reaffirmed that the monarch was the

head of the Anglican Church. head of the Anglican Church. Used her skills to restore unity to England. Used her skills to restore unity to England. Made England a firmly protestant nation. Made England a firmly protestant nation.

Reform: Supreme GovernorReform: Supreme Governor In 1559, an Act of In 1559, an Act of

Supremacy passed Supremacy passed parliament, repealing all parliament, repealing all the anti-Protestant the anti-Protestant legislation of Mary Tudor legislation of Mary Tudor

Asserted Elizabeth’s right Asserted Elizabeth’s right as “supreme governor” as “supreme governor” over all affairs.over all affairs.

Reform: Act of UniformityReform: Act of Uniformity

Also in 1559, Elizabeth Also in 1559, Elizabeth introduced the Act of introduced the Act of Uniformity, mandating a Uniformity, mandating a revised version of the revised version of the second second Book of Book of Common Prayer Common Prayer for for every English parish.every English parish.

Reform: Thirty-Nine ArticlesReform: Thirty-Nine Articles In 1563, the issuance of In 1563, the issuance of

the the Thirty-Nine Articles Thirty-Nine Articles of Religionof Religion, made a , made a moderate Protestantism moderate Protestantism the official religion the official religion within the Church of within the Church of England.England.