EDITED: Henry VIII Divorcing Catherine and Becoming Head of the Church of England

EDITED!

(For 5 more points to reach an 88)

Was Henry VIII justified in divorcing Catherine and making himself head of the Church of England?

Henry VIII was the king of England during the time of 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry had eight wives during his lifetime and split the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry married his brother’s widow soon after his father died, which was forbidden under Catholic law. In 1533, Henry and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, were divorced. Henry believed that his marriage with Catherine was cursed, and he also became smitten with another lady by the name of Anne Boleyn. Because the Church of England was not agreeing to what Henry wanted and would not annul his marriage with Catherine, Henry made himself head of the Church of England. Henry was justified in divorcing Catherine and was justified in making himself head of the Church of England. (Letters from Anne, 1526)

Henry and Catherine of Aragon were married on June 11, 1509. Their coronation took place, “The following day being a Sunday, and also Midsummer's Day, the noble prince with his queen left the palace for Westminster Abbey at the appointed hour.” “His grace and the queen were anointed and crowned by the archbishop of Canterbury in the presence of other prelates of the realm and the nobility and a large number of civic dignitaries.” (Hall, 1509.) Henry VIII and Catherine were happy for a while. Catherine bore six children, but only one of them survived, and this child was a daughter named Mary. Catherine and Henry were married for about twenty years before he divorced her in 1533. (Hall, 1509.)

If Henry was truly convinced that his marriage with Catherine was cursed, then his divorce with her was justified. Henry could be married to whomever he wanted to be married to. Catherine was not able to bear a male heir, and because of this and emotional differences, the pair separated. In the political aspect of Catherine not being able to produce a male son, this was not a good thing. Henry needed a male heir to carry on his rule. Because of the political realities of what it would mean for Henry not to have a male heir, he was justified in divorcing Catherine. He was doing what he could to produce an heir to the throne. Without a son to become king after Henry, he would see his family give up the throne to someone else. Because of the reasoning for Henry’s divorce, he was justified in splitting from Catherine.

Henry VIII wanted to be the head of the Church of England because the Church was not agreeing with Henry. The Act of Supremacy, a Parliamentary act under King Henry VII written in 1534, “gave legal sanction to Henry's assumption of those clerical powers.” (Koeller, 2005) Henry was in charge of Parliament and therefore was able to produce the Act of Supremacy. He signed this Act of Supremacy because the Pope would not annul his marriage. Henry was also justified in making himself the head of the Church because the Pope had no more right to be head of the Church than Henry did. If the Pope could rule and be the head of the Church of England, why couldn’t Henry be? Henry used his wit and manipulative ways to create a plan to altar the rules of the Church. Instead of the Pope ruling the Church, Henry just ruled instead. Henry was justified in making himself head of the Church because he was doing what he needed to in order to have a male heir to continue the family rule and adhere to the political reality of the time. (Hall, 1509.)

Henry had justifications to divorce Catherine and be head of the Church of England. He was smart in his reign and did what he could to protect his family and produce an heir to the throne. He was justified in his actions.

"Primary Sources: The Coronations of King Henry VIII and Katharine of Aragon, 1509."EnglishHistory.net. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. .

"The Act of Supremacy." Then Again. . . Web. 03 Oct. 2010. .

"Primary Sources - Letter from Anne Boleyn to King Henry VIII, Late Summer 1526."EnglishHistory.net. Web. 02 Oct. 2010. .

"Primary Sources: The Romance between Anne Boleyn and Henry Percy, 1523." EnglishHistory.net. Web. 03 Oct. 2010. .