1. Martin Luther

2. German Monk who criticised certain aspects of Catholicism. His ideas helped pave the way for the Protestant Reformation

3. Henry VII

4. In contrast to Henry VIII, he was seen as penny-pinching and dull. His foreign policy was conservative. Having won the throne in battle in 1485, he died in 1509.

5. The Pope

6. During Henry’s reign this role was held by Julius II, Leo X and most notably Clement VII, who refused to grant Henry the annulment he wanted.

7. Catherine of Aragon

8. Spanish princess who was first married to Henry’s brother Arthur until he died, and then to Henry. Though she gave birth to six children, only one, Mary, survived.

9. Anne Boleyn

10. Daughter of a nobleman and courtier. Henry became determined to marry her, eventually breaking away from the Catholic Church in order to do so.

11. Thomas Cromwell

12. Sometimes called the architect of the Reformation for the role he had in drafting the laws that brought in the Royal Supremacy and dissolved the monasteries. A brilliant administrator and the crucial member of Henry’s government during the 1530s.

13. Thomas Wolsey

14. Son of a butcher from Ipswich, he was so powerful that he was sometimes called an ‘alter rex’ (second king). He eventually fell from power because he was unable to secure Henry’s divorce.

15. Francis I

16. Following on from Louis XII, he came to the throne of France in 1515. He was in many ways similar to Henry VIII in personality, and they were great rivals. He spent much of his reign vying for power with Emperor Charles V.

17. Charles V

18. The most powerful man in 16 th century Europe. Lord of the Netherlands from 1506, he became King of Spain in 1516 and then was elected Holy Roman Emperor in 1519. His Aunt was Catherine of Aragon (so Henry had a very powerful opponent to the divorce).