FCLLI4_the_king_and_the_church

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The king and The Church – a delicate relation 
Henry disliked the power of the Church in England because, since it was an 
international organization, he could not completely control it. Moreover there were 
two far more powerful states, France, and Spain that allied with the Holy Roman 
Empire remained between him and Rome. The power of the Catholic Church in 
England could therefore function against his own authority. Besides taxes paid to the 
Church reduced his own income. Henry wanted to centralize state authority as many 
other European kings apart from another reason. 
 
Henry VII X Catherine o f Aragon: the kingdom for a son 
 
 
 Catherine of Aragon Henry VIII 
 
By 1526, after sixteen years of marriage, Catherine of Aragon – the queen - still could 
not have a son who could be the heir to the throne and continue the Tudor dynasty. 
All the baby boys she gave birth could not survive their childhood. Using the Queen's 
inability to generate and keep alive their sons Henry tried to persuade the Pope to 
allow him to divorce Catherine. However political and theological reasons drove the 
Pope to �rmly den y it. He wanted Henry to stay married to Catherine. But, based on 
religious doctrine and diplomatic aspects, the Pope forbade the king’s divorce. 
 
 
 
 
The Whitehall Mural 1660 - Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn 
 
 
Anne Boleyn 
 
In 1531, Henry, after putting the bishops under strong pressure and after skillful 
political maneuverings, managed to persuade them to institute him the religious 
chief, founding an English Church and a new religion – the Anglican Church. This act 
became law after the Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy in 1534. It was a 
popular decision. Henry was free to divorce Catherine and marry his new love, Anne 
Boleyn. He hoped Anne would give him a son to succeed him as the king of England.