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