The English Reformation
Pope Leo X gave King Henry VIII title, “Defender of the Faith” King Henry VIII even wrote Defense of the Seven Sacraments rebuking Lutheranism Pope Leo X gave King Henry VIII title, “Defender of the Faith” 1521 Sir Thomas More
Queen Elizabeth II Monarch retains this label as part of his/her official title … Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas Queen, Defender of the Faith. In London, she was proclaimed as Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith
The King’s Affair Henry was married to Catherine of Aragon Catherine was daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella (Spain) … Aunt of Charles V (HRE) No male heir Cursed? “Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife: it [is] thy brother's nakedness.” Marriage had required special dispensation from Pope Julius II
Anne Boleyn By 1527, no male heir, Henry was “shopping around” Affair with Anne Boleyn … very much in love with her Anne was one of Catherine’s ladies in waiting Henry asked for a papal annulment so he could marry Anne Wolsey failed to get this for him … dismissed Thomas Cranmer became chief minister and advisor
Reformation Parliament 1529 – 1536 session of Parliament January 1531 – King as head of church in England 1532 – Submission of the Clergy Act … church law UNDER royal authority All this allowed Henry to annul his marriage to Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn
1533 – Thomas Cranmer became the archbishop of Canterbury (invalidated Henry’s old marriage to Catherine) 1534 – Act of Succession – made Anne Boleyn’s children heirs to the throne Act of Supremacy – Henry was “the only supreme head in earth of the Church of England” Thomas More refused to recognize the Act of Supremacy … Henry had him executed
The Wives Catherine of Aragon (divorced) Married 1509 … daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella … Aunt of Charles V (HRE) … daughter, Mary … no male heir
Anne Boleyn (beheaded) Married 1533 … most beautiful of the wives … sexually experienced … daughter, Elizabeth … Anne was executed in 1536 for treason and adultery … Elizabeth was declared illegitimate
Jane Seymour (died) Married 1536 … died 1537 after giving birth to Edward (Edward VI)
Anne of Cleves (divorced) Married without ever seeing her Henry met her at Rochester on the 1st of January 1540, and was so much abashed at her appearance as to forget to present the gift he had brought for her, but nevertheless controlled himself sufficiently to treat her with courtesy. The next day he expressed openly his dissatisfaction at her looks; "she was no better than a Flanders mare." The attempt to prove a pre-contract with the son of the duke of Lorraine broke down, and Henry was forced to resign himself to the sacrifice. On the wedding morning, however, the 6th of January 1540, he declared that no earthly thing would have induced him to marry her but the fear of driving the duke of Cleves into the arms of the Holy Roman Emperor
July 1540 (six months) marriage was annulled (divorce)
Catherine Howard (beheaded) Married July, 1540 Beheaded for adultery in 1542
Catherine Parr (survived) July 1543 married Henry VIII Henry VIII died January 29, 1547
Loved Henry and survived him 1. Catherine of Aragon Divorced 2. Anne Boleyn Beheaded 3. Jane Seymour Died 4. Anne of Cleves Divorced 5. Catherine Howard Beheaded 6. Katherine Parr Survived Mother of Elizabeth Elizabeth Edward Mary Ugly one Loved Henry and survived him