Henry VIII’s

Problems

By Mr Hugginswww.SchoolHistory.co.uk

I need a son. My wife, Catherine of

Aragon is too old to have any more

children. Who will inherit my throne

when I die?

I spy an attractive lady called Anne Boleyn. If only I could marry her instead. Will the Pope give me a

divorce?

The Church is very rich. I need money

for my luxurious court. If only I

could get my hands on it.

The new Protestant ideas

are spreading in Germany. Princes there are reforming their churches and throwing

out the Catholic Church.

Some people in England like the new Protestant ideas. They believe that the Bible should be

in English not Latin.

The Church takes money

out my country in

taxes to help build St

Peter’s in Rome. What

do I get in return?

Katherine of Aragon V Anne Boleyn

Activity: Complete the diagram below and suggest how Henry VIII could solve

his problems

Henry VIII and the English Reformation

The Balance of Power in Europe

POPE CLEMENT

VII

CHARLES V SPAIN / HOLY

ROMAN EMPIRE

FRANCIS I FRANCE

HENRY VIIIENGLAND

ENGLISH REFORMATION

• A political struggle, not a religious one like Luther

• Henry VIII of England broke with the Catholic Church to keep power and take Church lands

Wife #1 – Catherine Aragon

• Henry was married to Catherine of Aragon, aunt of Charles V

• Charles V had recently taken over RomeCatherine had only one daughter - Mary and no sons

• Henry needs a son to carry on his reign

Anne Boleyn

• Anne was a “lady in waiting” – began relationship with the King

• Henry sent his advisor Cardinal Wolsey to Rome to get an annulment from Pope Clement VII so Henry could marry Anne Boleyn (now pregnant)

• Pope refused (under pressure from Charles V) - Wolsey arrested

The English Reformation• Henry breaks with the Catholic

Church, starts the Church of England (Anglican Church) with him as the head of the Church

• New Chancellor Sir Thomas More refuses to recognize Henry as above the Pope and is beheaded.

• Henry’s marriage to Catherine is annulled and he marries Anne Boleyn

Act of Supremacy - 1534

1. Parliament officially makes Henry the head of the Church of England

2. Henry takes control of Church land and money

3. Bible is translated into English4. Church is very similar to the

Catholic Church

Anne Boleyn’s demise

• Had one living child: Elizabeth, no sons

• Anne was unpopular amongst English people and Henry’s advisors

• 1536 – accused of incest (definitely not guilty), treason (not guilty) and adultery (probably guilty)

• Imprisoned, tried and executed at the Tower of London

Jane Seymour

• Marriage to Anne is annulled• Jane gives birth to a boy (Edward)• Dies in childbirth

Anne of Cleves

• Marriage was a political alliance with a German Duke’s daughter

• Henry was unimpressed with her looks and called her the “Mare (horse) of Flanders”

• Divorced soon after, no children• She survives, but the advisor who put

the marriage together, Thomas Cromwell is executed

Kathryn Howard

• 1st cousin of Anne Boleyn, very young (19)

• Served in Anne of Cleves’ Court• Rumors of her adultery began to

surface (uh, Henry has kind of let himself go at this point…)

• Executed at the Tower of London in 1542

Catherine Parr

• Caretaker wife for Henry’s children• Survives him

Life after Henry

• Edward VII becomes King at age 10, dies five years later

• Mary I (Bloody Mary) follows him as Queen after imprisoning Lady Jane Gray

• She is Catholic and spends her time going after Protestants

• Sends Elizabeth to the Tower• Marries the King of Spain and sets of

executing all Protestants not loyal to the Pope

Queen Elizabeth

• Protestant Queen – tolerant to moderate Catholics and Protestants

• Makes the Anglican Church more “Catholic”

• Avoids any bloody religious war

ASSIGNMENT• Choice #1• Create a Facebook

page for Henry VIII• Include at least 5

comments from his wives, friends or enemies (from the time)

• Update what his favorite things would be today

• Choice #2• Create a movie poster

for a new movie about Henry VIII

• Cast the movie with today’s actors

• Describe the basic plot• Include lines from the

film and a title